Portland High School (Maine)
Portland High School is a public high school established in 1821 in Portland, Maine (Cumberland County), which educates grades 9–12. The school is part of the Portland Public Schools district.
Established in 1821 originally as a boys' school, Portland High School claims to be the second-oldest public high school still operating in the United States; however it is the 15th oldest public high school in the U.S. Joseph Libbey was its first principal. A separate school for girls was added in 1850, and in 1863 the school moved to Cumberland Avenue, its present location. The original school building on that site, which is now the middle wing of the modern school was originally divided into two by a brick wall running from top to bottom of the building to divide the girls from the boys. Much of the wall has been removed, but its remains can still be seen in the basement.
The school was added to the National Register of Historic Places on November 23, 1984.
In 1989 a new annex was opened containing more classrooms, a cafeteria, a theater/auditorium (named for John Ford) and an athletic facility. Portland High School, however, uses the off-campus Fitzpatrick Stadium, Hadlock Field, Portland Expo, and Portland Ice Arena for the school's sporting events.
As of 2011, the school principal is Deborah Migneault and her assistants are Kimberly Wike and Kathy Marquis-Girard. Approximately 1000 students are enrolled each year.
In June 2010, 174 students graduated from Portland High School.
Read more about Portland High School (Maine): Notable Alumni
Famous quotes containing the words portland, high and/or school:
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—For the State of New Hampshire, U.S. public relief program (1935-1943)
“A ward, and still in bonds, one day
I stole abroad;
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Primrosed and hung with shade;
Yet was it frost within,
And surly winds
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Like clouds eclipsed my mind.”
—Henry Vaughan (1622–1695)
“A school is not a factory. Its raison d’être is to provide opportunity for experience.”
—J.L. (James Lloyd)