Woodland Hills School District

Infobox_School
name = Woodland Hills School District


motto =
established = 1981
type = Public
affiliation =
budget = $86,900,000
grades = K-12
president =
principal =
Superintendent = Dr. Walter Calinger
dean =
faculty =
staff =
student Teacher ratio = 1:16
enrollment = Approx. 5,100 students
athletics =
conference = AAAA
colors = Turquoise & Black and White
mascot = Wolverine
free_label = Representative
free_text = Paul Costa
free_label2 =
free_text2 =
location = 2430 Greensburg Pike Pittsburgh, PA 15221
information = 412-731-1300
website = http://www.whsd.net

Woodland Hills School District is a public school district located in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, serving twelve municipalities in the Pittsburgh area; Braddock, Braddock Hills, Chalfant, Churchill, East Pittsburgh, Edgewood, Forest Hills, North Braddock, Rankin, Swissvale, Turtle Creek and Wilkins Township. [ [http://www.whsd.k12.pa.us/admin/ Woodland Hills School District ] ] Woodland Hills spends $8,268 per student [ [http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/06075/670841.stm Who pays for charter schools is burning issue ] ] $2,210 over the national average of $6,058/student. [cite web |url=http://www.bestplaces.net/zip-code/default.aspx?cat=EDUCATE&zip=15228&city=Pittsburgh_PA |title=Neighborhood Profile |work=Sperling's Best Places Website |accessdate=2007-02-04]

History

Woodland Hills School District was formed in July 1987 by a mandated merger of Edgewood, General Braddock, Swissvale, Churchill and Turtle Creek school districts. It covers approximately 13.5 square miles in eastern Allegheny County.

State Ranking

According to Newsweek's "complete list of the 1,300 top U.S. high schools" Woodland Hills was one of three Pittsburgh Area High schools that made the list. Woodland Hills was ranked as the 635th best high school in the Nation. Among the three were Mt. Lebanon High School (628) and Fox Chapel Area High School (660.) [ [http://www.newsweek.com/id/39380/?q=2003/rank/1/&s=pittsburgh America's Top Public High Schools | Newsweek Best High Schools | Newsweek.com ] ]

Belief statements

*All students can learn and are capable of achieving high standards.
*Effective schools encourage all students to be resourceful and accept challenges as positive learning experiences.
*The best schools encourage a love of life-long learning and the development of self-esteem.
*Students are motivated to learn when they can apply what they have learned to their lives.
*An effective curriculum promotes understanding and appreciation of all people and cultural backgrounds.
*Student success is best achieved through the cooperation of home, school and community.
*Students learn best in safe and orderly places.
*Educated students will become productive citizens in the local and global communities.
*Student pride in self, school and community will strengthen the Woodland Hills community.
*Student participation in extra-curricular activities is an important component of a well-rounded education.
*On-going staff development and training is essential to maintain a quality education program.
*Students must possess the technological skills required in the information age.
*Diversity is our strength. [ [http://www.whsd.k12.pa.us/schools/HIGH_SCHOOL/ Woodland Hills School District ] ]

Demographics

*61.4% - African American/Non Hispanic
*37.5% - White/Non-Hispanic
*0.6% - Asian/Pacific Islander
*0.5% - Hispanic
*0.0% - American Indian/Alaska Native [ [http://www.psk12.com/rating/USindivphp/SchID_6666.html Woodland Hills,High School,Allegheny County, Pennsylvania ] ]

chools

Woodland Hills School district serves approximately 5,100 students, and has eight facilities:
*Woodland Hills High School (9-12)
*Woodland Hills Junior High School (7-8)
*Dickson Intermediate School (4-6)
*Fairless Intermediate School (4-6)
*Rankin Intermediate School (4-6)
*Edgewood Primary School (K-3)
*Shaffer Primary School (K-3)
*Wilkins Primary School (K-3)

Extracurricular activities

Woodland Hills High School's athletics department sponsors almost thirty varsity sports. Woodland Hills competes in the AAAA division of the WPIAL.

Varsity sports include Baseball, Boys/Girls Basketball, Boys/Girls Bowling, Boys/Girls Cross Country, Field Hockey, Boys/Girls Golf, Ice Hockey, Rifle, Boys/Girls Soccer, Softball, Boys/Girls Swimming, Boys/Girls Tennis, Boys/Girls Track, Boys/Girls Volleyball, Wrestling, Rugby, and Ultimate.

The Wolvarena is the football stadium for the Woodland Hills Wolverines. It has been named one of the top 10 places to watch high school football in the country. The Wolverines very rarely lose a home game, losing only 2 out of 40 since 1993 [http://www.usatoday.com/sports/preps/football/2001-10-25-top10-stadiums-woodland.htm USAToday.com] ] . Its most successful varsity team is its football team lead by head coach George Novak, which won the regional AAAA championship in 1996, 1999, 2001, and 2002. Since 1987, Woodland Hills has sent 50 players to Division I schools

The Woodland Hills boys track and field team tied for first place for the WPIAL section 4A championships in 2001. The team was coached by former Olympian Lindel Hodge and was lead by senior Nicholas Spencer (long jump), Steven Breaston (300m hurdles), Tyler O'rourke (400m), and Eric Miller (800m).

Woodland Hills High School prides itself in its yearly staging of popular musicals each spring and has won several Gene Kelly Awards for its performances. In April 2007, WHHS students performed in the student version of Les Misérables.Woodland Hills also has a Marching Band for students in the high school.

Performing Arts

Woodland Hills is particularly known for their strong Performing Arts and Music programs. Every year the spring musical receives nominations from the Gene Kelly Awards for outstanding Pittsburgh-area high school performances.

*1988 - Fiddler on the Roof
*1989 - Hello Dolly!
*1990 - Anything Goes
*1991 - Guys and Dolls*
*1992 - Lil Abner*
*1993 - Peter Pan
*1994 - Annie Get Your Gun
*1995 - Jesus Christ Superstar
*1996 - The Mystery of Edwin Drood
*1997 - The Music Man*
*1998 - Man of La Mancha*
*1999 - The Pirates of Penzance*
*2000 - The King and I
*2001 - On the Twentieth Century
*2002 - Evita
*2003 - Hello Dolly!*
*2004 - Anything Goes
*2005 - Seussical
*2006 - Pippin
*2007 - Les Miserables
*2008 - Beauty and the Beast

*Denotes Gene Kelly Award for Best Musical

Other events include the winter show done by the Performing Arts Class. Recent productions have included "The Dining Room," "Disney's High School Musical" and "Chicago."

Notable alumni

* Jason Taylor: Pro-Bowl Defensive End for Miami Dolphins
*Steve Breaston: Wide Receiver for Arizona Cardinals
*Shawntae Spencer: Cornerback for San Francisco 49ers
*Lousaka Polite: Fullback for Dallas Cowboys
*Chris Edmonds: Fullback-Linebacker for Cincinnati Bengals
*Ryan Mundy: Safety for Pittsburgh Steelers, Michigan Wolverines, West Virginia Mountaineers
*Emmanuel Lewis: Voted player of the year in PIAA in 1990. Went on to play 4 years at USC and eventually win the NBA slam dunk contest.

References