Lancaster High School (New York)

History

Lancaster High School was established in 1894.

Former principals

Previous assignment and reason for departure denoted in parentheses

Academics

Lancaster High School offers a wide variety of courses. Many of these courses are structured in a fashion that prepares students for the New York State Regents Examinations that are required by the state for graduation. For students interested in a certain area of study, half- and full-year elective courses are offered in specific areas of study, such as Shakespeare and oceanography.

Advanced Placement Courses

Lancaster High School offers 12 AP courses as of the 2010-11 school year. These courses include Calculus AB, Chemistry, Statistics, Biology, Music Theory, English Language, English Literature, US History, Spanish Language, U.S. Government & Politics, Macroeconomics, and Physics C. Averages that students receive for these classes are weighted +1.07% to compensate for the advanced level of subject material covered.

Honors Program

Lancaster High School has a large and varied program of honors classes. Some of these classes are Regents courses taken a year earlier than normal, while others teach more material at a faster rate than taught in courses that are not honors-level. Examples of courses that are taught at honors level include World History, English (multiple years), Chemistry, Earth Science, and Precalculus. Each grade given for an honors-level course is weighted +1.04% to compensate for the accelerated curriculum.

Technology Department

Lancaster High School has a large selection of technology courses. In addition to traditional shop courses, the department teaches courses in architecture, computer graphics, electronics, and home repair, in addition to courses offered by the Project Lead the Way program.

Visual Arts Department

Lancaster has a large visual arts department. Examples of courses taught by the Visual Arts department include photography, art history, ceramics, and jewellery, video, and graphic design.

English Department

The English department of Lancaster High School offers many courses beyond the state-required yearly courses. Courses on historical fiction, mythology, creative writing, journalism, drama, and Shakespeare are offered to expand students' views on literature and writing.

Math Department

The main offerings of the mathematics department are those required by New York for graduation. Courses in introductory geometry, trigonometry, and precalculus are offered, in addition to courses on problem solving, SAT preparation, and life math. For the students interested in advanced mathematics, course offerings include honors precalculus, AP Calculus, and AP Statistics.

Science Department

The science department's most popular courses are those required by New York for graduation, including courses in earth science, biology, and chemistry. Students also have the opportunity to take courses focusing on physics, astronomy, meteorology, anatomy, and oceanography. For the advanced student, Advanced Placement courses in biology, chemistry, and physics are offered.

Social Studies Department

The social studies department's main course offerings are courses on world history, United States history, government, and economics. For the interested student, introductory psychology and criminal law courses are offered. Advanced Placement course offerings include United States history, American government, and macroeconomics.

Music

Lancaster High School has a music department that includes eight in-school performance groups, in addition to extra-curricular performing groups. In 2011, the Lancaster Central School District Music Department was named one of the best communities in America for Music Education by the NAMM Foundation.

Band Program

Lancaster High School has three bands that rehearse during school hours. The Concert Band is the entry-level band, the Wind Symphony is the mid-level band, and the Symphonic Band is the most prestigious band. In 2010, all three of these groups attained a score of Gold or Gold with Distinction at their yearly NYSSMA evaluation. In addition to these three in-school groups, Lancaster has a jazz ensemble and a successful marching band. In 2011 and 2013, the Lancaster High School Marching Redskins won the New York State Field Band Conference State Championship, Large School 2 division. The Lancaster Marching Redskins were promoted to the "National Class" of the New York State Field Band Conference, officially on February 20, 2014.

Choral Program

Lancaster has three in-school choral groups. Women's Choir is the entry level choir for girls, Mixed Choir is the entry level choir for boys and the mid-level choir for girls, and Concert Choir is the most prestigious choir. In 2011, Women's Choir and Mixed Choir attained a score of Gold at their NYSSMA evaluations, while Concert Choir attained Gold with Distinction. Out of school hours, the choral department has a show choir and a vocal jazz group. In addition to these other groups, the Lancaster Men's Choir consists of the combined tenor and bass sections of both Mixed Choir and Concert Choir. The Lancaster Men's Choir attained a score of Gold at its 2011 NYSSMA evaluation.

Orchestras

Lancaster has two orchestras. The String Orchestra is the entry-level orchestra, while the Symphony Orchestra is the upper-level orchestra.

Musicals

The music department puts on a musical annually. Recent musicals include The Little Mermaid (2015) Fiddler on the Roof (2013) Thoroughly Modern Millie (2012) The Drowsy Chaperone (2011) and The Music Man (2010). In 1999, Lancaster's production of Fiddler on the Roof won the Kenny Award for Best Musical.

Academies

Lancaster High School, at the time of writing, contains eight academies. Academies are small learning communities that focus on a certain subject. Students apply for five of the academies halfway through their freshman year, while the sixth (Project Lead the Way) has entry requirements based entirely on academic performance in eighth grade. Students in an academy are required to take certain academy-based courses. Failing an academy course will result in expulsion from the academy.

Finance

The Academy of Finance focuses on accounting, banking, insurance, finance, and stock markets. Finance students are required to take a paid summer internship in the finance field between their junior and senior years. The Academy of Finance operates a satellite branch of Bank of Akron that is located at Lancaster High School. Finance students have the opportunity to earn college credit from Erie Community College. The Academy of Finance is a member of the National Academy Foundation. The Academy of Finance received the Aldo Papone award for excellence from NAF in 2010. Based on a leading internship program, the Academy of Finance received a $5000 award to continue promoting student excellence.

Hospitality and Tourism

The Academy of Hospitality and Tourism focuses on hospitality-based careers, such as the tourism and restaurant industries. Students are required to take an internship and familiarization tours of tourist destinations.

Health Careers

The Health Careers Academy focuses on healthcare related careers. Students take classes that focus on health careers, medical terminology, ethics, anatomy, and physiology. Students in the Health Careers Academy visit medical facilities and meet with healthcare professionals. Students have the opportunity to earn college credit from Bryant and Stratton College, Erie Community College, Trocaire College, and Villa Maria College.

Leadership

The Leadership Academy focuses on developing leadership skills. Leadership students take courses that focus on communication skills, how to be an effective leader, and more.

Visual and Performing Arts

The Academy of the Visual and Performing Arts focuses on careers in the fields of visual arts and music.

Visual arts

The visual arts portion of the academy is focused on career exploration in fields such as art education, fashion design, photography, graphic design, advertising, woodworking, and more. Students take many art-focused classes culminating with a senior project that is exhibited.

Performing arts

The performing arts portion of the academy focuses on career exploration in fields such as music education, dance, and theatre. Students are required to be a member of a performing ensemble to remain in the academy, in addition to taking courses such as music theory. The academy culminates with a senior academy recital.

Project Lead the Way

Lancaster High School is a member of the national Project Lead the Way pre-engineering program. This program allows students to take engineering courses that can allow them to earn college credit from the Rochester Institute of Technology. As of 2010, Lancaster offers six Project Lead the Way Courses. These courses include Introduction to Engineering Design, Computer Integrated Manufacturing, Digital Electronics, Principles of Engineering, Biotechnical Engineering, and Engineering Design and Development. Project Lead the Way is recommended by the United States Department of Education as an exemplary program, and is partnered with companies such as Autodesk, National Instruments, and Fischertechnik and sponsored by companies such as 3M, Intel, and Lockheed Martin. Project Lead the Way is a partner of the National Academy Foundation.

Clubs and activities

Athletics

Lancaster High School has teams in many sports, including baseball, American football, soccer, tennis, swimming, and basketball, among many others. Many of Lancaster's sports teams perform very well. Lancaster's football team made it to the Section 6 Class AA championships in 2009, losing to 2009's eventual state champion, North Tonawanda High School. Len Jankiewicz('69) has been the Varsity football coach for 25 years, registering Section VI Championships in 1988 and 1999. The School's rival is the Depew High School Wildcats, and the two varsity football teams meet every year for a non-league game as a part of the Great American Rivalry Series, presented by the US Army. On March 16, 2015, the Lancaster school board voted to discontinue the use of the nickname, Redskins. On June 3, 2015, the students of both Lancaster Middle School and the High School voted on a new name: The Lancaster Legends.