Neshaminy High School

Facilities

Neshaminy High School consists of one main hallway, with hallways branching off of the main by department, arranging classes of similar types (such as art, math, social studies, and science) in the same region of the school.

There are two gymnasiums, one at the front of the school and one at the back. Of its two theaters, the smaller black box theater is used primarily for performances by the school's drama department. The larger Theodore Kloos Auditorium in the front of the building is used by the school's music department and outside groups for performances, and Neshaminy's annual musical.

Renovation

In 2003 the Neshaminy school board proposed the demolition of the current school building and construction of a new facility on current school grounds. This plan was priced at $100 million and would require the issuance of an $85 million tax funded bond. In April 2004 residents defeated the new building plan via referendum due in large part to the price.

As an alternative plan, the school board decided to demolish sections of the school at a time and rebuild them as the school year proceeded. This major renovation project was estimated to cost $72 million and would replace 95% of classroom facilities, but will retain some existing structures like the auditorium, gym, cafeteria, and library. Unlike the rest of the school which has only received basic upkeep since the 1950s these facilities have already undergone major renovation as recently as 1995. The project was completed by September 2009.

Graduation rate

Neshaminy High School's graduation rate was 97% for 2011.

Academics

Neshaminy High School provides a rich curriculum that includes a wide variety of honors and advanced placement courses.

AP Courses

In 2015–2016 students at this school took Advanced Placement (AP) exams in the following areas:

Student body

There are approximately 3,000 students in grades nine through twelve. It is the only high school in the Neshaminy School District. Neshaminy High School is accredited by the Middle Atlantic States Association of Colleges and Secondary School.

Howler Literary Magazine

Originally named "Expressions Literary Magazine", Howler Literary Magazine has received awards from Pennsylvania School Press Association.

Playwickian

The Playwickian is the high school's award-winning newspaper. The name "Playwickian" comes from one of the names of the Native American tribes who called the area on the Neshaminy Creek home. The Playwickian has received awards from Columbia University for outstanding performance. Due to being a Pennsylvania student publication, the Playwickian is subjected to and granted certain rights by Section 12.9 of the Pennsylvania Code. The newspaper is distributed once a month with all the articles written by the students who choose to take the journalism course. According to their mission statement, the Playwickian is, "Saving the world, one word at a time" and is dedicated to providing "the student body with a voice and exercise students First Amendment rights while remaining unbiased and truthful in the reporting of information and the quest for self-expression."

Sports

The school also has a long history of excellent extra curricular activities, which include several championship athletic teams.

Soccer Team

The Neshaminy Redskins soccer program has four state championship titles. The Boy's program won PIAA State Championships in 1982, 1984, and 1994. The Girl's program won the title in 2013.

Football Team

The Neshaminy Redskins football program was first assembled in 1951. Their largest rivalry is the neighboring Pennsbury Falcons.

Sports team name controversy

Neshaminy High School athletic teams are known as the Redskins. In 2012, a Neshaminy parent of Native American decent started a campaign to change the name because of its racially offensive and harmful nature. The parent spoke at numerous board meetings, with no progress being made. A complaint was filed with Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission in 2013 , after a thorough investigation by Pa HRC a ruling was made against Neshaminy school district and they were told to change the name along with other terms of adjustment. Neshaminy filed for appeal and the case is ongoing with future hearings planned. On October 23, 2013, the student editorial board of the high school's newspaper, the Playwickian, declared its intention to no longer reference the team with the term "Redskin" in its publications. The school administration responded by declaring that the Playwickian editorial board lacks the power to decide to stop using the term "Redskins". On April 2 of the following year, students Jackson Haines and Emily Scott received awards from the 2014 Scholastic Keystone Press Awards contest from articles published in the Playwickian on the issue. Haines would also receive a Gold Circle Award from the Columbia Scholastic Press Association later that year for the same article. In early July, the Pennsylvania High School Press Association awarded Journalism Teacher of the Year to Tara Huber, an adviser for the Playwickian for assisting the students on publishing publications for the Playwickian during the issue.

Towards the middle of May, a student submitted an opinion editorial containing the "Redskin" term. Principal McGee told the students that they would be required to run the piece in the paper or the final issue would not be allowed to be distributed. The Playwickian decided to run their last issue of the year without the piece a few days later. McGee and the school reacted by restricting access to the issue through confiscating the publication, calling for an emergency meeting with co-editor Gillian McGoldrick, and restricting access to accounts on social media and the website for the Playwickian. McGee would later defended his actions in a statement on the website for the school. On June 26, the school board allowed the Playwickian to ban the term "Redskin" in articles, but required that editorials and Letters to the Editor had to be published with the term present and uncensored.

Suicide awareness

In recent years Neshaminy High School has adopted numerous programs aimed at suicide awareness and prevention.

In October 2006, following a few tragic incidents, the SADD (Students Against Destructive Decisions) Club at Neshaminy High School implemented a Yellow Ribbon Suicide Prevention Program. The program is designed to empower youth by giving them permission and a way to ask for help through the Yellow Ribbon card. The Neshaminy High School staff has been trained in the purpose of the Yellow Ribbon card and is prepared to assist students if necessary.

Notable alumni

Notable faculty