Puneet Varma (Editor)

Nottingham High School (Syracuse, New York)

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Established
  
1921

Teaching staff
  
95

Phone
  
+1 315-435-4380

Color
  
Orange & Royal Blue

Principal
  
David Maynard

Grades
  
9-12

Number of students
  
1,291

Nottingham High School (Syracuse, New York)

Type
  
Comprehensive High School

Motto
  
Virtus Eruditio Assidiutas [sic]

Address
  
3100 E Genesee St, Syracuse, NY 13224, USA

District
  
Syracuse City School District

William Nottingham High School is a public high school located at 3100 East Genesee Street in Syracuse, New York. Part of the Syracuse City School District, the high school has an enrollment of about 1200 students in grades 9–12.

Contents

The school was established in 1921 (making it the oldest, still functioning high school in the city of Syracuse) in the building that is now T. Aaron Levy Middle School. It was named for the prominent Syracuse attorney William Nottingham (1853–1921), who had served on the Syracuse University Board of Trustees and on the New York State Board of Regents. In 1952 the high school moved to its current location on East Genesee Street. Between 1977 and 1982 a new library, gym, and Olympic-sized swimming pool were added, and a walkway was built connecting the former George Washington Elementary School to the main building.

Nottingham is often considered the "music and arts" public high school in Syracuse (though there are other competent programs in the area). It is known regionwide for its band, choirs, and theatrical productions.

The school offers many sports including: Football, Cheer, Tennis, Swimming, Lacrosse, Volleyball, Bowling, Golf, Field Hockey, Basketball, Indoor Track, Crew, Track, Cross Country, Baseball, Softball, and Soccer.

The school offers many AP and Honors courses (such as AP Global History, AP World History, AP English, AP Chemistry, and AP Physics). It also offers some courses in association with nearby colleges and universities such as Syracuse University and SUNY ESF (Environmental Science and Forestry). The program is called Syracuse University Project Advanced (SUPA) and offers college level courses such as Biology, Psychology, and Environmental Writing.

Demographics

For the 2006-2007 school year Nottingham had a total enrollment of 1291 students: 311 Grade 9, 344 Grade 10, 308 Grade 11, and 282 Grade 12, with 46 students "ungraded". This was down 3.5% from the previous year's total of 1338.

For the same year, 50% (648) of the student body was eligible for free lunch, and 9% (111) were eligible for reduced-price lunch.

The student body's racial/ethnic origin was: Black or African American 60% (781), White 27% (355), Hispanic or Latino 8% (108), Asian or Native/Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander 3% (37), American Indian or Alaska Native 1% (10). For the same period 12% (150) of students were reported as being "Limited English Proficient".

Academics

In 2007 Nottingham graduated 189 students, 72% (136) of these students received Regents Diplomas, 21% (39) received Regents Diplomas with "Advanced Designation". During the 2006-2007 school year 139 (or 11%) students dropped out. In 2006, Nottingham had a graduation rate of 48%.

For the 2006-2007 school year 95 teachers worked at Nottingham, along with 1 principal, 3 assistant principals, and 8 other professional staff. 423 Classes were taught, with an overall average class size of 24 students per class.

The 2005-2006 school year had an annual attendance rate of 90%. During the same year 305 (23%) students were suspended for one full day or longer.

Bands and choirs

Nottingham has a number of bands and choirs, in which any student may participate. Some require auditions, and most can be taken for credit.

Bands

  • Concert Band
  • Jazz Band
  • Celtic Band (defunct as of January 2007)
  • World Drumming
  • Chamber Ensemble
  • Choirs

  • Chorale
  • Gospel Choir
  • Vocal Jazz
  • The Nottingham Celtic Ensemble (defunct)

    The Nottingham Celtic Ensemble was a small, Trad-oriented, student-directed Celtic band at Nottingham that ran from 2004 to 2006. Nottingham was the only school in the district to have this type of ensemble.

    The Celtic Ensemble originally played at numerous venues in Nottingham High School and around the Syracuse community, including the annual Westcott Street Cultural Fair and Petit Branch Library. In 2005, members of the Celtic Ensemble performed in the pit for Nottingham's production of Under Milk Wood. While the Celtic Ensemble generally performed pieces of Irish origin, they did occasionally play music from other parts of the British Isles, original compositions, and popular tunes. The Celtic Ensemble has been defunct since January 2007.

    Arts and entertainment

  • Hank O'Neal (photographer and author)
  • Jeff Altman (standup comedian)
  • John Berendt (author, "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil", among others)
  • Ben Burtt (sound effects designer for Star Wars and other films)
  • Thom Filicia (interior designer, cast member of "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy")
  • William Lundigan (film and TV actor)
  • Michael Herr (author, "Dispatches," "Walter Winchell: A Novel," "Kubrick," co-wrote screenplay for the film "Full Metal Jacket)
  • Gordon MacRae (actor, singer, father of Meredith MacRae)
  • Camille Paglia (author, critic)
  • Tony Trischka (banjo player and teacher - "…most influential banjo player of the latter part of the 20th century, certainly in terms of his profound influence on succeeding generations of modern players." - Banjo Newsletter)
  • Jimmy Van Heusen, born Edward Chester Babcock (composer, "Darn That Dream", "I Thought About You", "Imagination", "Polka Dots and Moonbeams", "My Kind of Town", among many others)
  • Additionally, Nottingham is the basis of the book, The World We Created at Hamilton High, by Gerald Grant. [1]
  • Mark Levinson (producer of "Mystic Pizza", "Teen Wolf", and "Home Alone".)
  • Sports

  • Felisha Legette-Jack (head coach, University at Buffalo women's basketball)
  • Dorsey Levens (NFL football player)
  • Doug Swift (member of Miami Dolphins 1972 undefeated team)
  • Government

  • Dan Maffei (United States Congressman for New York's 24th congressional district)
  • Steven K. Galson (former acting Surgeon General of the United States)
  • School facilities

  • The "George Washington" wing of Nottingham was a former neighboring elementary school. It was annexed in 1977 and is attached by a walkway. It now houses the math classrooms and art classrooms.
  • Nottingham has its own Olympic-sized pool, which other local schools utilize as well for regional swim meets.
  • Nottingham recently got a new $20 million turf field that took a year to implement.
  • Nottingham recently had a "facelift" to its Auditorium, with a new name: the Len Fonte Center for the Performing Arts
  • References

    Nottingham High School (Syracuse, New York) Wikipedia