Cleveland Heights High School

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Location
Cleveland Heights High School
Cleveland Heights, Ohio, United States of America
Information
Principal	Darcel Williams
Students	1846
Type	Public
Mascot	Tiger
Established	1901
Colors	Black and Gold
Homepage	http://www.chuh.org/heights_high.shtml

Cleveland Heights High School (or simply Heights) is the senior high school of the Cleveland Heights-University Heights School District.

1 History
2 Gates Foundation involvement
3 Heights High Instrumental Music Department
4 Heights High Vocal Music Department
5 Facts
6 Ohio High School Athletic Association state championships
7 Notable alumni
8 External links
9 Notes and references

[edit] History

Cleveland Heights High School was founded in 1901. The current student population is more than 1800, with 18 students per full-time teacher.

The school is mostly African-American, with 76% identifying themselves as such, and Caucasian (19%), multiracial (4%) and Asian (1%) minorities.

Heights is known for its athletic teams, which play in Division I.

The school is known for its strong music departments, including the Vocal Music Department (VMD) which include A Capella, Singers, and Men and Women's choruses. There is also a Gospel Choir which is an extracurricular group. The Instrumental Music Department (IMD) consists of a well respected Symphony Orchestra and Jazz Band. Additional instrumental groups include Concert Orchestra, Symphonic Winds, Symphonic Band, Concert Band, Jazz Lab, and Marching Band.

The school is also known for its student-run newspaper, The Black & Gold, as well as for its strong AP Calculus BC program, which runs each year despite waning student interest.

[edit] Gates Foundation involvement

Heights High School recently became a pilot school for the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Small schools movement. Heights has divided itself into five small schools designed to improve student achievement based on an individual's learning style. The five schools at Heights^[1] are:

Legacy
Mosaic Experience
P.R.I.D.E.
R.E.A.L.
Renaissance

Much controversy among the student population and teachers as well has risen around the implementation of Small Schools at Heights as well as how they have been run. Several editorials about Small Schools have been published in The Black & Gold as well as Cleveland Magazine.

[edit] Heights High Instrumental Music Department

Current Heights High Instrumental Music Directors:

2001–Current: Brett Baker.

2007–Current: Scott Astey.

Former Heights High Instrumental Music Directors:

1969–1988: Director Robert Bergantino. While at Heights High his orchestras were recognized as being among the best in the country as evidenced by numerous appearances at Music Education Conferences, a perfect record of receiving unanimous "I" ratings in every competition entered, and 19 touring appearances in many parts of the country. ^[2]

1974–2001: James W. Bane. While at Heights High School his teaching responsibilities included Symphonic Winds, Symphonic Band, Concert Band, Marching Band and Jazz Band. Mr. Bane's was well known for Jazz Nights, featuring the schools talent, as well as consistently directing an 100+ member Marching Band.^[3] Mr Bane and Dr. Mayer are responsible for starting the Chamber Ensemble elective at Heights High School ^[4]

1992–2004: Director Dr. Frederick R Mayer. His teaching responsibilities included Heights High Symphony, Concert Orchestra, Chamber Ensembles, Marching Band, African-American music, music theory and music technology. During the summer months Dr. Mayer was the director of the Cleveland Music School Settlement Summer Music & Fine Arts Camp. ^[5]

2004-2007: Director Donna Dehn. Was responsible for teaching and directing the Symphony Orchestra, Concert Orchestra, AP Music Theory and the Chamber program, which consists of approximately 20 student chamber groups. These groups compete at OMEA Solo and Ensemble contest, perform recitals at Heights High, and provide live music at community functions.

Recently, the Heights High Symphony, Symphonic Winds and Jazz Ensemble competed in the 2007 Heritage Festival in Chicago, Illinois culminating at an award ceremony at Medieval Times where the Symphony Orchestra, as well as the Jazz Ensemble received Gold (or Superior) ratings.

[edit] Heights High Vocal Music Department

Heights High Vocal music director Craig L. McGaughey was first employed at Heights during the 2000–2001 school year to teach Heights Singers, Heights A Capella Choir, and Men's and Women's Choruses which consist of over 150 students per year. These groups compete at national competitions and at O.M.E.A Solo and Ensemble contest, perform concerts at Heights High, and perform at many community venues. The Heights Singers and A Capella Choir have won many national competitions and go on a yearly tour.

[edit] Facts

Name commonly shortened to “Heights”
Team Names: Tigers, Lady Tigers, Tigersharks (Swimming)
Colors: Black and Gold
Location: Cleveland Heights, Ohio, a suburb on the east side of Cleveland, at the corner of Cedar and Lee roads.
Had 1,909 students for the 2006-07 school year.
Has a long-running synchronized swimming group called the Swim Cadets.
Has a well recognized AP Calculus BC program under the instruction of teacher Jim Voytas. This program was recognized by the Siemens Foundation [1] which acknowledeged Voytas with an Advanced Placement award for his work.
Was featured in the 2006 movie The OH in Ohio that included Mischa Barton and Danny DeVito. The cafeteria and pool are easily recognizable, along with other spots frequented by Heights High students such as Coventry Village.
Has a high-rated music program.

[edit] Ohio High School Athletic Association state championships

Baseball — 1947 ^[6]
Basketball — 1997 ^[7]
Hockey — 1987
Swimming — 1932, 1933, 1934, 1965
Wrestling — 1976 ^[8]
Track and Field — 1941, 1982, 2008
Girls Track and Field — 1990, 1991, 1992, 1995

[edit] Notable alumni

Tom Mack — NFL (Los Angeles Rams), Football Hall of Fame Class of 1999.
J. R. Bremer — NBA Player (Boston, Golden State, Cleveland).
Ron Klein — U.S. Congressman.
Barry Cofield — New York Giants Defensive Tackle.
Peter B. Lewis — Chairman, Progressive Insurance.
Aaron Nixon — Long Beach State, 2006-07 Associated Press Honorable Mention All-American.
Mike "Scooter" McGruder — NFL New England Patriots Defensive cornerback.
Bertram Wolstein — Philanthropist and Founder of Developers Diversified Realty Corporation.
Mel Tucker — Defensive Coordinator (Cleveland Browns).
Eric Fingerhut — U.S. Congressman.
Steven LaTourette — U.S. Congressman.
Darrell Issa — U.S. Congressman.
Milton Shapp — Pennsylvania Governor.
Larry Harmon — Bozo the Clown and U.S. presidential candidate.
Sean Young — Actress.