Parkland High School (Pennsylvania)

Parkland High School
File:Parklandsd allentownpa.png
Location
2700 North Cedar Crest Boulevard South Whitehall Township, Pennsylvania
Information
Type	Public
Established	1949
Principal	Richard T. Sniscak
Enrollment	3,187
Mascot	The Trojan
Colors	Red and Grey
Website	Parkland High School Web Site

Parkland High School, located in South Whitehall Township, Pennsylvania, United States, is a public high school serving students in grades 9 to 12. It is the only high school for the Parkland School District.

The school is located at 2700 North Cedar Crest Boulevard in South Whitehall Township. The school's mascot is the Trojans, and school colors are red and grey.

With 3,187 students in the 2005-2006 academic year, Parkland is the second largest high school in Pennsylvania's Lehigh Valley, behind only Allentown's William Allen High School.

Academics

Parkland High School is known for its competitive academic programs. More than 10 percent of Parkland High School students are identified as academically gifted, with IQs exceeding 130. Over 65 percent of graduating students go on to four-year colleges. In the 2006-2007 academic year, the school boasted 15 National Merit Finalists. Eighty percent of students in the class of 2006 took the SAT I, with an average score of 1620 out of 2400.[1].

Parkland is a four-time winner (1988, 1990, 2001 and 2007) of Scholastic Scrimmage, a televised academic contest during which teams from Pennsylvania high schools compete in rapid recall of factual information.

In 2004 and 2006, the school's Scholastic Scrimmage team finished third in Pennsylvania's Academic Competition in Harrisburg. Parkland also has a strong tradition of excellence in regional debate leagues, having won many championships, most recently in 2005 and 2006. The school also is competitive in FBLA-PBL and Science Olympiad competitions, regularly sending contingents to states. In 2001 and 2002 the school participated in the FIRST competition and in 2002 won the Virginia regional and took second in the Philadelphia regional, allowing them to send the robotics team to Epcot Center for the national championship.

Parkland's Political Science Club offers students the opportunity to particpate in various Model United Nations conferences. Parkland consistently sends winning delegations to the Kutztown, Wyomissing, Lehigh/Emmaus, and Ivy League Model United Nations Conferences. For the past several years, Parkland has been named best delegation at the Lehigh conference.

During the 2007 school year, a group of sophomores decided to bring the Odyssey of the Mind competition to the district. Two teams were formed, both advancing to the State competition, and one advancing to the World Finals at Michigan State University. This team also won the prestigous Ranatra Fusca creativity award.

Arts

Parkland has many musical groups, including orchestral ensembles, choral groups, and a concert band, jazz band, and marching band. The marching band competes in the Tournament of Bands (TOB) competition, and the jazz band competes locally. Every four years, the music department organizes a trip to Disney World.

The school's music program sent four musicians to the Pennsylvania Music Educators Conference (PMEA) state music festivals in the 2004-2005 academic year. PMEA organizes competitive auditioned ensembles each year, of which the state groups are the most prestigious. Approximately 500 students are selected for these ensembles each year.

The theater department puts on several productions each year including one large musical. In the spring of 2006, the arts department was honored with 5 "Freddy" Awards given out by the State Theater in neighboring Easton, Pennsylvania, including "Best Female Lead" and "Best Overall Production." Each year, they are awarded to recognize excellence in high school theater in the Lehigh Valley.

Parkland is known for its annual Festival of the Arts that takes place in the spring. Students organize the event that includes live concerts in the Auditorium, festival food and games on the front quad, displays of high school art work, and live demonstrations and exhibits by local artists.

Athletics

Parkland competes in the Lehigh Valley Conference in District XI of the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association. Parkland's primary athletic rivalry is with Emmaus High School in neighboring Emmaus.

Parkland is particularly well known for several exceptional athletic programs, including its girls' basketball and girls' swimming teams, both of which won Pennsylvania state championships in 2006. The school's girls softball team won the first Pennsylvania state-wide championship ever held (in 1975).

The girls swim team were PIAA class 3A state champions in 2001, 2003, and 2006 and have been ranked in the top 10 nationally. They currently hold a streak of 8 consecutive District XI AAA Championships.

In 2002, the Parkland football team won the Pennsylvania AAAA State Championship, led by All-American Austin Scott (currently a running back for Penn State). The season culminated in a 34-12 victory against Woodland Hills High School at Hersheypark Stadium. The team ended the year ranked the 11th in the nation, according to USA Today "Final 2002 Super 25 Football Rankings" [2]. Scott compiled 3,853 yards (fourth highest in high school football history) and 53 touchdowns, both still state records. In honor of Scott's accomplishments, the school retired his number, 33, the following year.

In the 2003-2004 season, the boys basketball team advanced all the way to the state finals before bowing out to Penn Hills High School by a score of 57-48. [3]

In 2004-2005, both the girls' cross country and girls' swim teams took second place in the Pennsylvania state finals.

Parkland's ice hockey team is one of the best in the LVSHL (Lehigh Valley Scholastic Hockey League). Both Parkland's Varsity and JV teams have won their league's championships numerous times.

The Parkland boys tennis team won the District XI AAA championship in 2005, 2006, and 2007 and advanced to the final 8 in the state all three years. In 2007, Parkland claimed both the District XI singles 1st place, 3rd place, and 4th place titles along with the 1st place and 2nd place doubles titles. This year marked the second consecutive year that Parkland won the District XI singles, doubles, and team titles.

The Parkland boys volleyball team has won 5 District XI titles (1995, 1996, 1997, 2000, and 2003) and finished 3rd at the PIAA Championships in 1996 (losing to Hempfield in semifinals) and 1997 (losing to Central York in semifinals). The junior varsity team finished the 2007 season undefeated in league play.

The Parkland boys and girls cross country teams have consistantly been atop their division. The girls are run by captain Coutney Long.

Staff

The school is supported by eight administrators, one transitional coordinator, two supervisors, 16 department chairs, 10 counselors, two psychologists, three nurses, 188 teaching professionals, and 113 support staff.

Notable alumni

• Michaela Conlin, actress, Fox's Bones.
• Tim Massaquoi, professional football player, Miami Dolphins.
• Aimee Mullins, actress, World Trade Center.
• Adam Richman, professional musician.
• Lauren Weisberger, author, The Devil Wears Prada.

External links

• Parkland High School Official Home Page.
• Parkland High School athletics schedule and scores at HighSchoolSports.net.
• Parkland High School Page at Lehigh Valley Conference Official Web Site.