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Altoona Area High School

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Altoona Area High School
Motto
Established 1895
School type Public
Principal Sharon A. Fasenmyer
Assistant Prinicpal 10- Patty Burlingame
11- David Bufalini
12- Paul Hasson
Location Altoona, Pennsylvania
Mascot Mountain Lion
Colors Maroon and White
Homepage aahs.aasdcat.com

Altoona Area High School is the public high school for the Altoona Area School District. The high school is located in Altoona, Blair County. The high school serves the populations living in Altoona, Logan Township, and a small portion of Tyrone Township. The school is located at 1415 Sixth Avenue, Altoona, PA 16602.

Status

The school district is the eighteenth largest in the state, and the high school is one of the largest and well known in the state. Altoona Area High School (AAHS) teaches grades 10 through 12.

History

The first six official graduates of Altoona Area High School graduated in 1877 at the Webster Building, but the high school was not a separate building until 1895. In 1905, it moved to its present location on sixth avenue. This building cost $250,000. After the First World War, the building was not large enough to house the number of students it had enrolled. In 1927, a $1 million annex was added to accompany the facilities. A $14 million dollar project during the 1970s allowed the school to be completely renovated and a 1200-seat auditorium was built. A new gym, called the fieldhouse, was also constructed. In 1995, the Women's Basketball Coaches Association High School All-America game was telecast live for the fieldhouse by ESPN2.

Building features

The school itself contains a planetarium, full size gym, television studio, auxiliary gym, electronic learning laboratory, and regulation size swimming pool.

Miscellaneous

  • On campus there is a running track, two basketball courts, a turf field, five tennis courts, and two volleyball courts.
  • The Vocational Technology Center is located behind the school less than 1/3 mile away.

Students and Teachers

Ethnicity
Ethnicity Altoona Area High School State Average
Caucasian 96% 76%
African American 3% 16%
Hispanic <1% 6%
Asian <1% 2%



Miscellaneous
Category Altoona Area High School State Average
Students eligible for free or reduced lunch 56% 33%
Student to teacher ratio 16.63:1 ~17:1
  • Number of Students- 1962
    • Tenth Grade- 688
    • Eleventh Grade- 671
    • Twelfth Grade- 588
  • Number of teachers- 118

Opportunities

Advanced Placement Courses

College credits can be earned by taking any of 14 advanced placement courses. These include English, Calculus, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Computer Science, Music Theory and Harmony, American History, European History, Comparative Government, American Government, French, German, and Spanish.

Clubs and Organizations

The school offers a wide variety of clubs and organizations that the students can join. These include Concert Chorus, Drama, Two Jazz Bands, Marching Band, Orchestra, Pep Band, String Ensemble, Vocal Music Ensemble, ETC (Et Cetera Literary Magazine), Horseshoe (Yearbook), Mt. Echo (Newspaper), Advanced Dance Class Club, Ambassador Club, Astronomy Club, Chess Club, The Circle of Friends (Support group), Computer Club, Class Organizations, Diversity Group, Earthkeepers, Foreign Language Club, Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA), Future Homemakers of America Club (FCCLA), General Interest Club, Girls’ League, Homecoming Committee, Interact Club, Junior Academy of Science, Key Club, Lioneers (dance/drill team), Mock Trial Team, National Art Honor Society, National Honor Society (NHS), REACH (Support group), Peer Mediation Program, Performing Arts Club, Principal’s Student Advisory Committee, Speech League, Student Council, Students against Driving Drunk (SADD), Youth Education Association Club, and Youth and Government Club.

Athletics

There are numerous sports and athletic programs available to the students at Altoona Area High School including an Intramural sports program.

Male Sports

Baseball, Basketball, Cross Country, Football, Golf, Soccer, Swimming, Tennis, Track and Field, Volleyball, Winter Track, and Wrestling.

Female Sports

Basketball, Cheerleading, Cross Country, Gymnastics, Soccer, Softball, Swimming, Tennis, Track and Field, Volleyball, and Winter Track.

Notable alumni