Danbury High School

Danbury High School is a public high school in Danbury, Connecticut, with almost 4000 students. It is part of the Danbury Public Schools district. Despite Danbury's population of 86,518 (as of 2020),^[2] there is only one public high school, along with several small private schools, and one vocational high school in the city. The school is located in a suburban, residential neighborhood atop a hill that overlooks most of the city.

Danbury High School
The newly renovated front entrance of Danbury High School, opened in 2018.
Address
43 Clapboard Ridge Road Danbury , Connecticut 06811 United States
Coordinates	41°24′59″N 73°28′13″W / 41.4163°N 73.4704°W / 41.4163; -73.4704
Information
Type	Public
Established	1906 (118 years ago) (1906)
School district	Danbury School District
CEEB code	070120
Principal	Dan Donovan
Staff	208.00 (FTE)^[1]
Grades	9th–12th
Number of students	3,340 (2021-22)^[1]
Student to teacher ratio	16.06^[1]
Color(s)	Blue and orange
Mascot	Hatter
Website	dhs.danbury.k12.ct.us

Athletic facilities at Danbury High School.

Danbury High School is supplemented by a magnet program called the Alternative Center for Excellence. This program provides a Danbury High School diploma but exhibits additional criteria not required by most local institutions.^[3]

In 2013, Danbury High School was awarded $100,000 after winning the State Farm Insurance "Celebrate My Drive" campaign. The "Celebrate My Drive" campaign encourages teens to make positive choices as they start driving.^[4]

Danbury High School was awarded a total of $40,000 after 2 student's projects won the statewide contest Voice4Change. These projects were to contribute to the water fountains and teacher's faculty lounge furniture at DHS.^[5]

History

Discussion of founding a high school in Danbury took place in the 1860s, and the school began operation before 1878.^[6][7] In 1927, a new high school was built on 181 White Street in Danbury. This building served as the city's main high school, until a rapid increase in Danbury's population compelled a major school construction program. In 1965, a new Danbury High School was dedicated on Clapboard Ridge. This campus is still the current location of the school today. On October 11, 1967 rock band The Doors performed live at the school.^[8]

Academic progress and school improvement

Beginning next fall, freshmen students entering Danbury High School will have an opportunity to earn an associate degree simultaneously with their high school diploma. As part of the Early College Opportunity program, 80 to 100 incoming freshmen students will begin their journey toward an associate degree in information technology issued by Naugatuck Valley Community College.^[9]

Stadium

Constructed in 2002, Danbury High School has a multi-purpose stadium complex that is able to accommodate close to 4,000 spectators. The field surface is Astroplay brand filled field turf that can be used in all types of weather. It also features a seven-pole Universal Sports Lighting system, an electronic remote-controlled scoreboard, and heated concession building with bathrooms. The track is an eight-lane Mondo Limited Super X Surface. In the summer of 2015, the Astroplay surface of the multi-purpose lighted field was replaced with a brand-new more grass-like artificial turf.^{[10][better source needed]}

 

The latest addition to Danbury High School, G Building

Media appearances

Danbury High School has been featured on TruTV's The Principal's Office.^{[citation needed]}

Notable alumni

• Austin Calitro (born 1994), NFL player
• Ken Green (born 1958), PGA Golf Professional with 5 Tour wins
• Peter Hylenski (born 1975–1976), Tony Award-winning sound designer^[11][12]
• George Radachowsky (born 1962), NFL player^[13]
• William R. Ratchford (born 1934), former U.S. Representative from Connecticut^[14]
• Allen Ritter (born 1988), record producer, songwriter, pianist and singer^{[citation needed]}
• Perry Rotella (born 1963), IT executive and businessman^{[citation needed]}
• James A. Ryan (1867–1956), U.S. Army brigadier general
• Robert Joseph Shaheen (born 1937), clergyman of the Maronite Catholic Church^[15]

References

1. "Danbury High School". National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved May 5, 2022.
2. "U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Danbury city, Connecticut". www.census.gov.
3. "Danbury High School". Public School Review. 18 February 2024.
4. "2013 In Review: Danbury Celebrates $100K Check For High School". Danbury Daily Voice. 31 December 2013.
5. Perkins, Julia (2022-04-18). "Putting the teachers first, Danbury students win $40K for new water fountains, faculty furniture". Stamford Advocate. Retrieved 2022-05-01.
6. Superintendent of the Common Schools (1864). Report of the Superintendent of Common Schools to the General Assembly of Connecticut. Hartford, CT: J. M. Scofield & Co. p. 49 – via Google Books.
7. "Fairfield County: John Cannon". Hartford, CT. Hartford, CT. July 24, 1878. p. 4 – via Newspapers.com.
8. Jany, Libor (11 November 2012). "45 years ago, Doors left mark on Danbury". Connecticut Post.
9. Joe Jenkins (February 9, 2015). "Danbury High To Offer Associate Degree Program To Incoming Freshmen". Danbury: The Daily Voice.
10. "Stadium". dhs.danbury.k12.ct.us. Retrieved 12 September 2022.
11. FitzGerald, Eileen (February 5, 2004). "Danbury High grad sounds off on success". The News-Times. Danbury, Connecticut. Retrieved November 13, 2021.
12. Brody, Jordanna (September 26, 2021). "Peter Hylenski Wins 2020 Tony Award for Sound Design of Moulin Rouge". Theatrely. Retrieved November 13, 2021.
13. . profootballarchives.com. Archived from the original on November 29, 2014. Retrieved November 17, 2014.
14. United States Congress. "William Richard Ratchford (id: R000067)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved December 29, 2010.
15. . Maronite Eparchy of Our Lady of Lebanon. Archived from the original on December 14, 2010. Retrieved December 29, 2010.

External links

 

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Danbury High School.

• Official website