Nottingham High School (Syracuse, New York)

William Nottingham High School
Location
3100 East Genesee Street Syracuse, New York, United States
Information
Type	Comprehensive High School
Motto	Virtus Eruditio Assidiutas [sic]
Established	1921
School district	Syracuse City School District
Principal	David Maynard
Teaching staff	95
Grades	9-12
Mascot	Bulldogs
Newspaper	'Common Ground'
Yearbook	'The Bulldog'

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

The school was established in 1921 (making it the oldest 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.^[1]

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.^{[citation needed]}

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. (^{[citation needed]}

Statistics

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".^[2]

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.^[3]

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.^[2]

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.^[2]

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.

Famous alumni

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)
• Karen Halverson (photographer)
• 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]

Sports

• Felisha Legette-Jack (head coach, Indiana University women's basketball)
• Dorsey Levens (NFL football player)
• Keith Moody (former Syracuse University and NFL player)
• Doug Swift (member of Miami Dolphins 1972 undefeated team)
• Nicole Spartano (former Syracuse women's soccer player)
• Daniel Stevens (former University of Buffalo soccer player, Vermont Voltage soccer player)
• Bill Rathbun (1990 Ivy League Champion and NCAA Division I All-American: Placed third in NCAA Championships (1600 meter run)

Government

• Dan Maffei (outgoing United States Congressman for New York's 25th congressional district)^{[dated info]}
• Steven K. Galson (former acting Surgeon General of the United States)

School facilities

A nighttime football game takes place on Nottingham's recently renovated athletic fields.

• 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

External links

• Nottingham High School Website
• Nottingham alumni website
• Nottingham alumni FaceBook page
• Nottingham Alumni Wall of Fame

References

1. ^ "William Nottingham History". Nottingham High Class of 1973 Alumni. http://www.nottingham73.com/History.htm. Retrieved 2008-09-20. 
2. ^ ^{a b c} "New York State School Report Card: 2006-07 Accountability and Overview Report" (PDF). New York State Education Department. https://www.nystart.gov/publicweb-rc/2007/2b/AOR-2007-421800010039.pdf. Retrieved 2008-09-20. 
3. ^ "New York State School Report Card: 2006-07 Comprehensive Information Report" (PDF). New York State Education Department. https://www.nystart.gov/publicweb-rc/2007/2b/CIR-2007-421800010039.pdf. Retrieved 2008-09-20.