DeWitt Clinton High School is an American high school located in the New York City borough of the Bronx. History Haaren Hall in 2008 Clinton opened in 1897 at 60 West 13th Street at the northern end of Greenwich Village under the name of Boys High School[Kenneth T. Jackson: The Encyclopedia of New York City: The New York Historical Society; Yale University Press; 1995. P. 332.], although this Boys High School was not related to the one in Brooklyn. This school was renamed for DeWitt Clinton in 1900 . In 1906 it moved to a newly constructed building on Tenth Avenue between 58th Street and 59th Street in the Hell's Kitchen neighborhood—the same year as the opening of the nearby DeWitt Clinton Park where students "farmed" plots in what was the first community garden in New York. The H-shaped building designed by Charles B. J. Snyder was said to be the biggest high school building in the United States at the time. After the school moved to the Bronx it became Haaren High School. It is now Haaren Hall on the campus of the John Jay College of Criminal Justice. Until a high school education became compulsory in the early 1930s, Clinton, like all other public schools in the City, had a Classics Department, where Greek and Latin were taught. Perhaps the most famous teacher to ever grace the halls of the school was History teacher Dr Irwin Guernsey, known to generations of students as "Doc" Guernsey. He came to Clinton in Fall, 1914 and retired in Spring, 1959, only because he had become ill. A cripple with two "irish" canes, he taught from the chair and won twice in his lifetime the title of Master Teacher in New York City. He was also head of Arista, the Honors Association. The History wing is named "Guernsey Hall" in his memory, and one can still see the library cart "Doc's Special" that students used to wheel him to class on the last years of his tenure when he was sick. The school moved to a new building on a campus at 100 West Mosholu Parkway South and East 205th Street in the Bedford Park section of the Bronx in 1929 , where it has remained. In the 1930s its enrollment peaked at 12,000 and it was said to be the largest high school in the world. Enrollment has subsequently dropped to about 4,000. It remained the last gender-segregated public school in New York until 1983. The current principal is Geraldine Ambrosio, the first woman to hold the Clinton Principalship. In 1996, Clinton was selected by Redbook magazine as one of the five most improved schools in America. In 1999, US News and World Report designated Clinton as one of the most outstanding schools in America. The school receives government aid because of the low income status of its students. As of 2006, the school has a large Hispanic population, followed by Blacks and Asians. Caucasians, primarily Albanians, comprise a tiny minority. Organization-Houses/Small Learning Communities Clinton is split into several small learning communities (SLC). They include the Macy Honors Gifted Program (internally referred to often as the Macy House), Health Professions, Veterinary Professions, Public Service, Business Enterprise, Future Educators, Academy House, and Varsity House. DeWitt Clinton High School is best known for its Macy honors program, attracting intelligent, hard-working children and preparing them for selective colleges such as Cornell, MIT, Columbia, Wesleyan, Tufts, and Yale. The Macy program has been expanded to serve 1,200 students. The current Macy Coordinators are Phyllis McCabe and Ernesta Consolazio. The Macy Honors Gifted Program in the Sciences and Humanities has its own teachers, and a nine-period day compared to the regular New York City 8 period day. The program offers specialized and advanced Technology (SMT) courses, Science, Math, English, Law, Government, Philosophy and Great Books. All students in the program are required to have a minimum average of 80 and not to fail any courses. When MACY students are removed from the program, they are placed in "Excel," a special MACY run program just for its kick-outs and drop-outs, before getting fully demoted to the lower programs. From at least 1998 to 2002 some students went directly into the Excel program. Honors The advanced Macy students are invited to join the super-selective "Einstein" program with about 50 students in each grade, totaling to a few hundred students from the Macy Honors Gifted Program in the Sciences and Humanities. In Einstein, the academic performance requirements are more strict than regular Macy. Einstein students in their junior year are required to take a College Now course for philosophy and government science, in their first and second semester, respectively. These courses are used to earn college credits. Einstein students are automatically assigned to honors and AP classes as early as freshman year, followed by the mandatory AP United States History and AP English Language for Einstein students who make it to their junior year. Many within this elite of elites program either drop out of Einstein, or get further demoted to Excel. Although an average of 90 or higher is allegedly required to remain in Einstein, many with averages significantly lower are still in it. It is observed that many who are taken out of Einstein have failed a class or more or merely performed inexcusably poor. This program is for students who are willing and capable. There is also the regualar Macy Program, which consists of those who are able to keep 80 averages or above. If one fails in reaching those standards, they are taken out and put into excel. Macy, although not as challenging as Einstein, still is an honors program. MASTERS ProgramMany MACY students are invited to MASTERS, a month-long summer program that offers many hands-on college courses that emphasizes mathematics and science. Some include: Forensic Science, Robotics, Anatomy, Business, Consumer Chemistry and Electricity. MASTERS offers everyday SAT practice in the form of quizzes; winners get a trip to the prize box. This MASTERS Program is a very engaging yet enriching summer program. Many who attend this program learn to dissect different animals, conduct college leveled experiments, etc. They also go on to do very well on the vocabulary part of the SAT. [Past Masterites, please extend this section.] Course Offerings Partly due to the immensity of size, DeWitt Clinton High School has several course offerings, more than most New York City Schools. REGULAR and ELECTIVES: - Mathematics: Integrated Algebra, Mathematics A, Mathematics B, College Algebra, Precalculus
- Science: Environmental Science, Biology, Biology Research, Chemistry, Physics, Earth Science, Forensics, Intro to Engineering, Engineering 2,
- History: World History, United States History, Government, Historical Research, Presidents, Law, New York History, Economics
- Foreign Language: Spanish, Spanish Heritage, Spanish Native, French, Latin
- English: In addition to English 1-8, there are Literary Criticism 1 and 2, Great Books, TDF- Playwriting, Writing, Journalism, Film and the WITT Seminar on Activism.
- Physical Education and Health: Karate, Yoga, Fitness, Basketball, Gymnastics, Boys Weightlifting, Girls Weightlifting, Dance, Health
- Art and Music: Beg Guitar, Advanced Guitar, Beg Piano, Chorus, History of Music, Band, Marching Band, Studio Art, Photography, Drawing, Ceramics
- Technology (SMT): Computer Applications, Computer Research
Advanced Placement TM: - Mathematics: Calculus AB, Calculus BC, Statistics
- Science: Biology, Chemistry, Physics
- English: Language and Composition, Literature and Composition
- Social Studies: World History, United States History, United States Government and Politics, European History, Macroeconomics, Microeeconomics, Psychology
- Foreign Language: Spanish Language and Composition, Spanish Literature and Composition
Course offerings and availability depend highly upon the house a student is enrolled in. For instance, the Mathematics A and B tracks tend to be shorter for MACY students. Also, environmental science is usually the starter course for DeWitt Clinton High School, whereas MACY students skip straight to the "Biology" course. Health Careers students can have Health classes for up to two years whereas others get one term under the incorrect course name "hygiene" (referred to as Health above). Even within some houses, there are smaller divisions or Small Learning Communities (SLCs). For instance, the MACY program included a breakdown into Humanities, Math Science and Engineering, and Business. Houses, particularly MACY, tend to have their own classes. However, there maybe some overlap as MACY classes are often considered "honors" courses. Health Careers students have been permitted to take a limited number of MACY classes to count as honors. Student Organizations There are over 40 academic and interest clubs. These clubs include: - ARISTA (National Honor Society)
- Clinton News (School Newspaper)
- C.S.S. (Clinton Students & Staff)
- Math (coincides with chapter of Mu Alpha Theta, math honor society)
- Model United Nations Club
- Paint Club (by PUBLICOLOR)
- Students for Equality and Action (S.E.A.)
- Student Leadership Council
- Voracious Vocabulary Club
"The Clinton News," the school's newspaper, is written and managed by its students. However, like many other outstanding Clinton possessions, the Clinton News publishes several multi-page full color papers a year by a grant from the Christian A. Johnson Endevaour Foundation. Another but better known Clinton High School publication is "The MAGPIE." Published yearly, the historic color edition of this magazine came out May 2007. This literary collection received the most attention for its association with the Harlem Renaissance. Governors SportsThe Governors are the school mascot at DeWitt Clinton and represent it not only in basketball and football, but in approxiamtely thirty-five teams. There have been various teams which do not exist this year in the past such as fencing, and rifle. Teams for the 2007-2008 school year include: - Baseball: Boys Varsity, Boys JV
- Basketball: Boys Varsity, Boys JV, Girls Varsity, Girls JV
- Bowling: Boys Varsity, Girls Varsity
- Cross Country: Boys Varsity, Girls Varsity
- Football: Boys Varsity, Boys JV
- Gymnastics: Boys Varsity, Girls Varsity
- Indoor Track: Boys Varsity, Girls Varsity
- Outdoor Track: Boys Varsity, Girls Varsity
- Soccer: Boys Varsity, Girls Varsity
- Softball: Girls Varsity, Girls JV
- Swimming: Boys Varsity, Girls Varsity
- Tennis: Boys Varsity, Girls Varsity
- Volleyball: Boys Varsity, Girls Varsity
DeWitt Clinton also has a boys Cricket Team, encouraged by the large number of South Asians which has been added as a PSAL game this year. School Facilities The DeWitt Clinton High School tremendous, scholarly, and classical library in 1929. DeWitt Clinton High School is currently located at 100 West Mosholu Parkway South. It dominates the entire gargantuan block excluding the small ground at the end that the Bronx High School of Science is situated on. Facing the main entrance of the building, Paul Avenue runs to the left and Goulden Avenue to the right. The school faces Mosholu Parkway, and has its turf behind it, followed by a small baseball field, and then the large one. It is at this point that DeWitt Clinton territory ends, meeting that of Bronx Science. Clinton has a small branch of Montefiore Medical Clinic in it, capable of supplying essential services to the students of the campus. - The coordinates of Clinton are as follows: Latitude: 40.88111 : Longitude: -73.8875
More Images Here is a link to a New York Times article regarding the second DeWitt Clinton High School structure: DeWitt Clinton in the Media A vital part of the Bronx, the institution was featured in A WALK THROUGH THE BRONX WITH DAVID HARTMAN AND HISTORIAN BARRY LEWIS. In it, Hartman and Lewis take a peek at the library. The DeWitt Clinton Chorus performed songs in the 2000 production, Finding Forrester. Clintonites made headlines and New York City School history in September 2005, when they walked out. The 1,500 strong walk out was a result of the installation of metal detectors Notable alumni- Andrew Ackerman, Executive Director, Children's Museum of Manhattan (class of 1971)
- Ronell Alman, singer, songwriter, poetry ambassador, percussionist, entertainer, educator (class of 1992)
- Nate Archibald (born 1948), Hall of Fame basketball player (class of 1966)
- Don Lane aka Donald Morton Isaacson (1933-2009), American-born Australian entertainer, TV talk show host and singer (class of 1952)
- Richard Avedon (1923-2004), photographer (class of 1941).
[Staff. , The Daily Telegraph, October 2, 2004. Accessed September 14, 2009. "He also edited the school magazine at DeWitt Clinton High, on which the black American writer James Baldwin was literary editor."]
- William Axt (1888-1959), film composer, The Thin Man (1935) (class of 1905)
- Sanjay Ayre (born 1980), runner (including bronze medal at the 2000 Sydney Olympics in the 4 x 400 meters relay) (class of 1999).
- Harold Baer, Justice, New York State Supreme Court (class of 1923)
- James Baldwin (1924-1987), writer (class of 1942).
[Lester, Julius. , Los Angeles Times, February 15, 1998. Accessed September 15, 2009. "He attended New York's prestigious DeWitt Clinton High, where his classmates included writers Emile Capouya and Sol Stein and photographer Richard Avedon. He graduated in 1942 and, upon the death of his stepfather a year later, moved to Greenwich Village."]
- David Begelman (1921-1995), President, Columbia Pictures (class of 1938)
- Lou Bender (1910-2009), pioneer player with the Columbia Lions and in early pro basketball, who was later a successful trial attorney.
- Ira Berlin (born 1941), historian, author (class of 1959)
- Edward Bernays (1891-1995), "Father of Public Relations" (class of 1908).
- Edward Bernstein, First director of the International Monetary Fund (class of 1922)
- Max Bloom, Justice, New York State Supreme Court (class of 1926)
- Al Casey (1915-2005), jazz guitarist (class of 1931).
- Gilbert Cates (born 1934), producer, Academy Award telecasts (class of 1951).
- Avery Corman (born 1935), author, Kramer vs. Kramer, Oh, God! (class of 1952).
[Wasserstein, Wendy. , The New York Times, June 20, 1999. Accessed September 15, 2009. "DeWitt Clinton High School, named for the 19th-century New York mayor and governor, is the alma mater of the comedian Robert Klein, the designer Ralph Lauren and the writers James Baldwin and Avery Corman."]
- Frank Corsaro (born 1924), stage and opera director (class of 1942).
- Ellis Cousens, Executive VP and CFO, John Wiley & Sons(class of 1970)
- Lloyd Cutler, attorney, counsel to US presidents (class of 1932)
- Leonard Davis, founder, Colonial Penn Insurance; co-founder, AARP (class of 1940)
- Charles DeLisi, scientist, "Father of the Human Genome Project" (class of 1959)
- Dean Dixon, first African American conductor of the New York Philharmonic (class of 1932)
- Herman Joseph Drucker, youngest eagle scout in greater NY council - 1936 (class of 1939)
- Will Eisner, "Father of the modern graphic novel" (class of 1936)
- Eugene Emond, WWII B-17 Pilot and Officer of the New York Federal Reserve (class of 1928)
- Bill Finger, author, creator of many Batman characters (class of 1933)
- Bill Graham (1931-1991), rock promoter (class of 1949).
- George Gregory, Jr., first African American All-American college basketball player and New York City official (class of 1927)
- George Gresham, president, 1199 SEIU United Healthcare Workers East (class of 1973)
- Sam Gross, cartoonist, New Yorker Magazine (class of 1950)
- Gary Gubner, shotputter and weighlifter, Olympic athlete and world record holder (class of 1960)
- Jerry Harkness, professional basketball player and civil rights activist (class of 1958)
- Kenneth Harper, creator and executive producer of the musical play and film The Wiz (Class of 1957)
- Leo Kadanoff, physicist, National Medal of Science (class of 1953)
- Bob Kane, creator, Batman (class of 1933)
- Benjamin Kimlau, US Navy pilot killed during World War II, square named for him in Chinatown, NYC (class of 1937)
- Robert Klein (born 1942), comedian, actor, author (class of 1958).
- Joseph Lash, Pulitzer Prize author and historian (class of 1927)
- Butch Lee, NBA Basketball Player (class of 1974)
- Stan Lee, comic book publisher (class of 1939)
- Seymour Leslie, founder, Pickwick International record company; president of MGM Home Video (class of 1940)
- David L.Lewis,CEO, Mogul Protection Group,Inc, Author, Real Estate Developer(Class of 1992)
- Robert Lowery, first African American fire commissioner of the FDNY (class of 1934)
- August Martin, first African American commercial pilot (class of 1938)
- Abel Meeropol, teacher at DWC; lyricist, “Strange Fruit,” “The House I Live In” (class of 1921)
- Paul Milstein, real estate developer, philanthropist (class of 1940)
- Ralph Morse, photographer, developed the camera that went to the moon in 1969 (class of 1935)
- Jerry Moss, co-founder, A & M Records (class of 1953)
- Johnny Most, legendary radio play-by-play announcer for the Boston Celtics. (class of 1940)
- Jan Murray, actor, television host (class of 1934)
- Herbie Nichols, pianist, songwriter, "Lady Sings the Blues" (class of 1937)
- Basil Paterson, a labor lawyer, political leader in New York (class of 1942)
- Jan Peerce, Metropolitan Opera tenor (class of 1922)
- Abraham Polonsky (1910-1991), blacklisted screenwriter.
[Kipen, David. , San Francisco Chronicle, August 29, 2001. Accessed September 14, 2009. "The American 20th century went to high school at DeWitt Clinton High in the Bronx. Multicultural before there was a name for it -- at least a polite one --Clinton nurtured such diverse and influential figures as Bill Graham, James Baldwin, George Cukor, Neil Simon and Abraham Lincoln Polonsky."]
- Bud Powell, jazz pianist and composer (class of 1931)
- Mel Powell, Pulitzer Prize jazz composer (class of 1937)
- Henry Pringle, Pulitzer Prize author and historian (class of 1915)
- Chester Rapkin, urban planner, coined "SoHo" for an area of New York City (class of 1935)
- Seymour Reit, co-creator, Casper, the Friendly Ghost (class of 1934)
- Irving Riese, co-founder of Riese Restaurants (class of 1936)
- Jack Rudin, real estate developer, philanthropist (class of 1942)
- Lewis Rudin, real estate developer, philanthropist (class of 1944)
- Ralph L. Scala, Rock Star, Singer, keyboardist, founder of The Blues Magoos, 1962 & 1963 PSAL City Champions Golf (class of 1964)
- Dolph Schayes, NBA Hall of Fame basketball player (class of 1945)
- Paul Selinger, Dentist, third generation Clinton graduate (1963)
- Neil Simon (born 1927), playwright (class of 1944).
- Ricky Sobers, professional basketball player (class of 1971)
- Bruce Taub, president, CBS Television Network (Class of 1966)
- Marvin Traub, former head of Bloomingdale's Dept. Store (class of 1942)
- Jeff Wald, film and television producer, publicist (class of 1960)
- Grover Whalen, "Mr. New York," WNYC founder, President World's Fair Corporation (class of 1906)
- Woodie W. White, a retired Bishop of the United Methodist Church (class of 1953)
- Willie Worsley, community leader and basketball player (class of 1965)
Although he did not graduate, guitarist Paul "Ace" Frehley of KISS also attended Clinton. Distinguished VisitorsVisitors who have addressed Clinton assemblies include: Interesting facts- Six NYC schools are named for Clinton grads: August Martin High School in Queens, Murry Bergtraum High School in Manhattan, P.S. 96 Richard Rodgers and P.S.105 Abraham Bernstein in the Bronx, and P.S.50 Vito Marcantonio and P.S. 194 Countee Cullen in Manhattan.
- DeWitt Clinton High School's literary magazine, the Magpie gained notice in January 1921 when Countee Cullen published "I Have a Rendezvous with Life (with Apoligies to Alan Seeger)" in it. That poem is often consideried the first sign of the Harlem Renaissance. The Magpie published its historic color edition in Spring of 2007.
- Geraldine Ambrosio, the school's current principal, is the first female to rise to the position in the school's over a century history.
- The school's newspaper is "The Clinton News."
- DeWitt Clinton High School (DWCHS) students organized one of the largest high school walkouts in New York in September 19, 2005. The protest occurred over installation of airport-style metal detectors and x-ray scanners, which had already been installed in many other schools throughout New York City. In conversation, many students admitted that they were mostly upset that the metal detectors finally allowed the school to enforce the longstanding policy against using cell phones in school, since it provided an effective means to prevent the phones from getting into the school.
- The Castle on the Parkway: The Story of New York City's DeWitt Clinton High School and Its Extraordinary Influence on American Life is co-written by Gerard Pelisson and James A. Garvey III. It will be published by the Hutch Press in March 2009.
- According to the school itself, it offers more Advanced Placement (AP) courses than any other school in the borough other than the Bronx High School of Science. These courses include AP Language and Composition, Literature and Composition, Calculus AB, Calculus BC, Statistics, World History, U.S. History, U.S. Government and Politics, Psyshology, European History, Biology, Chemistry, Spanish Language and many more.
- Over half of DeWitt Clinton High School's population is on the social networking website Sconex.
- DeWitt Clinton High School has the largest high school Alumni Association in the world! It is this alumni association that prevented the school from being broken down into smaller schools like some of its peer schools like sister-school Walton.
- Paul Avenue, which runs to the side of the school from Mosholu Parkway to Lehman College, is named after a DeWitt Clinton High School Principal, Dr. Paul. It was under this principal that the school moved to its current location in the Bronx.
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