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Haverhill High School

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Coordinates: 42°47′14″N 71°6′25″W / 42.78722°N 71.10694°W / 42.78722; -71.10694
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Haverhill High School
View of Haverhill High School Gymnasium, as seen from Monument Street.
Address
Map
137 Monument Street

Haverhill
,
Massachusetts
01832

United States
Coordinates42°47′14″N 71°6′25″W / 42.78722°N 71.10694°W / 42.78722; -71.10694
Information
Other nameHHS
TypePublic high school
School districtHaverhill Public Schools
NCES School ID250597000856[1]
PrincipalMichael Downs
Teaching staff148.81 (on an FTE basis)[1]
Grades9–12
Enrollment1,991 (2023-2024)[1]
Student to teacher ratio13.38[1]
Color(s)Brown and Gold   
Athletics conferenceMerrimack Valley Conference
NicknameHillies
Websitehhs.haverhill-ps.org

Haverhill High School (HHS) is a public high school in Haverhill, Massachusetts, United States. It is part of the Haverhill Public Schools district and is open enrollment.[2]

History

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At least three buildings have served as Haverhill High School. A now-demolished building designed by George M. Harding opened in 1874.[3] Another building designed by C. Willis Damon opened in 1909. At present, that building serves as the Haverhill City Hall.[4]

Haverhill High School opened on Monument Street in 1963, with the first class to graduate being the class of 1964.[5]

During the COVID-19 Pandemic in April 2021, Haverhill Public Schools experienced a large ransomware attack that disrupted the district's computer systems, rendering remote learning impossible. The district technology department had decided to shut down the network to prevent widespread corruption. As a result, school was closed, with the district continuing to investigate the breach over the next few days, creating a major disturbance in the continued education of Haverhill students. [6]

On March 31, 2022, an altercation between two students involving a knife at Haverhill High School led to the arrest of a female student. The incident sparked discussions about the school's phone seizure policy, as videos of the altercation were shared on social media, violating the school's cell phone policy. Haverhill School Committee held a special meeting to address the issue, emphasizing the importance of public engagement and the need for clear policies regarding phone misuse.[7]

In October 2022, Haverhill High School staff went on strike after negotiations between the Haverhill Education Association (HEA) and the Haverhill School Committee failed to reach a mutual agreement on a new contract. The primary concerns of the union included increased wages, improved school safety measures, and better working conditions. The strike resulted in school closures for multiple days, affecting thousands of students.[8]

In December 2022, a hazing incident at Haverhill High School came to state-wide attention, resulting in legal charges and termination of employment between two coaches, and the prosecution of an 18-year-old male student. The incident was the subject of a joint investigation by the Haverhill Police Department and the Essex District Attorney's Office.[9]

In July 2023, foreign language teacher James Fiorentini, son of Haverhill's then Mayor James Fiorentini, was accused of making inappropriate comments to underage female students at Haverhill High School. The allegations led to an investigation by school officials and local authorities. James pleaded not guilty to two counts of accosting or annoying another person, both misdemeanors.[10]

On February 26, 2024, Haverhill High School became the first school in the United States to take a live online tour of Auschwitz. The virtual tour called "Auschwitz in Front of Your Eyes" features recorded testimonies from concentration camp survivors, as well as a live tour with a guide who walks through the Auschwitz-Birkenau camps, giving a detailed description and view of the camps.[11]

In September 2024, former Haverhill High School head football coach Timothy O’Connor was found not guilty of charges related to a hazing incident that occurred two years prior, between August and October 2022. O’Connor, who also taught at the school, had been accused of intimidating a witness, failing to comply with mandated reporter duties, and failing to report hazing after videos of a player engaging in explicit acts circulated within the school. After a nearly two-year legal battle, a judge in Haverhill District Court ruled that there was insufficient evidence to support the charges.[12]

Assistant coach Michael Kwegyir-Attah also faced charges in connection with the case, which were dismissed the day before O’Connor's verdict. However, Jesse Rodriguez, an 18-year-old player, still faced charges including hazing, assault and battery, and assault and battery on a person 14 years or older.[13]

Athletics

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Haverhill High School competes in the Merrimack Valley Conference and is a member of the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA).[14]

Notable alumni

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d "Search for Public Schools - Haverhill High (250597000856)". National Center for Education Statistics. Institute of Education Sciences. Retrieved January 3, 2025.
  2. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on April 12, 2015. Retrieved April 10, 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  3. ^ Association, Haverhill High School (Haverhill, Mass ) Alumni (1890). The Haverhill Academy and the Haverhill High School, 1827-1890: An Historical Sketch. Chase Bros., printers.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  4. ^ "Old Haverhill High Classroom Uncovered in $115,000 City Hall Project". WHAV. July 28, 2017. Retrieved June 1, 2022.
  5. ^ LaBella, Mike (December 9, 2015). "Tumultuous times for Haverhill High class of 1964; Memories emerge as alumni donate bench to alma mater". The Eagle-Tribune.
  6. ^ "Haverhill Public Schools Reopen Following Massive Ransomware Attack". NBS Boston. April 13, 2021.
  7. ^ "Two-Person Haverhill High School Fight Brings Arrest; Special Public Meeting Monday Night". WHAV. March 31, 2022.
  8. ^ "Classes canceled for 4th straight day in Haverhill amid teachers strike in Massachusetts city". WCVB5 Boston. October 20, 2022.
  9. ^ "Haverhill Football Coaches and Player Charged in Hazing Investigation". Mass.gov Essex District Attorney’s Office. December 20, 2022.
  10. ^ "Son of Haverhill mayor accused of making inappropriate comments to female high school students". WHDH. March 2024. Retrieved March 16, 2025.
  11. ^ Kazakiewich, Todd (February 26, 2024). "Students at Massachusetts school become first in nation to take live online tour of Auschwitz". WCVB.com. WCVB. Retrieved July 18, 2024.
  12. ^ Frangiosa, Jonah (September 20, 2024). "Ex-head coach cleared of hazing-related charges". The Eagle-Tribune. Retrieved March 16, 2025.
  13. ^ Frangiosa, Jonah (September 20, 2024). "Ex-head coach cleared of hazing-related charges". The Eagle-Tribune. Retrieved March 16, 2025.
  14. ^ "MIAA.net". MIAA.net. Retrieved May 4, 2015.
  15. ^ Tennant, Paul (December 28, 2010). "'Archie' comic changes with the times, examines real-life topics". The Eagle-Tribune.
  16. ^ Andrea Shea (May 30, 2015). "A Search For The Real Life Archie, Betty, And Friends Began In Haverhill". WBUR. Retrieved May 16, 2020.
  17. ^ Thomson, David (October 25, 2011). "Tom Bergeron, Hollywood's Humble Man". Northshore Magazine. Retrieved January 15, 2021.
  18. ^ "Carlos Pena". Baseball America. Retrieved January 15, 2021.
  19. ^ "American Swimming Coaches Hall of Fame, Charles Silvia". ASCA. Retrieved June 18, 2023.
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