Pittsfield High School is a four year comprehensive public high school in Pittsfield, Massachusetts. The school dates its founding to 1844. It is administered by the Pittsfield Public Schools district and is the oldest of the district's two high schools. Enrollment for the 2014-2015 school year included 916 students. 51% of the student population was female and 49% were male. Students of African American, Asian, Hispanic, Native American, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander and Multi-Race, Non-Hispanic ethnicity and heritage comprised 21.8% percent of the student population.HistoryPittsfield High School traces its founding to 1844 when a town meeting voted to establish the community's first high school. Six years later in November 1850, PHS opened in a three-room wooden building on a site occupied by the current city hall. Several sites and buildings later, the current facility opened on September 9, 1931.AcademicsGraduation requirements include: 1) earning 244 credits, 2) completing one of four certificate programs and 3) passing the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System exam. The school's academic departments include Business, English, Fine and Performing Arts, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, Special Education, Career Technical and World Languages.Student lifeActivitiesPHS extracurricular activities include AfterSchool Social Club, Art Club, Band, Best Buddies, Cheerleading, Class Council, Computer Club, Mock Trial, Drama Club, Engineering Club, French Club, Italian Club, Latin Club, Literary Magazine, Orchestra, The Dome yearbook, Generally Speaking student newspaper, Gay Straight Alliance, Morningside/PHS Community Service Learning and Tutoring Project, National Honor Society, New England Math League, PHS/Williams Community Service Learning Project, PeaceJam, Pep Club, Photography Club, Quiz Team, SADD, Horticulture,Silk Screening Club, Spanish Club and Student Government.
