Pottsville Area High School is a coeducational public high school located in Pottsville, Pennsylvania. It is part of the Pottsville Area School District and is the largest public high school in Schuylkill County. It was founded in 1853 and offers a comprehensive program with an enrollment of approximately 1,250 students in ninth through twelfth grades. Students from neighboring Saint Clair Area School District attend the high school, with their district paying tuition to PASD. The school building, with its Italian Gothic brickwork, retains its architectural and historical integrity while housing modern facilities such as four science labs, a planetarium and observatory, four computer labs, three art and two music studios, and two gymnasiums. The library has a collection of 10,000 volumes and more than 40 magazine subscriptions and access to resources throughout the state through computer systems. A formal 1,499-seat auditorium and a little theater are unique features of the building. Within the district complex are tennis courts, athletic fields, and a sports complex including a natatorium. The current high school building was constructed in 1932, and it continues to lead as an example in architectural geniuity.HistoryEstablishmentThe first publicly printed intent of the school board to organize a high school in Pottsville was contained in an item which appeared in a newspaper issue of September 6, 1847. It announced that the school would open with Elias F. Perrin as principal; Monsieur F. Perrin, teacher of French and German; W. P. Koutz, of natural science, history and elocution; and E. Sagendorf, of English. A later notation announced that Pottsville High School was to be dedicated January 1, 1848. The above named teachers were those who had conducted the Pottsville Academy.
