Whitnall High School

Whitnall High School is a comprehensive secondary school located in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin. It is a part of the Whitnall School District. It is named for Charles B. Whitnall, the first Socialist City Treasurer of Milwaukee and the architect of Milwaukee County's renowned system of public parks.

Administration

Whitnall High School has two administrators. Jackie Winter is the principal, and Scott Siemers is the assistant principal as of 2014.^[2]

Academic reputation

According to the school's own records, the average ACT composite score for the 2007-08 school year was 23.2, which is slightly higher than the state average of 22.3.^[3] The ACT examination is a nationally administered college entrance examination. A score of 23.2 falls in the 69th percentile nationwide.^[4]

The most recent results from the Wisconsin Knowledge and Concepts Examination of 10th graders at Whitnall High School indicate that 83% of students score at the proficient or advanced level in reading. 86% of student score at the proficient or advanced level in science, and 83% of students score at the proficient or advanced level in mathematics.^[5]

Sports

WHS is a member of the Woodland-East Conference. Schools in that conference include South Milwaukee, Cudahy, Brown Deer, and Greenfield.

During the 2015-2016 school year, the school's varsity football program tied as Woodland East Conference champions, the 4th championship in school history.

Sports offered at WHS:

• Boys Cross Country
• Girls Cross Country
• Boys Volleyball
• Girls Volleyball
• Boys Soccer
• Girls Soccer
• Football
• Girls Tennis
• Boys Tennis
• Girls Swimming
• Boys Swimming
• Boys Basketball
• Girls Basketball
• Wrestling
• Boys Golf
• Boys Track
• Girls Track
• Baseball
• Softball

Clubs

AFS, Powerlifting(2011 National Champions), American Field Service, Cheerleading, Chess Club, DECA, Drama Club, Drug Free Club, Forensics, GSA, Marching Band, Mock Trial, Model U.N., Mu Alpha Theta (Mathematics Honor Society), National Honor Society, Peace Group, Peer Helpers, Peers with Impact, Pep Band, Pom Pons, Science Olympiad, Stage Crew, Student Senate, Falcon Flier (The School Newspaper), Equestrian Club

Controversies

• In January 2005, Peer Larson, a 17-year-old honors pre-calculus student and his father filed a lawsuit with the state of Wisconsin hoping to end summer homework after claiming it created an unfair workload and unnecessary stress.^[6]
• On June 2, 2006, five students intentionally poisoned another student by pouring Visine eye-drop liquid into another student's water bottle.^[7] All five eventually pleaded no contest to misdemeanor counts of battery and disorderly conduct. They initially faced felony charges.
• In early December 2007, Dr. Karen Petric, the district's Superintendent, announced that she wanted to retire early due to security reasons. She cited death threats from a former employee as the reason she was requesting a $250,000 retirement package nearly 2 years early. On December 17, 2007, a reporter for ABC affiliate WISN covering this story, accompanied by a camera crew, was able to gain unhindered access to the high school building because none of the doors she used were locked or monitored.^[8]

Notable alumni

• Jeana Tomasino – from The Real Housewives of Orange County
• Lisa Brescia – Broadway actress
• Joel Stave – Quarterback for Wisconsin Badgers football

References

Coordinates: 42°57′16″N 88°03′22″W / 42.95448°N 88.05614°W / 42.95448; -88.05614