Weston High School (Massachusetts)

Between the end of WWII in 1945 and 1970, the "Boomer" generation, the number of school-age children in Weston increased 363%, from 635 students to 2,937. The town embarked on 25-year school building program resulting in five new school complexes. After a devastating fire in 1948 destroyed the roofing and interior of the new Weston High School, the building was rebuilt as an elementary school and a new replacement high school was commissioned.[7]

This new high school, which was located near Weston Town Center by the current Weston Public Library, Country & Woodland Elementary Schools, was renowned as the "architectural achievement of the century" by the Boston Herald when it opened in January 1950. The nation's first million-dollar public building, Weston High School offered resources and technologies never before seen in a public school. Revolutionary architecture and layout of the school allowed for new teaching and class organization methods. The building has since been torn down due to the building of the new Field School, but it served as the Field School until the 2014–2015 school year.

In 1961, the current Weston High School was built as one of the most expensive schools in the nation at $8,930,001 (1961 dollars). This building is the fifth public high school in Weston and is designed to be in active service far longer than many contemporary schools, thanks to constant renovation and a high-quality initial design and build.

Weston High School campus and athletic fields

Weston High School is a large brick and glass building, surrounded by trees and sports fields. There are several fields, tennis courts, baseball diamonds, and a large track, shared by the Middle School, which is located on an adjacent campus. There is also a pond situated between the middle school and high school campuses.

Weston High School, designed and built in 1961 at a cost of $64.3 million (2012 dollars), has been renovated periodically since its construction. The facilities have maintained a modern appearance, marked especially by the extensive use of glass.

The design of Weston High School is largely natural-light intensive. Floor-to-ceiling windows mark the facade of three sides of the cafeteria as well as most stairwells. Hallways and classrooms can be lit almost entirely by natural light. The new science wing also features extensive floor-to-ceiling glass.

The building itself consists of a large gymnasium, weight room, library, theater and tech center, dance studio, music rooms, auditorium, computer labs, and many classrooms. The building is split into different wings for each subject, including English and History, Math and Science, and Language. There are currently no plans to reconstruct the existing infrastructure; only to add and renovate.

A seventh wing (G Wing) has been constructed for the 2012–2013 school year. The 23,000 square foot addition serves as the science wing, housing eight science classrooms, a 58-seat lecture hall, an outdoor amphitheater-style classroom, and copious atrium space. The project is designed for and seeking LEED Silver certification.[8]

Outside of the building stands a 40 inch bronze statue of a wildcat. At the cost of $19,000 (2020 dollars) this was the gift to the school from the class of 2020.

In 2016, Weston partnered with MOOC provider edX to offer several free online courses in a variety of subjects. Courses include On-Ramp to AP* French Language and Culture, On-Ramp to AP* Calculus, and others.[9]

Weston competes in the Dual County League, which includes Acton-Boxborough Regional High School, Bedford High School, Concord-Carlisle High School, Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School, Newton South High School, Waltham High School, Wayland High School, and Westford Academy. The athletics department is headed by Athletic Director Mike McGrath.[10]

In 2022 Weston High School fielded athletic teams in 20 sports during three seasons.

During the winter 2022 season, which ran from November 2021 to February 2022, students participated on teams in alpine ski, basketball, ice hockey, indoor track, nordic ski, swimming and diving, volleyball, and wrestling. Weston won state championships in boys swimming and diving and girls indoor track.

During the fall 2022 season, which ran from August to October 2022, students participated on teams in crew, cross country, field hockey, football, soft, soccer, and volleyball. Weston won state championships in golf and girls cross country. MetroWest Daily News ranked Weston’s fall 2022 athletics program #3 among all high schools in the state.

During the spring 2022 season, which ran from March to June 2022, students participated on teams in baseball, crew, lacrosse, outdoor track, sailing, softball, and tennis. Weston won state championships in boys tennis and girls outdoor track. MetroWest Daily News ranked Weston’s spring 2022 athletics program #2 among all high schools in the state.

More than 50 percent of the school’s student body participated in each of the three sports seasons in 2022.[11]

Weston's music program is directed by Christopher Memoli, while Jonathan Eldridge directs the chorus. Weston also offers an AP Music Theory class, taught by Steven Fulginiti. 31 students were accepted to the MMEA Northeastern Sr. Districts Festival in January 2007, and 13 students were accepted to the MMEA All-State Conference.

The high school chorus, along with the Community Chorus and InCoro Novo, has a performance at Regis College every year where they perform a selection from the vocal repertoire. The large chorus is accompanied by selected high school orchestra members and adult musicians.

Weston's music department also runs the Weston Friends of Music, a parents' group that helps the Weston school music department.

In addition, Weston has a theater program after school. The Weston High School Theater Company performs three plays a year and competes in the Boston Globe's Massachusetts Educational Theater Guild (METG) festival annually. The company holds several state titles, having won finals at the 2005 and 2008 MHSDG festivals. They advanced to finals in 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, and most recently in 2013.

In addition to a full concert choir and chorus, Weston has three student run a cappella groups. In 2010, the boys' group took third place in the International Competition of High School A Cappella in New York City. They were also honored as the number one group in New England, the top all male group, and the top student-run organization in the competition. Additionally, they received top honors for their choreography as well as an individual award for the best solo performance (Nolan Neu). All three groups perform at monthly all-school assemblies.

Weston High School offers a range of academic teams: math, science, debate, robotics, and NAQT Quizbowl.

• Grover Norquist, class of 1974, political activist and lobbyist, journalist for The American Spectator, president of Americans for Tax Reform
• John Garabedian, disc jockey, nationally syndicated host of the Open House Party radio show and a veteran in broadcasting for over 60 years
• Alec Sulkin, television writer, writer and producer of Family Guy
• David Frank, founding member of the 1980s R&B group The System.

• Weston High School website