DeWitt Clinton High School

Opened in 1897, DeWitt Clinton High School has a rich history. It’s seen its share of changes over the years. Originally an all-boys school in Lower Manhattan, DeWitt Clinton High School catered to the city’s burgeoning youth. The school’s initial location was on West 13th Street. In 1906, DeWitt Clinton High School moved uptown to a grand, H-shaped building at 59th Street and Tenth Avenue. This new building was considered the largest high school in the United States at that time. DeWitt Clinton High School’s history is intertwined with the city itself. The school even had a connection to the first community garden in New York. Students farmed plots in nearby DeWitt Clinton Park. Inside its walls, legendary teachers like Dr. Irwin “Doc” Guernsey shaped generations of students. He taught history from a chair, using his two canes, for over four decades. The school moved to its current Bronx location on Mosholu Parkway in 1929. The street next to the school, Paul Avenue, is named after a former principal, Dr. Paul, who oversaw the move. DeWitt Clinton High School once boasted the largest high school enrollment in the world. It peaked at a staggering 12,000 students in the 1930s. It remained a single-sex institution, the last one in New York City, until 1983 when it finally became co-ed. The school has a long and storied athletic program. DeWitt Clinton High School’s teams are known as the Governors. They field around 35 teams in various sports, from baseball and basketball to cricket and wrestling. The school’s newspaper, “The Clinton News,” is entirely student-run. It benefits from a grant that allows it to publish full-color issues several times a year. DeWitt Clinton High School has faced its challenges. In the early 2000s, issues with student performance and security arose. Despite these difficulties, the school has persevered. It continues to offer a range of programs, from the Macy Honors Gifted Program to vocational training. Even a branch of the Montefiore Medical Clinic operates within the school, providing essential healthcare services to the student body.