Established in 1857 Malden High School stands as a beacon of education. It is located in Malden Massachusetts. The school first started in the Centre Grammar School Building. Joseph H. Noyes was the first principal. Annie L. Woodford was his assistant. There were only 38 students. That number grew to 57 within the first year.
Two years later, the school expanded. It occupied the lower story of the townhouse. By 1863, a library was established. Overcrowding became a significant issue. In 1872, Edward Hyde Rice was principal. A new building was erected on Salem Street for $100000.
But that first Salem Street building became overcrowded quickly. The school wasn’t designed for rapid enrollment. By 1892, three rooms of the Centre School Building reopened. This helped to serve the students. Another new building opened in 1896. The 1872 building became a manual training school until 1937. In 1940, an addition to the high school opened on that land.
Malden High School reached its peak in the 1950s and 1960s. It became a preeminent school in the state. It sent many students to the Ivy League. In 1958, 54% of the graduating class went on to college. This was 13% higher than the state average. This was very impressive for a working-class town.
However, by 1968, the percentage of students accepted into colleges declined to 33%. Only one student went to an Ivy League school. Malden High School then entered a period of decline. College Board scores decreased. By 1979, they were well below the national average. The percentage of college-bound graduates dropped to 42% for the class of 1975.
Students asked to take more courses. They wanted to compete for college admissions better. The school building showed its age. Repairs were disruptive. Construction for a new addition in the mid-to-late 1970s had many delays. Unexpected problems arose including peat and mysterious tunnels. One of the new addition buildings was nearly torn down. A foundation footing was misaligned. After completion in 1980, problems continued. There were leaking roofs. Concrete even fell. Vandalism reached extreme levels. There were trashed bathrooms and fires.
Teachers spoke openly about the decline. Truancy drugs and alcohol were rampant. Funding cutbacks forced layoffs. Since the mid-1980s, Malden High School has become highly diverse. Minorities are now the majority. This diversity is a prominent feature of the school.
Malden High School has recovered. It has received new equipment. Courses have expanded. A comprehensive $77 million renovation was completed in 2012. The school offers 15 advanced placement courses. Students can also participate in a Virtual High School program.
Malden High School is a member of the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association. The school has many varsity teams. These include swimming baseball and football. The school’s team is the Golden Tornadoes. The mascot is a lion named Nedlam. Malden High School and Medford High School have the 2nd oldest continuous high school football rivalry in the United States. The first Thanksgiving Day Game was in 1889.
The Blue and Gold is the school’s official newspaper. It has been publishing for over 100 years. It is the second-oldest running public high school newspaper in the country. Junior Varieties is the oldest high school variety show in the country. Each year’s show has a new theme.
The oldest of the buildings on the Malden High campus is the Donald E Brunelli building. It dates to 1938. Its Art Deco exterior is matched by its interior beauty. The main entries have grand doors. The Thornton Jenkins Auditorium is a central focus. Many years of wear and tear had severely damaged the woodwork. M&A was called in to look at the woodwork conditions in the Brunelli building. The mahogany panels in the auditorium were also in poor condition. The auditorium was dedicated by the Mayor. Hundreds of proud alumni and Malden residents attended the civic ceremony.
Malden High School continues to evolve. It embraces its history. It prepares students for the future.