Taunton High School

History

The requirement for High School level classes in Taunton was established in 1838. The City of Taunton, at that time, did not have a central building in which to hold high school level classes. The local school officials decided to hold high school classes in a neighborhood schoolhouse and rotate each semester to a different location. The first organization of a high school class was held in the District #11 Schoolhouse that later became known as the Woodward School at 52 Worcester Street. The rotation system continued for two years and the state of Massachusetts decided to discontinue the requirement for cities and towns to offer high school classes. From 1840 to 1848, there were no high school classes offered in Taunton. In 1849, Massachusetts, once again, required cities and towns to establish high school classes. The leaders of Taunton decided to hold high school classes in the basement of a church on Spring Street known as the Winslow Church. The classes continued at that location until local officials expanded the interior of the City Hall. The high School classes were moved to the second floor of Taunton City Hall in the mid-1850s and remained there until 1885 when a new High School was built on Washington Street on the site of a popular picnic grounds called 'King's Grove'. The Taunton High School on Washington Street received numerous additions as well as a face lift over the years. The building was in need of replacement and city officials purchased the Baylies estate on Williams Street to construct a new and current Taunton High School complex in 1975.

2011 Renovation

In 2011 Taunton High School completed a three year, $93 million renovation by The Design Partnership of Cambridge. The John F. Parker Middle School was removed from the High School and a new wing was constructed that houses the operations of the John F. Parker Middle School.

Athletics

(EMass Division 1, Hockomock League, Kelley-Rex Division) Sports:

• Fall
  • Football
  • Boys/Girls Soccer
  • Field Hockey
  • Cheerleading
  • Girls Volleyball
  • Cross Country
  • Golf
• Winter
  • Boys/Girls Basketball
  • Cheerleading
  • Ice Hockey
  • Boys/Girls Indoor Track & Field
  • Boys/Girls Swimming
  • Wrestling
  • Gymnastics
• Spring
  • Baseball
  • Boys/Girls Outdoor Track & Field
  • Softball
  • Boys/Girls Tennis
  • Boys Volleyball
  • Boys/Girls Lacrosse

Notable alumni

• Randy Costa, Ultimate Fighting Championship mixed martial artist
• Eric DeCosta, National Football League (NFL) general manager
• Joseph R. N. Maxwell, academic administrator
• Chester I. Reed, Associate Justice, Massachusetts Superior Court
• Corelli C. W. Simpson (1837 – 1923), American poet, cookbook author, painter
• Paul F. Smith, United States Army major general

References

References

1. "School Choice Receiving District Status".
2. "Taunton High". National Center for Education Statistics.
3. "Enrollment Data (2013-14) - Taunton High (02930505)". mass.edu.
4. "2011-12 SAT Performance Report - Taunton (02930000)". mass.edu.
5. (12 July 2011). "John F. Parker Middle School and Taunton High School". Agostini Construction.
6. (30 September 2020). "Taunton native in national spotlight scores quick knockout in Vegas bout".
7. "Eric DeCosta".
8. Hurd, Duane Hamilton. (1890). "History of Bristol County, Massachusetts: with biographical sketches of Many of its Pioneers and Prominent Men, Vol. I". J. Lewis & CO..
9. (1893). "Woman of the Century". Charles Wells Moulton.
10. (1932). "Taunton High School Journal". The Senior Class of Taunton High School, 1932.