Walpole High School

Curriculum

Walpole High School offers many academic courses in various levels to challenge students in English, foreign language, history, mathematics and sciences.

The former assistant superintendent, Jean Kenney stated in 2015 that almost every student takes at least two years of foreign language instruction even though the high school only requires one year. As of 2026, foreign languages offered included French, Latin, and Spanish. In 2015, about 600 students studied Spanish, about 150 studied French, about 100 studied Latin, about 45 students studied German, and about 30 studied Chinese. Kenney stated in 2015 that many students take at least two foreign languages. The former chairperson of foreign languages, George Watson, promoted establishing German classes, saying that there was a need to offer a foreign language not in the Romance languages. As of 2015, few other schools in Massachusetts offered German.

Additionally, WHS offers an extensive choice of electives and AP classes covering all academic areas.

Extracurricular activities

Walpole High School offers extracurricular activities including varsity level sports, a student council, a robotics team, an annual film festival, a dance company, a best buddies club, a speech and debate team, an orchestra, a band, a chorus, and a theatre program. The school also offers a television program in a television studio.

Controversies

The school's sports teams were named "Rebels" in 1966, leading to decades of incorporation of the confederate flag and singing "Dixie" in sporting events and hazing rituals. After criticism that these glorified the confederate cause of slavery, the flag was banned in 1994, and the "Rebels" name was removed by the School Committee in 2020, during the uprise of the Black Lives Matter movement and George Floyd protests. In April 2021, after a student and staff vote, Walpole High School adapted a new mascot, "Timberwolves".

Notable alumni

• Todd Collins, football quarterback
• Charles Farrell, actor in the 1920s and 1930s
• Georgia Mae Harp, country music singer
• Mike Milbury, former Boston Bruins player and head coach, commentator at NBCSN
• Joe Morgan, former Boston Red Sox manager and professional baseball player (Milwaukee Braves, Kansas City Athletics, Philadelphia Phillies, Cleveland Indians, St. Louis Cardinals)
• Cam Schlittler, professional baseball player

References

References

1. "Contact Information - Walpole High (03070505)".
2. "Teacher Data (2018-19) - Walpole High (03070505)".
3. "Walpole High". National Center for Education Statistics.
4. "'Involved an exhaustive process': Timberwolves to replace Rebels as Walpole High mascot".
5. [https://walpolestudentmedianetwork.com/ The Searchlight]
6. "Plans of High School Graduates (2019-20) - Walpole High (03070505)".
7. Seltz, Johanna. "[https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/regionals/south/2015/01/11/schools-south-boston-wide-disparity-foreign-language-offerings/QERGzzeIfsr4CanpxI2b5N/story.html In schools south of Boston, a wide disparity on foreign language offerings]" ([https://web.archive.org/web/20150114054041/http://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/regionals/south/2015/01/11/schools-south-boston-wide-disparity-foreign-language-offerings/QERGzzeIfsr4CanpxI2b5N/story.html Archive]). ''[[Boston Globe]]''. January 11, 2015. Retrieved on January 18, 2015.
8. "Academics".
9. "Clubs & Activities".
10. (June 19, 2020). "Walpole School Committee Votes To Drop 'Rebels' Mascot Name".
11. Gambon, Mary Ellen. "'Involved an exhaustive process': Timberwolves to replace Rebels as Walpole High mascot".
12. Adams, Marjory. (1953-02-12). "Movie Question Box". The Boston Globe.
13. "With this trio of pitchers, Walpole has mound covered - The Boston Globe".