Upper Darby High School

Coordinates: 39°57′24″N 75°17′05″W / 39.9567°N 75.2846°W / 39.9567; -75.2846
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Upper Darby High School
Location
Map
601 North Lansdowne Avenue, Drexel Hill, Upper Darby, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Information
TypePublic high school
MottoWhere Every One Is Royalty
Established1895
PrincipalMatthew Alloway[1]
Faculty233.23 FTE[2]
Enrollment3,845 (2019-20)[2]
Student to teacher ratio16.49[2]
Color(s)Purple & Gold    
NicknameRoyals
NewspaperThe Acorn
YearbookThe Oak
Information610-622-7000
Websitewww.upperdarbysd.org/udhs

Upper Darby High School (UDHS) is a four-year public high school located in Upper Darby Township in Delaware County, Pennsylvania. It is part of the Upper Darby School District. Established in 1895, it is the oldest high school in Delaware County.

As of the 2019-2020 school year, the school had an enrollment of 3,845 students and 233.23 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student-teacher ratio of 16.49.[2]

The population is diverse, with over 55 nationalities of students. It has a long-established football rivalry with Monsignor Bonner High School, located less than a block away. Upper Darby High School was a part of the inspiration for Upper Darby alumna Tina Fey's movie comedy Mean Girls. The mascot of Upper Darby High is the Royal, which is portrayed as a lion. In previous years, it was a court jester. The school emblem is the royal oak tree, the yearbook is named the Oak, and the newspaper is called the Acorn. An Acorn award is rewarded every year at the UDAEF Sweet Night Out Foundation Ball in February.

Upper Darby Senior High School is one of the largest high schools in Pennsylvania by enrollment. The High School is also home to the Upper Darby Performing Arts Center, and the Summer Stage program.

Campus[edit]

The campus is adjacent to, but not within, the Drexel Hill census-designated place.[3] It has a Drexel Hill postal address.[4]

Demographics[edit]

Race/Ethnicity as of 2019-2020[5]
Group Number of Students Percentage
Total 3845 100%
Black 1969 51.21%
White 849 22.08%
Asian 581 15.11%
Hispanic 362 9.41%
Two of More Races 81 2.11%
American Indian/Alaska Native 3 0.08%
Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander 0 0.00%
Gender as of 2019-2020[5]
Group Number of Students Percentage
Total 3845 100%
Male 1949 50.69%
Female 1896 49.31%

Arts[edit]

Upper Darby High School is home to the Upper Darby Performing Arts Center, a nearly 1,800-seat theater that hosts not only school functions, but also between 200 and 400 events annually. During the summer, the arts center hosts the largest summer theater group in Delaware County: Summer Stage, with over 200 participants in multiple musicals. Harry Dietzler founded the Summer Stage program in 1976.

Extracurriculars[edit]

Upper Darby High School offers a wide variety of clubs, activities and an extensive sports program.

Sports[edit]

Upper Darby sports teams compete in the Central League.

The District funds:

  • Boys Sports:
    • Baseball – AAAAAA
    • Basketball – AAAAAA
    • Cross Country – AAA
    • Football – AAAAAA
    • Golf – AAA
    • Indoor Track and Field – AAAA
    • Lacrosse – AAA
    • Soccer – AAAA
    • Swimming and Diving -AAA
    • Tennis – AAA
    • Track and Field – AAA
    • Wrestling – AAA
  • Girls Sports:
    • Basketball – AAAAAA
    • Cheerleading – AAAA
    • Cross Country – AAA
    • Field Hockey – AAA
    • Golf – AAA
    • Indoor Track and Field – AAAA
    • Lacrosse – AAA
    • Soccer (Fall) – AAA
    • Softball – AAAAAA
    • Swimming and Diving – AAA
    • Girls' Tennis – AAA
    • Track and Field – AAA
    • Volleyball – AAAA

According to PIAA directory July 2012 [6]

Notable alumni[edit]

Jim Croce
Todd Rundgren
William Wharton

Upper Darby High School's Wall of Fame committee recognizes individuals who have become leaders in their industries.[7] Alumni recognized on Upper Darby High School's Wall of Fame members are indicated with WoF after their biographical summary:

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Administration / Home". upperdarbysd.org.
  2. ^ a b c d Upper Darby SHS
  3. ^ "2010 CENSUS - CENSUS BLOCK MAP: Drexel Hill CDP, PA" (PDF). 2010 U.S. Census. U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved May 3, 2020. - Compare this to the full address of the school.
  4. ^ "Home". Upper Darby High School. Retrieved May 3, 2020. Location 601 N. Lansdowne Ave Drexel Hill, PA 19026 - Compare this to the CDP map.
  5. ^ a b "Search for Public Schools - School Detail for Upper Darby SHS". nces.ed.gov. Retrieved June 20, 2021.
  6. ^ Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletics Association (2012). "PIAA School Directory".
  7. ^ "Wall of Fame". Upper Darby High School. Archived from the original on October 9, 2007. Retrieved October 17, 2007.
  8. ^ Jones, Kenneth. "Broadway Baritone Keith Andes, of Wildcat, Dead at 85" Archived October 7, 2008, at the Wayback Machine, Playbill, November 28, 2005. Accessed November 24, 2007.
  9. ^ "Tina Fey Gets the Last Laugh" Archived April 7, 2008, at the Wayback Machine, Fox News, April 25, 2004. Accessed November 28, 2007
  10. ^ "Bobby Lloyd". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. 2010. Retrieved September 16, 2010.
  11. ^ "Alumni Wall of Fame". Upper Darby School District. Retrieved January 4, 2023. "Grace O'Connell, Class of 2000" (PDF). Upper Darby School District. Retrieved January 4, 2023.

External links[edit]

39°57′24″N 75°17′05″W / 39.9567°N 75.2846°W / 39.9567; -75.2846