Lenox Memorial High School (Massachusetts)
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Lenox Memorial High School is a public high school located in
Lenox, Massachusetts Lenox is a town in Berkshire County, Massachusetts, Berkshire County, Massachusetts. The town is based in Western Massachusetts and part of the Pittsfield, Massachusetts, Pittsfield Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 5,095 at the 202 ...
, United States, founded in 1803. Since 1966 it has shared a campus with the town's middle school. The schools are officially known as ''Lenox Memorial Middle and High School''.


History

The first school master arrived in Lenox in 1770. Lenox Memorial High School has its origins in the founding of Lenox Academy in 1803. Acquiring a reputation for excellence, the Academy drew students from throughout the region and beyond. Already serving as the town's secondary school, the Academy officially became its public high school in 1866. Lenox responded to its growing student population with the construction of the 1908 school building which served as the high school until 1966. In that year a new campus was opened on the eastern edge of the town that co-located the high school and middle school.


Academics

The school's academic departments include English, Math, Science & Technology, Social Studies, World Languages, Health & Wellness, Studio Art/Music/Wood, and Drama. There are also Special Education, Guidance, and ESL services. Vocational education is not offered however, a tuition agreement with the Pittsfield Public Schools allows Lenox students to enroll in the vocational programs at either Pittsfield High School or Taconic High School. By meeting eligibility requirements, students are able to enroll in free college courses at
Berkshire Community College Berkshire Community College is a public community college in Berkshire County, Massachusetts with its primary campus in Pittsfield. It also has a satellite campus in Great Barrington and classroom spaces in the city of Pittsfield. Established i ...
. An independent study option is also available. Despite the small size, there are numerous
Advanced Placement Advanced Placement (AP) is a program in the United States and Canada created by the College Board which offers college-level curricula and examinations to high school students. American colleges and universities may grant placement and course ...
courses offered including Spanish, French, Latin, Environmental Science, Physics, Calculus (AB and BC), Statistics, English, and Studio Art. Lenox Memorial has been awarded a Gold medal by '' U.S. News & World Report'' each year since 2016. It consistently ranks among the top 20 public high schools in Massachusetts.


Student life

The LMMHS campus includes a library, wood shop, film developing studio, greenhouse, and th
Duffin Theater
Numerous after school clubs and activities are offered. Lenox has strong Visual Arts and Theater departments. The school participates in the ''Fall Festival of Shakespeare'' at Shakespeare & Company, as well as producing a musical in the spring.


Publications

There are three publications, including a newspaper, yearbook and literary magazine. * ''Lenox Dispatch'', newspaper * ''Xonel'', yearbook * ''Cacophony & Murmur'', 9th grade literary magazine


Clubs & Activities

Many of the clubs and activities are initiated and sustained through student interest. Among them are:


Athletics

A member of the Berkshire County League under the MIAA, Lenox sports teams are known as the ''Millionaires'' in recognition of the town's prominence as a summer colony for some of the country's wealthiest families during the
Gilded Age In United States history, the Gilded Age was an era extending roughly from 1877 to 1900, which was sandwiched between the Reconstruction era and the Progressive Era. It was a time of rapid economic growth, especially in the Northern and Wes ...
of the late 1800s. However, many students have expressed dismay with the "Millionaires" moniker, arguing that it promotes an elitist and revisionist version of the town's history. Numerous efforts to change the sports teams' name have been unsuccessful. The school's colors are maroon and gold. The chief rival are the ''Wildcats'' of Lee High School, in the nearby town of Lee. A rivalry has developed over the years with the ''Mounties'' of Mt. Greylock High School in Williamstown for both boys and girls cross country running and skiing. Fall sports include soccer, cross country running, volleyball, football, crew, and golf. Winter sports include alpine & nordic skiing, basketball, hockey, and swimming. In the spring the sports offered are tennis, baseball, softball, crew, track & field, and lacrosse. A wider variety of sports are made possible through partnerships with other high schools. These co-ops include hockey with Mt. Everett Regional High School in
Sheffield Sheffield is a city in South Yorkshire, England, whose name derives from the River Sheaf which runs through it. The city serves as the administrative centre of the City of Sheffield. It is historically part of the West Riding of Yorkshire ...
, swimming with Monument Mountain Regional High School in Great Barrington, football and lacrosse with Lee High School. The Millionaires have a history of success in athletics across the board, particularly in cross country running, soccer, and skiing. The boys nordic program has won 8 Massachusetts state titles while the girls have won 15 - most recently in 2020.


Rejection of regionalization

Beginning in the 1950s and 1960s, due to projected declines in student populations and more affordable economies of scale, Massachusetts officials began to encouraged smaller school districts to consolidating into regionalized districts with neighboring towns. Lenox held several votes on consolidating with nearby districts in
Lee Lee may refer to: Name Given name * Lee (given name), a given name in English Surname * Chinese surnames romanized as Li or Lee: ** Li (surname 李) or Lee (Hanzi ), a common Chinese surname ** Li (surname 利) or Lee (Hanzi ), a Chinese ...
and Stockbridge. Stockbridge eventually chose to consolidate with Great Barrington, but Lenox and Lee have maintained their independent districts.Loraine Anderson Devoe & Kathleen Wade Oppermann (1984), ''Williams High School Alumni Association, History and Directory, 1872-1968'', pg. 16, Retrieved August 6, 2016


Notable Alumni

* John Gervasi - Featured on episode 2 season 2 of Married to Real Estate


References


External links


Lenox Public Schools

Lenox Memorial Middle & High School

Duffin Theater
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lenox Memorial High School Lenox, Massachusetts High schools in Berkshire County, Massachusetts Public high schools in Massachusetts Former school buildings in the United States Educational institutions established in 1803 1803 establishments in Massachusetts