History
East High School (originally known as "East Side High School") was constructed in 1926 and opened in 1927. The building was a neighborhood school that served the Lower East Side families. The building became a symbol of rising demographic changes in the East Side when increasing numbers of African-Americans joined the student enrollment. In 1954, as part of a large redistricting initiative by the Buffalo Board of Education, East High's boundaries were redrawn so that it became "Buffalo's Negro high school".Goldman, M. (2007). ''City on the Edge: Buffalo, New York'' indle iPad version In 1977, the school was closed due to a federal desegregation orderWeed, G. M. (2001). ''School days of yesterday: Buffalo public schools history.'' (p. 29). Buffalo: Buffalo Standard Printing. and became Buffalo Vocational Technical Center, where students took vocational and career-oriented classes in addition to the core academics at their regular high school. This also allowed the school to become an annex to Kensington, Riverside, and Emerson High Schools. The school was close to being closed and transformed into an elementary/middle school campus in 1999, but that decision was revoked by the Buffalo Board of Education due to mounting public pressure.Campagna, D. (2000, January 25). Rare allies may save vocational center. The Buffalo News, p. B5. In 2002, the Vocational center was ultimately closed,Cardinale, A. (2002, April 16). Few parents at hearing on school closings. ''The Buffalo News'', p. B3. and the building re-opened in 2005 once again as East High School.Simon, P. (2005, January 18). East High, Emerson Middle transform in contrasting ways. The Buffalo News, p. B1. In the spring of 2011, it was proposed that the current principal be replaced and the school would become an all-male school. Although the principal was placed on assignment within the district offices, no student demographic changes occurred. Beginning in 2015, the East High School program began to phase out due to low test scores and graduation rates. The program was replaced by a student credit recovery alternative education program known asFormer principals
''Previous assignment and reason for departure denoted in parentheses'' *Charles J. Costello–1927-1948 (Vice Principal - Hutchinson Central Technical High School, retired) *Victor J. Kless–1948-1952 (Vice Principal - East High School, died) *William H. Davenport–1952-1961 (Vice Principal - Kensington High School, retired) *Robert J. Rentz–1961-1969 (Vice Principal - East High School, retiredRobert J. Rentz, retired educator, lecturer. (1994, May 25). ''The Buffalo News'', p. B6.) *Alonzo W. Thompson–1969-1975 (Principal - Clinton Junior High School, named Director of Buffalo Public Schools' Office of Affirmative ActionAlonzo W. Thompson Sr. dies. (2003, March 19). ''The Buffalo News'', p. D7.) *William D. Bennett–1975-1977 (Director of Student Activities - East High School, named Principal of Buffalo Vocational Technical CenterBrady, K. (1999, April 13). Bill Bennett, educator, coach, athlete, mentor to young - people, dies at 61. ''The Buffalo News'', p. E10.) *Geraldine Horton–2005-2011 (Principal - Buffalo Traditional School, named Supervising Principal of Buffalo Public Schools) *Casey M. Young-Welch–2011-2015 (Principal - Academy School @ 44, Middle Early CollegeJay Rey, B. (2018, Nov 11). Principal wins arbitration on falsifying graduations. ''Buffalo News, The'' (NY), p. 1.. Retrieved from https://infoweb.newsbank.com/resources/doc/nb/news/16FA053224F5D290?p=AWNB) *Janice M. Bowden nterimndash;2015-2016 (Assistant Principal - East High School, named Assistant Principal of Academy School @ 4) *Rose M. Schneider–2016-2018 (Instructional Specialist - East High School, named Principal of North Park Middle Academy)Notable alumni
*References
{{authority control 1926 establishments in New York (state) 2018 disestablishments in New York (state) Educational institutions established in 1926 Educational institutions disestablished in 2018 High schools in Buffalo, New York Magnet schools in Buffalo, New York Magnet schools in New York (state) Public high schools in New York (state)