{{Use American English|date=September 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=March 2013}} {{Infobox school | name = Deering High School | native_name = | image = Deering High School, Portland, Maine.jpg | image_size = | alt = | caption = | logo = | motto = | established = 1874 | closed = | type = Public secondary | status = | category_label = | category = | gender_label = | gender = | affiliation = | affiliations = | administrator = | assst_admin = | president = | chairman_label = | chairman = | rector = | principal = Carlie Frederick, Alice Buckley, Caitlin Miller, Melissa Labbe (Interim Administrators) <ref>{{cite web |title=News|url=https://docs.google.com/document/d/10borqvtE8lmTSl4CSWsf7nKqBJyu1IWAv6veIlIyqB0/edit?tab=t.0}}</ref> | principal1 = | principal2 = | principal3 = | principal4 = | campus_director = | headmaster = | head_label = | head = | head_name2 = | head2 = | dean = | founder = | chaplain = | officer_in_charge = | faculty = | teaching_staff = 60.90 (FTE)<ref name=NCES>{{cite web|url=https://nces.ed.gov/ccd/schoolsearch/school_detail.asp?Search=1&DistrictID=2309930&ID=230993000269|title=Deering High School|publisher=National Center for Education Statistics|access-date=October 16, 2024}}</ref> | ratio = 12.32<ref name=NCES/> | enrollment = 750 (2022-2023)<ref name=NCES/> | grades_label = | grades = 9–12 | address = 370 Stevens Avenue | city = Portland | state = Maine | province = | country = USA | coordinates = {{coord|43.67165|-70.29585 |format=dms |region:US-ME_type:edu |display=inline,title}} | latitude = | longitude = | district = Portland Public Schools | oversight = | accreditation = New England Association of Schools and Colleges | campus = Suburban | colors = Purple and White {{Color box|Purple}}{{Color box|White}} | colours = | athletics = | houses = | student_union = | nickname = | mascot = Rams | free_label = Emblem | free_text = | rival = Portland High School | yearbook = The Amethyst | newspaper = Breccia | free_label1 = | free_text1 = | free_label2 = | free_text2 = | free_label3 = | free_text3 = | test_name = | test_average = | national_ranking = | website = https://dhs.portlandschools.org/ | footnotes = | picture = | picture_caption = | picture2 = | picture_caption2 = }} '''Deering High School''' ('''DHS''') is a public high school located on Stevens Avenue in Portland, Maine, United States. The school is part of the Portland Public Schools district.
It is one of the three public high schools located in Portland, the others being Portland High School and Casco Bay High School. Along with Portland High, enrollment to Deering is open choice by the family.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ohm |first=Rachel |date=2021-09-23 |title=Enrollment gap between Portland and Deering prompts new look at high school choice |url=https://www.pressherald.com/2021/09/22/enrollment-gap-between-portland-and-deering-high-schools-persists/ |access-date=2022-04-16 |website=Press Herald}}</ref>
==History== {{more citations needed|section|date=August 2020}} In 1871, the town Deering seceded from Westbrook. Deering High School was established in 1874.<ref name= DHS>{{cite web| url= http://www.deeringhighschool.org/| title= Deering High School: Learning Without Borders | website= deeringhighschool.org | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140517055323/http://www.deeringhighschool.org/| archive-date= May 17, 2014}}</ref> The school opened in Morgen's Hall, a one-room wooden structure at Morrill's Corner in the autumn of 1874 with 31 students attending. Before the end of the year, the high school moved to the Heseltine Grammar School on Ocean Avenue for four years. It was crowded. There were two sessions daily and, as late as 1895, school was held six days a week. The coursework included algebra and Latin. All students studied the same curriculum. Five students graduated in the first class.
In 1878, Deering moved to the old wooden Longfellow School which was located opposite from Central Square Baptist Church. Seventy students were enrolled. Mr. F. E. C. Robbins was principal. In 1887, two new courses were re-organized and renamed the Commercial Department. The first edition of the school newspaper, ''The Breccia'', was published in 1887.
The town Deering was annexed by the City of Portland in 1898.<ref name= "Bouchard">{{cite news| url=http://www.pressherald.com/2010/07/07/new-deering-principal-in-familiar-setting_2010-07-07/|title=New Deering principal returns to familiar setting|last=Bouchard|first=Kelly|date= July 7, 2010|work=Portland Press Herald| access-date=August 7, 2014}}</ref> The enabling act before the state legislature included a provision about the high school. Fred Matthews, a graduate of Deering High School who was an attorney and legislator, proposed the provision for the "continuing" maintenance always of a high school in Deering of equal grade and standing to what was in a Portland. This led to Portland having two high schools.
By 1897, with Mr. E. H. Crosby as principal, the school had grown, so plans for a new building included fourteen recitation rooms, a library and a large assembly hall. Objections and protestations occurred over such a cost, since the capacity of four classrooms was thought to be adequate at that current time, and a library was questioned. In 1889, however, work was started on the construction of the main building. Just before the building was to be occupied, Crosby was killed by a train at Woodfords Crossing during a rain storm. His term was completed by Mr. Swan and Mr. Hill. On January 30, 1898, the new Deering High School was opened with William H. Marvin as principal. The Assembly Hall, which was located on the third floor, was dedicated to Mr. Crosby and remained in his name until the hall was renovated into a library. The first Deering High School building eventually became Longfellow Elementary School.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.mainememory.net/artifact/20326|title= Old Deering High School, Portland, ca. 1900| website= mainememory.net| publisher= Maine Memory Network |access-date=August 7, 2014}}</ref>
From 1902 to 1909, John M. Nicholas served as principal; from 1909 to 1913, Herbert I. Allen was the principal; and from 1913 to 1919, Louis B. Farnham, was chief administrator of Deering. By 1912, the high school population had grown so that an addition, ("the Annex") was built. However a fire in May 1921 destroyed the library and classrooms in the main building. For the remainder of the year, classes were held in the Annex and in two local churches. The building was saved and converted into Lincoln Middle School in 1923.
William E. Wing was the school principal from 1919 until 1942. In 1922, a new main building was constructed. It had 826 students. In 1932, a wing was added as well as an athletic field. Many extracurricular activities were started. The school newspaper was named ''The Purple Line'' in 1929, then changed to the present name ''Ramblings'' in 1940.
Carlton Wiggin was the school principal through the years of World War II and more than two decades. In the autumn of 1960, Deering became a three-year high school. Freshmen were scheduled at the four-hour schedule in junior high schools. Sophomores, juniors, and seniors occupied the Stevens Avenue School in which many improvements had been made during the summer. The school day was extended from 1:05 P.M. to 2:10 P.M., in seven periods of 45 minutes each. In the autumn of 1979, Deering returned to having four grades. School Principal Wiggin retired in 1967 and was succeeded by Donald G. Hale. During the 1976 school year, The Deering High School Study Committee was formed to assess the physical plan and program offerings. During the 1978 school year, a DHS Building Committee with architectural firm Wadsworth, Boston, Dimick, Mercer & Weatherill began designing an addition. Construction began in the summer of 1981 when David Wallace became the school principal. Hale continued on the staff as the Building Project Coordinator. With the 1982–83 school year, students and staff utilized the newly constructed and renovated areas of Deering High School.
Deering High School was among the first schools named a National School of Excellence by the US Department of Education in 1983. In 1985, Paul A. Pendleton became the school's principal. Under his leadership, the provisions of Maine's Educational Reform Act were implemented, and a ten-year NEASC re-accreditation was awarded. The Portland School Committee confirmed Jan C. Patton as the school's first female principal in July 1992. Patton served three years. The challenge of her tenure was the successful planning for and adoption of block scheduling.
By 2014, the school had a student population of 1,022 students and offered Advanced Placement coursework. <ref name= DHS />
==Curriculum== Deering was one of 34 high schools nationally which had joined the International Studies School Network, which is part of the Asia Society. The school later chose to not renew its ISSN membership due to fees.<ref name="Ellis">{{cite news|url=http://www.theforecaster.net/news/print/2014/08/19/back-school-portlands-deering-high-takes-global-pe/207022 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20141026202713/http://www.theforecaster.net/news/print/2014/08/19/back-school-portlands-deering-high-takes-global-pe/207022 |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 26, 2014 |title=Back to school: Portland's Deering High takes global perspective on hunger, poverty |last=Ellis |first=Colin |date=August 19, 2014 |work=The Forecaster |access-date=October 26, 2014 }}</ref> In October 2013, Deering High School announced it would offer an Arabic language course as part of their new international curriculum. It was believed to be the first Arabic language course in Maine public schools.<ref name="Gallagher">{{cite news|url=http://www.pressherald.com/2013/10/01/deering_high_to_offer_arabic_class_/|title=Deering High to offer Arabic class|last=Gallagher|first=Noel K|date=October 1, 2013|work=Portland Press Herald|access-date=August 7, 2014}}</ref><ref name="McCanna">{{cite news|url=http://www.theforecaster.net/news/print/2013/10/08/arabic-language-now-little-less-foreign-students-p/174765 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20141026202627/http://www.theforecaster.net/news/print/2013/10/08/arabic-language-now-little-less-foreign-students-p/174765 |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 26, 2014 |title=Arabic language now a little less foreign to students at Portland's Deering High School |last=McCanna |first=Ben |date=August 10, 2013 |work=The Forecaster |access-date=October 26, 2014 }}</ref>
==Sports== right|thumb|Memorial Stadium in March 2023. Memorial Stadium is located on Ludlow Street near Deering High School, it is an artificial turf surface and is the home field for DHS outdoor sports teams.
The Deering Rams won the Maine Class A Boys' State Basketball Championship on March 3, 2012.<ref>[http://www2.portlandschools.org/news/dhs-wins-class-boys-state-basketball-championship DHS Wins Class A Boys' State Basketball Championship] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131215052113/http://www2.portlandschools.org/news/dhs-wins-class-boys-state-basketball-championship |date=December 15, 2013 }} Portland Schools, March 6, 2012.</ref>
The Deering High School and Portland High School football teams have played each other each Thanksgiving since 1911, except for 1920 and 2020.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.pressherald.com/2020/11/25/coaches-say-local-thanksgiving-football-tradition-is-worth-saving/|title=Coaches say local Thanksgiving football tradition is worth saving|last=Craig|first=Steve|date=November 25, 2020|work=Portland Press Herald|access-date=19 May 2021}}</ref>
==Notable alumni== * Thomas H. Allen, United States Representative from Maine (1997–2009)<ref>[http://www.publishers.org/main/AboutAAP/TomAllenBio.htm Tom Allen] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101128031224/http://publishers.org/main/AboutAAP/TomAllenBio.htm |date=November 28, 2010 }} American Association of Publishers.</ref> * William H. Brown Jr., television director and producer<ref>[https://www.newspapers.com/image/853225212/?clipping_id=164066575 "Obituaries: William H. Brown Jr."]. ''Evening Express''. June 10, 1982. p. 35. Retrieved February 1, 2025.</ref> * Nik Caner-Medley, professional basketball player<ref>{{cite news|last1=Lambrecht|first1=Gary|title=Maine man Caner-Medley adapts|url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/2003/02/02/maine-man-caner-medley-adapts/|access-date=November 10, 2014|newspaper=Baltimore Sun|date=February 2, 2003}}</ref> * Seth F. Clark, state legislator<ref name="March151951">{{cite news |title=Seth F. Clark Dies In Hospital |publisher=Portland Press Herald |date=March 15, 1951}}</ref> * Don Favor, hammer thrower<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1928&dat=19321105&id=NkMpAAAAIBAJ&sjid=qWYFAAAAIBAJ&pg=1472,2691853 |date=November 5, 1932 |access-date=December 22, 2014 |title=Series Title At Stake For Maine Against Bowdoin |newspaper=The Lewiston Daily Sun}}</ref> * Ryan Flaherty, professional baseball player<ref>{{cite news|last1=Chard|first1=Tom|title=Former Deering High player proves useful to Orioles|url=http://www.pressherald.com/2014/03/19/former_deering_high_player_proves_useful_to_orioles_/|access-date=November 10, 2014|newspaper=Portland Press Herald|date=March 19, 2014}}</ref> * Irving Folwartshny, hammer and weight thrower<ref>{{cite news |url=http://scarab.bates.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1640&context=bates_student |newspaper=The Bates Student |date=May 26, 1936 |access-date=December 23, 2014 |title=Olympic Hammer Competition Keen |page=2}}</ref> * Robert F. Griffin, CSC, writer * Nathaniel Mervin Haskell, Governor of Maine<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://haskellfromthehouse.com/governorHaskell.aspx|title=Anne Haskell – Governor Haskell?|date=September 26, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080926145142/http://haskellfromthehouse.com/governorHaskell.aspx|archive-date=September 26, 2008}}</ref> * Daniel Hobbs, politician<ref>{{Cite web |title=Daniel Hobbs |url=https://ballotpedia.org/Daniel_Hobbs |access-date=2024-01-20 |website=Ballotpedia |language=en}}</ref> * Wilbur R. Ingalls Jr., architect * Heidi Julavits, author<ref>{{cite news|title=Conversation piece: Reading festival 'bigger than ever'|url=http://portlanddailysun.me/index.php/newsx/local-news/104-newsx/199-conversation-piece-reading-festival-bigger-than-ever|access-date=November 10, 2014|publisher=The Portland Daily Sun|date=March 31, 2012}}</ref> * Anna Kendrick, actress and singer (class of 2003)<ref name=seacoastonline.com>{{cite news|last1=Carbone|first1=Gina|title=Sold out: 'Twilight Saga: New Moon' cast tour, Seacoast midnight shows|url=http://www.seacoastonline.com/article/20091103/ENTERTAIN/911039984|access-date=November 10, 2014|publisher=seacoastonline.com|date=November 3, 2009}}</ref> * Linda Lavin, actress<ref>{{cite news|last1=Keyes|first1=Bob|title=Three with Maine ties get Tony nod|url=http://www.pressherald.com/2010/05/05/three-with-maine-ties-get-tony-nod_2010-05-05/|access-date=November 10, 2014|newspaper=Portland Press Herald|date=May 4, 2010}}</ref> * Bob Marley, stand-up comedian<ref>{{cite news|last1=Shorr|first1=Chris|title=Fall in Portland|url=http://www.portlanddailysun.me/index.php/opinion/columns/12789-fall-in-portland|access-date=November 10, 2014|publisher=The Portland Sun|date=September 4, 2014}}</ref> * Andrea Martin, actress<ref name="seacoastonline.com"/> * Ed Phillips, professional baseball pitcher for the Boston Red Sox * Annie Proulx, writer<ref>{{cite book|last1=Rood|first1=Karen Lane|title=Understanding Annie Proulx|date=2001|publisher=University of South Carolina Press|isbn=9781570034022|page=[https://archive.org/details/understandingann00rood/page/2 2]|url=https://archive.org/details/understandingann00rood|url-access=registration|quote=Annie Proulx Deering High School.}}</ref> * Ryan Reid professional baseball player<ref>{{cite news|last1=Mahoney|first1=Larry|title=Portland's Ryan Reid perseveres to earn job in Pittsburgh Pirates bullpen|url=http://bangordailynews.com/2013/07/03/sports/portlands-ryan-reid-perseveres-to-earn-job-in-pittsburgh-pirates-bullpen/|access-date=November 10, 2014|newspaper=Bangor Daily News|date=July 3, 2013}}</ref> * Fred C. Scribner Jr., under-secretary of the Treasury under Dwight D. Eisenhower, class of 1926. * Earle G. Shettleworth Jr., state historian, Class of 1966<ref name=MHPC>{{cite web|url=http://www.maine.gov/tools/whatsnew/index.php?topic=mhpc_state_historians&id=65606&v=article|title=Maine Historic Preservation Commission: Earle G. Shettleworth, Jr.|publisher=Maine Historic Preservation Commission|access-date=November 27, 2011}}</ref> * Edward Whittemore, writer (class of 1951)<ref>{{cite news|last1=Winland Jr.|first1=Joseph L.|title=Opening the Window to Edward Whittemore|url=http://scholarworks.gsu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1096&context=english_theses|access-date=November 10, 2014|publisher=Georgia State University|date=August 18, 2010}}</ref>
==Notes== {{Reflist|2}}
==External links== * [https://dhs.portlandschools.org/ Deering High School homepage]
{{Portland, Maine}} {{Authority control}}
Category:Educational institutions established in 1874 Category:Public high schools in Maine Category:High schools in Portland, Maine Category:Clock towers in Maine Category:1874 establishments in Maine Category:Deering High School alumni Category:Portland Public Schools (Maine)