Upper Darby High School

{{Use American English|date=September 2025}} {{Infobox school | name = Upper Darby High School | image = Upper Darby Preforming Arts Center.jpg | caption = The Upper Darby Performing Arts Center in 2025 | motto = Where Every One Is Royalty | established = 1895 | principal = Craig L. Parkinson<ref>{{cite web |title=Administration / Home |url= https://www.upperdarbysd.org/domain/1189 |website=upperdarbysd.org |language=en}}</ref> | enrollment = 4,388 (2023-24)<ref name=NCES>{{cite web | url=https://www.upperdarbysd.org/domain/1187 | title=School Profile / School Profile }}</ref> | faculty = 233.23 FTE<ref name=NCES /> | ratio = 16.49<ref name=NCES /> | type = [[Public high school]] | location = 601 North Lansdowne Avenue, [[Drexel Hill]], [[Upper Darby]], [[Pennsylvania]], U.S. | colors = Purple and gold {{color box|indigo}} {{color box|#C5B358}} | nickname = Royals | newspaper = The Acorn | yearbook = The Oak | information = 610-622-7000 | website = {{URL|https://upperdarbyhigh.upperdarbysd.org/}} }} '''Upper Darby High School''' ('''UDHS''') is a four-year public high school located in [[Upper Darby Township, Pennsylvania|Upper Darby Township]] in [[Delaware County, Pennsylvania|Delaware County]], [[Pennsylvania]], [[United States]]. It is part of the [[Upper Darby School District]]. Established in 1895, it is the oldest high school in Delaware County. [[File:Upper Darby High School.jpg|left|thumb|An image of Upper Darby High School's parking lot in 2025]] As of the 2023-2024 school year, the school had an enrollment of 4,388 students and 233.23 classroom teachers (on an [[full-time equivalent|FTE]] basis), for a student-teacher ratio of 16.49.<ref name=NCES />

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== The campus is adjacent to, but not within, the [[Drexel Hill, Pennsylvania|Drexel Hill]] [[census-designated place]].<ref name=CDPmap>{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/DC20BLK/st42_pa/place/p4219920_drexel_hill/DC20BLK_P4219920.pdf|title=2020 CENSUS - CENSUS BLOCK MAP: Drexel Hill CDP, PA|publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]|access-date=2024-03-31}}<br />{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/dc10map/GUBlock/st42_pa/place/p4219920_drexel_hill/DC10BLK_P4219920_001.pdf|title=2010 CENSUS - CENSUS BLOCK MAP: Drexel Hill CDP, PA|work=[[2010 U.S. census]]|publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]|access-date=2020-05-03}} - Compare the maps to the full address of UDHS.</ref> It has a Drexel Hill postal address.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.upperdarbysd.org/udhs|title=Home|publisher=Upper Darby High School|access-date=2020-05-03|quote=Location 601 N. Lansdowne Ave Drexel Hill, PA 19026}} - Compare this to the CDP map.</ref>

== Demographics == {| class="wikitable" |+Race/Ethnicity as of 2019-2020<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=Search for Public Schools - School Detail for Upper Darby SHS|url=https://nces.ed.gov/ccd/schoolsearch/school_detail.asp?Search=1&InstName=upper+darby&SchoolType=1&SchoolType=2&SchoolType=3&SchoolType=4&SpecificSchlTypes=all&IncGrade=-1&LoGrade=-1&HiGrade=-1&ID=422432001972|access-date=2021-06-20|website=nces.ed.gov|language=EN}}</ref> !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% |} {| class="wikitable" |+Gender as of 2019-2020<ref name=":0" /> !Group !Number of Students !Percentage |- |Total |3845 |100% |- |Male |1949 |50.69% |- |Female |1896 |49.31% |}

==Arts== [[File:Upper Darby High School Auditorium.jpg|thumb|The Upper Darby High School Auditorium/Upper Darby Performing Arts Center in July, 2025]] 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== Upper Darby High School offers a wide variety of clubs and activities, as well as an extensive sports program.

===Sports=== Upper Darby sports teams compete in the [[Central League (PIAA)|Central League]].

According to the PIAA directory from July 2012<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.piaa.org/schools/directory/default.aspx |title=PIAA School Directory |author=Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletics Association |year=2012}}</ref>, the district funds:

{{div col|colwidth=15em}} *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 {{div col end}}

==Notable alumni== [[File:Jim-Croce-r01.jpg|thumb|upright=0.8|[[Jim Croce]]]] [[File:Todd Rundgren at Revolution Live (cropped).jpg|thumb|upright=0.8|[[Todd Rundgren]]]] [[File:William wharton 1.jpg|thumb|upright=0.8|[[William Wharton (author)|William Wharton]]]] Upper Darby High School's Wall of Fame committee recognizes individuals who have become leaders in their industries.<ref>{{cite web | title = Wall of Fame| publisher = Upper Darby High School| url = http://www.udsd.k12.pa.us/alumni/wof.php| access-date = October 17, 2007 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071009225810/http://www.udsd.k12.pa.us/alumni/wof.php |archive-date = October 9, 2007}}</ref> Alumni recognized on Upper Darby High School's Wall of Fame members are indicated with '''WoF''' after their biographical summary:

*[[Lloyd Alexander]], former author and writer, ''[[The Black Cauldron (film)|The Black Cauldron]]'' '''(WoF)''' *[[Keith Andes]], former Broadway and film actor<ref>Jones, Kenneth. [http://www.playbill.com/news/article/96490.html "Broadway Baritone Keith Andes, of Wildcat, Dead at 85"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081007091926/http://www.playbill.com/news/article/96490.html |date=October 7, 2008 }}, ''[[Playbill]]'', November 28, 2005. Accessed November 24, 2007.</ref> *[[Chuck Dixon]], comic book writer '''(WoF)''' *[[Mario Civera]], former Pennsylvania State Representative '''(WoF)''' *[[Jim Croce]], former singer-songwriter '''(WoF)''' *[[Mark Cronin]], creator and producer of [[VH1]] shows '''(WoF)''' *[[Tina Fey]], former senior writer, ''[[Saturday Night Live]]'', and scriptwriter and co-star, ''[[Mean Girls]]'' and ''[[30 Rock]]''<ref>[http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,118079,00.html "Tina Fey Gets the Last Laugh"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080407234057/http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,118079,00.html |date=April 7, 2008 }}, [[Fox News]], April 25, 2004. Accessed November 28, 2007</ref> '''WoF''' *[[D'or Fischer]], former professional basketball player, [[Liga Leumit (basketball)|Israeli National League]] *[[Derek Frey]], film director and producer *[[D. Barry Gibbons]], former Pennsylvania State Representative *[[Kermit Gordon]], former [[Brookings Institution]] president and former [[Office of Management and Budget]] director '''WoF''' *[[Rei Hance]], actress, ''[[The Blair Witch Project]]'' and ''[[Taken (TV miniseries)|Taken]]'' *[[Chris Hartmire]], minister and civil rights activist *[[Jeff LaBar]], former rock musician, [[Cinderella (band)|Cinderella]] *[[Simoni Lawrence]], former professional football player, [[Canadian Football League]] *[[Bob Lloyd (basketball)|Bob Lloyd]], former professional basketball player, [[Brooklyn Nets|New York Nets]], and NCAA [[1967 NCAA Men's Basketball All-Americans|First Team All-American]] at [[Rutgers Scarlet Knights men's basketball|Rutgers]]<ref>{{Cite web| title = Bobby Lloyd| work = basketball-reference.com| publisher = Sports Reference LLC| year = 2010| url = https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/l/lloydbo01.html| access-date = September 16, 2010}}</ref> *[[F. Joseph Loeper]], former Pennsylvania State Senator and Majority Leader '''(WoF)''' *[[David MacAdam]], former head of image structure at [[Eastman Kodak]] Research Laboratory [[Optical Society of America]] president, discovered [[MacAdam ellipse]]s *[[Shannon Meehan]], [[Iraq War]] veteran, author, disabled Veterans activist '''(WoF)''' *[[Terrence J. Nolen]], artistic director, [[Arden Theatre Company (Philadelphia)|Arden Theatre Company]] '''(WoF)''' *[[Grace O'Connell]], [[University of California, Berkeley]] bioengineer<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.upperdarbysd.org/Page/4512|title=Alumni Wall of Fame|publisher=Upper Darby School District|access-date=2023-01-04|archive-date=January 5, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230105012005/https://www.upperdarbysd.org/Page/4512|url-status=dead}} {{cite web|url=https://www.upperdarbysd.org/cms/lib/PA02209738/Centricity/Domain/8/UDHS%20Bio_OConnell.docx.pdf|title=Grace O'Connell, Class of 2000|publisher=Upper Darby School District|access-date=2023-01-04}}</ref> '''(WoF)''' *[[Dorothy Germain Porter]], amateur golfer, [[U.S. Women's Amateur]] golf champion in 1949 and [[United States Senior Women's Amateur Golf Championship|U.S. Senior Women's Amateur]] champion in 1977, 1980, 1981, 1983 '''(WoF)''' *[[Jack Ramsay]], former college and professional basketball coach and broadcaster '''(WoF)''' *[[Maaly Raw]], hip hop producer for [[Lil Uzi Vert]] and others *[[Todd Rucci]], former professional football player, [[New England Patriots]] *[[Todd Rundgren]], rock musician and award-winning record producer *[[Alvin Sargent]], two-time Academy Award winner for ''[[Julia (1977 film)|Julia]]'' and ''[[Ordinary People]]'' '''(WoF)''' *[[Marty Stern]], former women's cross-country coach, [[Villanova Wildcats]] '''(WoF)''' *[[George Wackenhut]], [[Wackenhut]] founder '''(WoF)''' *[[Floyd Wedderburn]], former professional football player, [[Seattle Seahawks]] *[[Carolyn Bunny Welsh|Carolyn "Bunny" Welsh]], former [[Chester County, Pennsylvania]] sheriff and one of 22 female sheriffs in the U.S.{{Citation needed|date=April 2008}} '''WoF''' *[[William Wharton (author)|William Wharton]], writer, ''[[Birdy (novel)|Birdy]]'', which was adapted into a [[Birdy (film)|film of the same name]] '''(WoF)'''

==References== {{Reflist|2}}

==External links== *{{official website|https://upperdarbyhigh.upperdarbysd.org/}} *[http://www.udpac.org Upper Darby Performing Arts Center] *[http://www.dciu.org/site/default.aspx?PageID=1 Delaware County IU 25] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120808063338/http://www.dciu.org/site/default.aspx?PageID=1 |date=August 8, 2012 }} *[https://web.archive.org/web/20120929233559/http://www.edna.ed.state.pa.us/entitysearchresult.asp Delaware County Technical High School] *[http://www.delcoworks.org/ Delaware County Workforce Investment Board]

{{Upper Darby}} {{Pennsylvania Central League High Schools}} {{Delaware County, Pennsylvania School Districts}} {{authority control}}

[[Category:Educational institutions established in 1895]] [[Category:Public high schools in Pennsylvania]] [[Category:Schools in Delaware County, Pennsylvania]] [[Category:1895 establishments in Pennsylvania]]