# Upper Darby High School > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Upper_Darby_High_School > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Upper_Darby_High_School.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Upper_Darby_High_School > Source revision: 1336862528 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) Public high school Upper Darby High School The Upper Darby Performing Arts Center in 2025 601 North Lansdowne Avenue, Drexel Hill, Upper Darby, Pennsylvania, U.S. Information Type Public high school Motto Where Every One Is Royalty Established 1895 Principal Craig L. Parkinson[1] Faculty 233.23 FTE[2] Enrollment 4,388 (2023-24)[2] Student to teacher ratio 16.49[2] Colors Purple and gold Nickname Royals Newspaper The Acorn Yearbook The Oak Information 610-622-7000 Website upperdarbyhigh.upperdarbysd.org **Upper Darby High School** (**UDHS**) is a four-year public high school located in [Upper Darby Township](/source/Upper_Darby_Township%2C_Pennsylvania) in [Delaware County](/source/Delaware_County%2C_Pennsylvania), [Pennsylvania](/source/Pennsylvania), [United States](/source/United_States). It is part of the [Upper Darby School District](/source/Upper_Darby_School_District). Established in 1895, it is the oldest high school in Delaware County. 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 [FTE](/source/Full-time_equivalent) 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](/source/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](/source/Tina_Fey)'s movie comedy *[Mean Girls](/source/Mean_Girls)*. The mascot of Upper Darby High is the Royal, which is portrayed as a [lion](/source/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](/source/Drexel_Hill%2C_Pennsylvania) [census-designated place](/source/Census-designated_place).[3] It has a Drexel Hill postal address.[4] ## Demographics 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 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](/source/Central_League_(PIAA)). According to the PIAA directory from July 2012[6], 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 ## Notable alumni [Jim Croce](/source/Jim_Croce) [Todd Rundgren](/source/Todd_Rundgren) [William Wharton](/source/William_Wharton_(author)) 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: - [Lloyd Alexander](/source/Lloyd_Alexander), former author and writer, *[The Black Cauldron](/source/The_Black_Cauldron_(film))* **(WoF)** - [Keith Andes](/source/Keith_Andes), former Broadway and film actor[8] - [Chuck Dixon](/source/Chuck_Dixon), comic book writer **(WoF)** - [Mario Civera](/source/Mario_Civera), former Pennsylvania State Representative **(WoF)** - [Jim Croce](/source/Jim_Croce), former singer-songwriter **(WoF)** - [Mark Cronin](/source/Mark_Cronin), creator and producer of [VH1](/source/VH1) shows **(WoF)** - [Tina Fey](/source/Tina_Fey), former senior writer, *[Saturday Night Live](/source/Saturday_Night_Live)*, and scriptwriter and co-star, *[Mean Girls](/source/Mean_Girls)* and *[30 Rock](/source/30_Rock)*[9] **WoF** - [D'or Fischer](/source/D'or_Fischer), former professional basketball player, [Israeli National League](/source/Liga_Leumit_(basketball)) - [Derek Frey](/source/Derek_Frey), film director and producer - [D. Barry Gibbons](/source/D._Barry_Gibbons), former Pennsylvania State Representative - [Kermit Gordon](/source/Kermit_Gordon), former [Brookings Institution](/source/Brookings_Institution) president and former [Office of Management and Budget](/source/Office_of_Management_and_Budget) director **WoF** - [Rei Hance](/source/Rei_Hance), actress, *[The Blair Witch Project](/source/The_Blair_Witch_Project)* and *[Taken](/source/Taken_(TV_miniseries))* - [Chris Hartmire](/source/Chris_Hartmire), minister and civil rights activist - [Jeff LaBar](/source/Jeff_LaBar), former rock musician, [Cinderella](/source/Cinderella_(band)) - [Simoni Lawrence](/source/Simoni_Lawrence), former professional football player, [Canadian Football League](/source/Canadian_Football_League) - [Bob Lloyd](/source/Bob_Lloyd_(basketball)), former professional basketball player, [New York Nets](/source/Brooklyn_Nets), and NCAA [First Team All-American](/source/1967_NCAA_Men's_Basketball_All-Americans) at [Rutgers](/source/Rutgers_Scarlet_Knights_men's_basketball)[10] - [F. Joseph Loeper](/source/F._Joseph_Loeper), former Pennsylvania State Senator and Majority Leader **(WoF)** - [David MacAdam](/source/David_MacAdam), former head of image structure at [Eastman Kodak](/source/Eastman_Kodak) Research Laboratory [Optical Society of America](/source/Optical_Society_of_America) president, discovered [MacAdam ellipses](/source/MacAdam_ellipse) - [Shannon Meehan](/source/Shannon_Meehan), [Iraq War](/source/Iraq_War) veteran, author, disabled Veterans activist **(WoF)** - [Terrence J. Nolen](/source/Terrence_J._Nolen), artistic director, [Arden Theatre Company](/source/Arden_Theatre_Company_(Philadelphia)) **(WoF)** - [Grace O'Connell](/source/Grace_O'Connell), [University of California, Berkeley](/source/University_of_California%2C_Berkeley) bioengineer[11] **(WoF)** - [Dorothy Germain Porter](/source/Dorothy_Germain_Porter), amateur golfer, [U.S. Women's Amateur](/source/U.S._Women's_Amateur) golf champion in 1949 and [U.S. Senior Women's Amateur](/source/United_States_Senior_Women's_Amateur_Golf_Championship) champion in 1977, 1980, 1981, 1983 **(WoF)** - [Jack Ramsay](/source/Jack_Ramsay), former college and professional basketball coach and broadcaster **(WoF)** - [Maaly Raw](/source/Maaly_Raw), hip hop producer for [Lil Uzi Vert](/source/Lil_Uzi_Vert) and others - [Todd Rucci](/source/Todd_Rucci), former professional football player, [New England Patriots](/source/New_England_Patriots) - [Todd Rundgren](/source/Todd_Rundgren), rock musician and award-winning record producer - [Alvin Sargent](/source/Alvin_Sargent), two-time Academy Award winner for *[Julia](/source/Julia_(1977_film))* and *[Ordinary People](/source/Ordinary_People)* **(WoF)** - [Marty Stern](/source/Marty_Stern), former women's cross-country coach, [Villanova Wildcats](/source/Villanova_Wildcats) **(WoF)** - [George Wackenhut](/source/George_Wackenhut), [Wackenhut](/source/Wackenhut) founder **(WoF)** - [Floyd Wedderburn](/source/Floyd_Wedderburn), former professional football player, [Seattle Seahawks](/source/Seattle_Seahawks) - [Carolyn "Bunny" Welsh](/source/Carolyn_Bunny_Welsh), former [Chester County, Pennsylvania](/source/Chester_County%2C_Pennsylvania) sheriff and one of 22 female sheriffs in the U.S.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*] **WoF** - [William Wharton](/source/William_Wharton_(author)), writer, *[Birdy](/source/Birdy_(novel))*, which was adapted into a [film of the same name](/source/Birdy_(film)) **(WoF)** ## References 1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["Administration / Home"](https://www.upperdarbysd.org/domain/1189). *upperdarbysd.org*. 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-NCES_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-NCES_2-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-NCES_2-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-NCES_2-3) ["School Profile / School Profile"](https://www.upperdarbysd.org/domain/1187). 1. **[^](#cite_ref-CDPmap_3-0)** ["2020 CENSUS - CENSUS BLOCK MAP: Drexel Hill CDP, PA"](https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/DC20BLK/st42_pa/place/p4219920_drexel_hill/DC20BLK_P4219920.pdf) (PDF). [U.S. Census Bureau](/source/U.S._Census_Bureau). Retrieved March 31, 2024. ["2010 CENSUS - CENSUS BLOCK MAP: Drexel Hill CDP, PA"](https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/dc10map/GUBlock/st42_pa/place/p4219920_drexel_hill/DC10BLK_P4219920_001.pdf) (PDF). *[2010 U.S. census](/source/2010_U.S._census)*. [U.S. Census Bureau](/source/U.S._Census_Bureau). Retrieved May 3, 2020. - Compare the maps to the full address of UDHS. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["Home"](https://www.upperdarbysd.org/udhs). Upper Darby High School. Retrieved May 3, 2020. Location 601 N. Lansdowne Ave Drexel Hill, PA 19026 - Compare this to the CDP map. 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:0_5-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:0_5-1) ["Search for Public Schools - School Detail for Upper Darby SHS"](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). *nces.ed.gov*. Retrieved June 20, 2021. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletics Association (2012). ["PIAA School Directory"](http://www.piaa.org/schools/directory/default.aspx). 1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** ["Wall of Fame"](https://web.archive.org/web/20071009225810/http://www.udsd.k12.pa.us/alumni/wof.php). Upper Darby High School. Archived from [the original](http://www.udsd.k12.pa.us/alumni/wof.php) on October 9, 2007. Retrieved October 17, 2007. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** Jones, Kenneth. ["Broadway Baritone Keith Andes, of Wildcat, Dead at 85"](http://www.playbill.com/news/article/96490.html) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20081007091926/http://www.playbill.com/news/article/96490.html) October 7, 2008, at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine), *[Playbill](/source/Playbill)*, November 28, 2005. Accessed November 24, 2007. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** ["Tina Fey Gets the Last Laugh"](http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,118079,00.html) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20080407234057/http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,118079,00.html) April 7, 2008, at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine), [Fox News](/source/Fox_News), April 25, 2004. Accessed November 28, 2007 1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** ["Bobby Lloyd"](https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/l/lloydbo01.html). *basketball-reference.com*. Sports Reference LLC. 2010. Retrieved September 16, 2010. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** ["Alumni Wall of Fame"](https://web.archive.org/web/20230105012005/https://www.upperdarbysd.org/Page/4512). Upper Darby School District. Archived from [the original](https://www.upperdarbysd.org/Page/4512) on January 5, 2023. Retrieved January 4, 2023. ["Grace O'Connell, Class of 2000"](https://www.upperdarbysd.org/cms/lib/PA02209738/Centricity/Domain/8/UDHS%20Bio_OConnell.docx.pdf) (PDF). Upper Darby School District. Retrieved January 4, 2023. ## External links - [Official website](https://upperdarbyhigh.upperdarbysd.org/) - [Upper Darby Performing Arts Center](http://www.udpac.org) - [Delaware County IU 25](http://www.dciu.org/site/default.aspx?PageID=1) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20120808063338/http://www.dciu.org/site/default.aspx?PageID=1) August 8, 2012, at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine) - [Delaware County Technical High School](https://web.archive.org/web/20120929233559/http://www.edna.ed.state.pa.us/entitysearchresult.asp) - [Delaware County Workforce Investment Board](http://www.delcoworks.org/) v t e Upper Darby Township, Pennsylvania Founded 1736 Communities Aronimink Beverly Hills Bywood Drexel Hill Drexel Park Highland Park Llanerch Hills Kellyville Kirklyn Oakview Primos Secane Stonehurst Westbrook Park Education Upper Darby SD Upper Darby HS Bonner & Prendergast Catholic HS (merger of Bonner HS & Prendergast HS) Delco CC Historic sites Lower Swedish Cabin Collen Brook Farm Tower Theater Infrastructure Market–Frankford Line Media–Sharon Hill Line Media/Wawa Line Norristown High Speed Line Regional rail stations Primos Secane Fernwood-Yeadon Trolley/subway stations 69th Street Transit Center Parkview Fairfield Avenue Walnut Street Avon Road Hilltop Road Beverly Boulevard Congress Avenue Lansdowne Avenue Drexel Park Irvington Road Drexel Hill Junction Garrettford Drexel Manor Marshall Road Creek Road Huey Avenue School Lane Aronimink Anderson Avenue Drexelbrook Drexeline v t e Central Athletic League high schools Conestoga Garnet Valley Harriton Haverford Lower Merion Marple Newtown Penncrest Radnor Ridley Springfield Strath Haven Upper Darby v t e Delaware County, Pennsylvania schools Main school districts Chester Upland Chester High School Science and Discovery High School Smedley Allied Health School Chichester Chichester High School Garnet Valley Garnet Valley High School Haverford Township Haverford High School Haverford Middle School Interboro Interboro High School Marple Newtown Marple Newtown High School Penn-Delco Sun Valley High School Radnor Township Radnor High School Radnor Middle School Ridley Ridley High School Rose Tree Media Penncrest High School Southeast Delco Academy Park High School Springfield Springfield High School Upper Darby Upper Darby High School Wallingford-Swarthmore Strath Haven High School William Penn Penn Wood High School Other schools Charter schools Chester Charter Scholars Academy Private schools Academy of Notre Dame de Namur Agnes Irwin School Christian Academy Delaware County Christian School Episcopal Academy Faith Temple Christian School George Crothers Memorial School Hill Top Preparatory School Media-Providence Friends School New Beginnings Academy Valley Forge Military Academy Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Philadelphia Archbishop John Carroll High School Archbishop Prendergast High School Cardinal O'Hara High School Monsignor Bonner High School Closed St. James High School for Boys Unionville-Chadds Ford (partially located in Chester Co.) Unionville High School West Chester Area (partially located in Chester Co.) West Chester East High School West Chester Henderson High School West Chester Rustin High School Fugett Middle School Peirce Middle School Authority control databases International ISNI Geographic NCES [39°57′24″N 75°17′05″W / 39.9567°N 75.2846°W / 39.9567; -75.2846](https://geohack.toolforge.org/geohack.php?pagename=Upper_Darby_High_School¶ms=39.9567_N_75.2846_W_region:US-PA_type:edu) --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Upper Darby High School](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Upper_Darby_High_School) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Upper_Darby_High_School?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.