Perry Traditional Academy

Perry Traditional Academy, also known as Perry High School, is a high school in the Perry North neighborhood of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Perry is one of ten secondary schools in the Pittsburgh Public Schools. The school opened during the 1922–1923 school year.^[4]

Perry Traditional Academy / Perry High School
Location
3875 Perrysville Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15214 40.48889°N 80.01889°W / 40.48889; -80.01889 United States
Information
Type	Public
Motto	"Knowledge for Service"
Established	1923
School district	Pittsburgh Public Schools
Principal	Dr. Robert E. Frioni [1]
Staff	66 total; 36 teachers, 2 administration, 5 student service/counselors, 5 security, 5 aides, 2 reading/math coaches, 11 other
Grades	9–12
Enrollment	375[2] (as of October 1, 2021)
Mascot	Commodore
Representative	Gene Walker, District 9
Website	Perry Traditional Academy
Pittsburgh Historic Designation
Type	Structure
Designated	November 30, 1999[3]
Pittsburgh Landmark – PHLF
Designated	2001

Feeder district

Perry Traditional Academy serves all of the following neighborhoods, which constitute the Northside of Pittsburgh: Allegheny Center, Allegheny West, Brighton Heights, California-Kirkbride, Central Northside, Chateau, East Allegheny, Fineview, Manchester, Marshall-Shadeland (Brightwood), North Shore (Lower Northside), Northview Heights, Perry Hilltop, Perry North (Observatory Hill), Perry South, Spring Hill-City View, Spring Garden, Summer Hill and Troy Hill.^[5]

Enrollment

As of October 1, 2021:^[2]

Group	Number of students	Percent
All	335	100%
White	46	13.7%
African American	260	77.6%
Asian	<5	<1%
Hispanic	<5	<1%
Multiracial	24	7.2%
Male	177	52.8%
Female	158	47.2%

Mascot

The school's mascot is the Commodore, named after Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry. A mural depicting The Commodore faces the school on the old Rich Bedding Building. It was commissioned by business owner Bill Schmidt, painted by The MLK Project and designed by Perry Alumni Bill Gandy (85) and Kimberley Robinson-Gandy (86).^{[citation needed]}

Academics

Perry consists of grades 9–12. The school comprises three schools (programs): STEAM, CTE, and Military Science/JROTC.^{[citation needed]}

Standardized tests

As of 2019^[update], Perry students performed below the state average in statewide tests.^[6]

Alma mater

Our Perry High Dear Alma Mater Thou
Keep Watchful Eye Atop The Summit's Brow
Thou Shalt To Us A Firm Foundation Be
Guide, Counsel'r, Friend Throughout Eternity
And As The Years Go Swiftly Gliding By
Still Thou Shalt to Be Our Own Dear Perry High
Chorus:
All Hail To Perry, We'll Honor And Praise Thee'
To Alma Mater We'll Ever Be True
All Hail To Perry, We'll Honor And Praise Thee'
We'll Love Forever The White And Blue ^[7]

Notable alumni

• Glenn Beckert (class of 1958), Major League Baseball player for Chicago Cubs and San Diego Padres.
• Eddie Benton (class of 1992), basketball player and coach.^[8]
• Ron Carter (class of 1975), basketball player.^[9]
• Richard Foster, modernist architect.^[10]
• Boo Jackson (class of 2000), basketball player.^[11]
• Rod Rutherford, quarterback for the NCAA's Pitt Panthers and the NFL's Carolina Panthers and Pittsburgh Steelers