As of July 1, 2009, the school principal was Pamela Gardner. Her predecessor, Ronald Stancil, Sr., served as principal for ten years. West Haven High School enrolls about 1,800 students each year even though it was only designed for 1,500, in contrast to the state average of 524.4. The current campus opened September 1963 at 1 Circle Street. Its previous location was the Dr. Carl C. Gianotti Jr. High School on Main Street, a building now used as a residential complex. Before that, it was on the corner of Center Street and Union Avenue, a building since used as a grammar school and senior housing.
Academics
West Haven High School offers various non-core courses, including automotives, wood shop, metal shop, photography, graphic arts, drafting, video production, academics, art, and music courses. Among its notable programs are the Theater Workshop, Dr. JoAnn Andrees' Pillow Time Theatre and, in music, marching and concert bands, Bel Canto, Camerata and Concert Choir. Its chess team has won ten state championships and the school also has a successful mock trial team.
Athletics
West Haven High School athletic facilities include Ken Strong Stadium, an enclosed ice skating rink, indoor gymnasium and swimming pool, tennis courts, and baseball and softball fields. The Blue Devils soccer and lacrosse teams use the Ken Strong field. West Haven High is part of the Southern Connecticut Conference, Quinnipiac Division, for athletics. In wrestling, they share a co-op team with Platt Regional Vocational Technical School, which competes in the Constitution State Conference. Visit online.
1968 Football, State Championship, Team ranked 1st in Conn., 4th in the United States.
1972 Football, State Championship, Team ranked 1st in Conn.
1986, 1987, 1989 Football, Class L State Championships, under the leadership of Coach Ed McCarthy.
2002 Football, Class LL State Championship, also under Ed McCarthy, Team ranked 1st in Conn.
2003 Football, Class LL Semifinals Winner
2009 Wrestling, CSC Championship Runners-up
1984 Baseball, Class LL State Championship. The team defeated Crosby High High School 7-4 to capture the title.
In addition to the computer lab in the library, the school has a second computer lab, CyberCafe, inside its cafeteria where students can study.
Each of the school's sporting facilities is named for an alumnus.
The school's foreign language department offers courses in Spanish, French, and Italian.
The school's slogan is "Westie Pride is on Our Side!"
After graduation, the school sponsors an all-night, substance-free celebration for the outgoing senior class, called "Blue and White...Up All Night!" and "Project Graduation", at the Jewish Community Center in Woodbridge, CT
The movie Another Earth has scenes filmed in and set at West Haven High School.
