Mt. Lebanon High School

Mt. Lebanon High School
Location
155 Cochran Rd, Pittsburgh, PA 15228

Mt. Lebanon, Pennsylvania

United States
Coordinates40°22′33″N 80°03′04″W / 40.3759027°N 80.0511651°W / 40.3759027; -80.0511651[1]
Information
TypePublic high school
MottoHome Of The Blue Devils
Established1927 (1927)
School districtMt. Lebanon School District
NCES School ID421611000254[2]
PrincipalJoel Thompson
Staff119.80 (FTE)[3]
Grades9–12
Enrollment1,789 (2023–2024)[3]
Student to teacher ratio14.93[3]
Color(s)Blue and Gold    
MascotBlue Devil
NicknameLebo, Mt. Lebo
RivalUpper St. Clair
NewspaperThe Devil's Advocate
Budget$125,119,057
Websitehttps://hs.mtlsd.org/

Mt. Lebanon High School is a four-year, comprehensive high school located in Mt. Lebanon, Pennsylvania, a highly affluent suburb of Pittsburgh.[4] It has an enrollment of 1,789 students in grades 9–12 for the 2023–2024 school year. Its mascot is the Blue Devil. The Mt. Lebanon High School is a nationally recognized high school, known for its extremely rigorous and academically demanding curriculum.[5] It is one of 24 public high school institutions in the world to hold a chapter of the Cum Laude Society, an organization that honors academic achievement at secondary institutions [6][7] According to state test scores, 93% of students are advanced in math and 91% advanced in reading.[8]

History

The school was originally built in 1927, and was described after being built as one of the most advanced schools in the state.[9] The school had two additions added in 1956 and 1957. Ground was broken in 1970 for an addition, which was completed in 1972. This addition added another six-story building connected to the original building, an arts wing connected to the auditorium, and a new gymnasium.[10] Ninth grade students were later added to the school due to overcrowding at the junior high schools.

In 2012, construction started for the Science Wing and a new Athletic Building that included a new pool, a main gym, two smaller gyms, and an exercise center. Remaining portions of the school that were renovated include the 1930 wing on Cochran Road, the Auditorium, and Fine Arts Wing. These were completed in 2017. In addition, the old South Gym was renovated into the Center Court, which functions as the cafeteria, and is located to be accessible from all main courses.[9]

Athletics

The sports teams compete in the Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League - District 7 of the PIAA. The teams go by the name "Blue Devils" and the school mascot is the Blue Devil. The student section is known as the Devil's Den. It is often considered one of the largest and most passionate student sections in Pennsylvania.[11]

The high school has a sports rivalry with Upper St. Clair High School, which is often considered one of Pennsylvania's most storied rivalries.[12] The schools are neighboring communities, with Upper St. Clair High School around 3 miles (5 km) south of Mt. Lebanon High School. Both schools are among the highest performing and wealthiest in the state.[13] The rivalry has garnered comparisons with the North Carolina-Duke rivalry,[14] with matchups between the two often gaining media attention from local and regional stations.

In 2021, Mt. Lebanon football coach Bob Palko was awarded the Don Shula NFL High School Coach of the Year Award, following an undefeated season, winning the WPIAL 6A title, and the PIAA 6A state title.[15] Palko led Mt. Lebanon to a spot in the national rankings.[16]

PIAA State Championships

  • Football
    • 1 PIAA state championship (2021)[17]
  • Baseball (Boys)
    • 1 PIAA state championship (1998)[18]
  • Basketball
    • Boys: 1 PIAA state championship (1940)[19]
    • Girls: 3 PIAA state championships (2009, 2010, and 2011)[19]
  • Cross Country
    • Boys: 12 PIAA state titles (1941, 1943, 1944, 1945, 1950, 1952, 1953, 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1998)[20]
  • Football
    • 1 PIAA state championship (2021)[21]
  • Hockey
    • Boys' Ice: 2 PIHL state championships (1976 and 2006).[22][23]
  • Soccer
    • Boys: 1 PIAA state championship (1981)[24]
    • Girls: 1 PIAA state championship (1992)[24]
  • Swimming
    • Girls: 1 PIAA state championship (2002)[25]
  • Volleyball
    • Girls: 2 PIAA state titles (1997 and 2000)[26]

Academics

Mt. Lebanon is said to have an extremely rigorous and demanding curriculum, challenging students and preparing them for college.[27]

As of 2025, the school's average ACT score for students is a 30, and the school's average SAT score is a 1290.[28]

The school offers 24 AP courses.[29]

According to state test scores, 93% of students are at least advanced in math and 91% advanced in reading.[30]

Facilities

Mt. Lebanon High School is located on 26 acres in the western Pennsylvania hills.[31] The indoor athletic facilities are connected to the Mt. Lebanon High School Center Court and academic buildings via a glass skybridge, recently named McFeeley Way, after the late high school principal Brian McFeeley.[32]

High School Buildings

A Building - Child development labs, food and nutrition labs, art rooms, staircase leading to center court

B Building (6-story original Mt. Lebanon High School) - Academic based and classrooms, writing labs, computer labs

C Building (6-story science wing) - Science classrooms and research labs

D Building (Fine Arts Complex) - Fine arts theater, main auditorium, music studios, visual arts studios

E Building (STEM Wing) - Full production television studio, engineering and graphics labs,

Indoor Athletic Building (connected by skybridge) - gymnasiums, fitness rooms, weight rooms, indoor pools

Academic & Instructional Facilities [33]

  • Library and media center
  • Full production digital media and television studio
  • Multiple computer labs
  • Writing labs
  • Science wing
  • Child development labs
  • Food and nutrition labs
  • Applied engineering and graphics labs
  • Multiple biology and chemistry research labs
  • Outdoor greenhouse
  • Solar Flower
  • Mathematics Lab

Athletic Facilities [31]

  • Three full-size gymnasiums
  • Indoor swimming pool
  • Athletic weight room
  • Six tennis courts
  • 7,200-seat stadium
  • Three synthetic turf multi purpose fields
  • Synthetic running track
  • Grass baseball field
  • Two synthetic turf baseball fields
  • Outdoor swimming pool
  • Three indoor tennis courts
  • Two ice rinks
  • Pickleball courts
  • Bocce courts
  • Sand volleyball courts
  • Two outdoor basketball courts
  • Platform tennis courts
  • Recreation Center
  • Two wrestling rooms

Fine Arts & Media Facilities [34]

  • Main auditorium
  • Two theaters
  • Visual arts studios
  • Two professional dance studios
  • Choral rooms
  • Music studios
  • Practice rooms
  • Full production digital media and television studio

Research

In 2015, AP Environmental Geoscience students from Mt. Lebanon High School launched a weather balloon from the school stadium for atmospheric research. The balloon was equipped with GPS tracking and cameras, the balloon broke through to the upper atmosphere, capturing atmospheric data.[35]

In April 2024, Mt Lebanon High School students presented and published award winning research at the Pittsburgh Regional Science & Engineering Fair. These include a research project on trace sunscreen contamination and algae growth, a hydrogen battery constructed via pressurized alkaline electrolysis and fuel cell earning an affiliate award, and a machine learning project aimed at early ALS diagnosis[36]

In May 2024, Mt.  Lebanon High School science club members published research competing at the Pennsylvania Junior Academy of Science State Competition receiving the first place award in computer science, a second place in physics plus a perseverance award, first place in mathematics and the Mathematical Excellence Award.[37]

In April 2025, Mt. Lebanon High School students presented award winning research to the Pittsburgh Regional Science & Engineering Fair. This research included a linear phased array radar development project, research in nanostructuring and thermal properties of silicon‑germanium, and several other student projects.[38]

The school offers a STEM Academy that provides students with opportunities to engage in STEM-related courses, career connections, promoting hands-on learning and exploration in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.[39]

Arts and extracurricular activities

In the 2002–03 school year, the high school received one of six Outstanding School Awards from the Educational Theatre Association.[40] The school's theater program began in 1930 and has produced a number of notable actors.[41]

In 2006, the fine arts department was rated one of eight finest nationwide by the U.S. Department of Education.[40]

In 2007, the American Music Conference listed Mt. Lebanon High school as one of the "Best 100 Communities for Music Education".[42] Mount Lebanon Percussion ensemble were invited by the NHL to perform at the 2011 NHL Winter Classic on live TV for the country.[43] The Mt. Lebanon Forensic Team won the Western Pennsylvania District Forensic Championship four years in a row, beginning in 2001. In 2004, the team won the state championship in dramatic interpretation and extemporaneous speaking and then earned a second-place title in extemporaneous speaking at the national competition in Salt Lake City.[44] In 2006, the team captured the Pennsylvania High School Speech League championship.[45]

The Devil's Advocate is Mt. Lebanon High School's monthly student newspaper.

Awards and rankings

In 2019, Mt. Lebanon High School received the U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon School award for its leadership in sustainability and environmental education while promoting health and wellness.[46]

In 2024, the high school placed in the top 4% nationally by performance metrics including state-required tests and college readiness.[47]

Filmography

Gung Ho (1986) - starring Pittsburgh native Michael Keaton [48]

Bob Roberts (1992) - starring Jack Black, Alan Rickman, and John Cusack [49]

Mt. Lebanon High School was the subject of an episode of CBS 60 Minutes, following a MRSA outbreak on the school's football team.[50]

Elk Cloner Virus

In the 1980's, the school garnered national media attention after 15 year old student Rich Skrenta created the Elk Cloner virus, the first widespread computer virus. Skrenta claimed to have created Elk Cloner as a playful experiment for his friends. The virus would eventually spread and infect Apple II computers throughout the 1980's.[51]

Elk Cloner infection message

Notable alumni

Mt. Lebanon is noted for having an extensive alumni network. This includes prominent figures in business, politics, entertainment, education, and athletics[52]

Notable staff

  • Orlando Antigua (born 1973) - basketballer; was assistant basketball coach
  • Armen Gilliam (1964-2011) - basketballer; was a volunteer assistant coach[78]
  • George Savarese (born 1965) - radio personality and educator; currently teaching at Mt. Lebanon
  • Paul Tortorella (born 1963) - football coach; was a linebackers coach

References

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