Waltham High School is a public high school in Waltham, Massachusetts, United States. Founded in 1849, it is among the oldest public secondary schools in the Commonwealth and one of two high schools in the Waltham Public Schools district.
City voters authorized a dedicated highâÂÂschool building in 1849; the brick structure at Church and School Streets served students for more than fifty years.
A ClassicalâÂÂRevival/Romanesque buildingâÂÂdesigned by Samuel Patch and Robert GlanceyâÂÂopened in 1902 and was expanded in the 1920s. It housed Waltham High until September 1969, then Central Junior High, and since 2003 has formed the historic façade of John W. McDevitt Middle School. The original portion was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1989.
The third incarnation, opened in 1969, comprised 265,000 sq ft of vocational shops, science wings, and a 1,000âÂÂseat auditorium. Accreditation concerns and aging systems placed the school on NEASC warning in 2005, spurring replacement planning.
After prolonged debate, the city took the 33âÂÂacre former Stigmatine Fathers property by eminent domain in 2018 and approved a $375 million bond in 2019; the Massachusetts School Building Authority contributed $118 million. Construction began in September 2020, and the 422,000âÂÂsqâÂÂft, netâÂÂzeroâÂÂready campus welcomed students for the 2024âÂÂ25 school year.
Waltham competes in MIAA Division I within the Dual County League.
The football teams of 1906 and 1907 finished undefeated during an era without formal playoffs.
The fineâÂÂarts department fields two competitive showâÂÂchoirsâÂÂMusic Unlimited (mixedâÂÂvoice) and Music Express (trebleâÂÂvoice)âÂÂand hosts the annual Eastern Show Choir Festival. YearâÂÂend productions include Senior Revue (est. 1968) and Dance Theater.
Principal Darrell Braggs emailed families on December 23, 2024 announcing his June 2025 departure. A committee named three finalistsâÂÂDonavan Tracey Jr., Courtney Gosselin, Mike SabinâÂÂon March 27, 2025, but on April 3, 2025 Superintendent Dr. Marisa Mendonsa restarted the search, saying "we had not yet found the right fit." John Barnes was hired as a principal-in-residence on July 20, 2025.