Overbrook High School (Philadelphia)
Encyclopedia
- This article pertains to the Overbrook High School in Philadelphia. For the Southern New Jersey high school, please see Overbrook High School (New Jersey).
Overbrook High School
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
is an inner-city, public, four-year secondary school
Secondary school
Secondary school is a term used to describe an educational institution where the final stage of schooling, known as secondary education and usually compulsory up to a specified age, takes place...
in the Overbrook
Overbrook, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Overbrook is a neighborhood northwest of West Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The area contains an assortment of housing from large, old homes to row homes to 3-4 story apartment buildings.-Physical setting:...
section of West Philadelphia
West Philadelphia
West Philadelphia, nicknamed West Philly, is a section of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Though there is no official definition of its boundaries, it is generally considered to reach from the western shore of the Schuylkill River, to City Line Avenue to the northwest, Cobbs Creek to the southwest, and...
, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
School
Overbrook High School is designated by the School District of PhiladelphiaSchool District of Philadelphia
The School District of Philadelphia is a school district based in the School District of Philadelphia Education Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, that includes all public schools in the city of Philadelphia. Established in 1818, it is the eighth largest school district in the nation.The School...
as Location #402, in the West Region. As of 2005, the school principal of Overbrook is Ethelyn Payne Young.
Enrollment for 2004-05 was 2,075 students in grades 9 through 12). African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
s make up 99% of the student population, with whites, Asian
Asian American
Asian Americans are Americans of Asian descent. The U.S. Census Bureau definition of Asians as "Asian” refers to a person having origins in any of the original peoples of the Far East, Southeast Asia, or the Indian subcontinent, including, for example, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan,...
s, and Latino
Hispanic
Hispanic is a term that originally denoted a relationship to Hispania, which is to say the Iberian Peninsula: Andorra, Gibraltar, Portugal and Spain. During the Modern Era, Hispanic sometimes takes on a more limited meaning, particularly in the United States, where the term means a person of ...
s accounting for most of the rest.
Since the 2002-03 school year, Overbrook has required students to wear school uniform
School uniform
A school uniform is an outfit—a set of standardized clothes—worn primarily for an educational institution. They are common in primary and secondary schools in various countries . When used, they form the basis of a school's dress code.Traditionally school uniforms have been largely subdued and...
s.
Shirts may be white or black. Bottoms may be khaki or black.
Notable alumni
Overbrook is perhaps best known for its famous alumni, who include Wilt ChamberlainWilt Chamberlain
Wilton Norman "Wilt" Chamberlain was an American professional NBA basketball player for the Philadelphia/San Francisco Warriors, the Philadelphia 76ers and the Los Angeles Lakers; he also played for the Harlem Globetrotters prior to playing in the NBA...
and Will Smith
Will Smith
Willard Christopher "Will" Smith, Jr. , also known by his stage name The Fresh Prince, is an American actor, producer, and rapper. He has enjoyed success in television, film and music. In April 2007, Newsweek called him the most powerful actor in Hollywood...
. At least 11 Overbrook alumni have played in the NBA, and the school is ranked sixth in that respect.
- Philip Allen, sports talk radio icon; Negro League Baseball historian
- Len BarryLen BarryLen Barry is a retired American vocalist, songwriter and record producer.-Career:...
, lead singer/songwriter, The DovellsThe DovellsThe Dovells were an American music group, formed at Overbrook High School in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1957, under the name 'The Brooktones'. The members were Arnie Silver, Mark Gordesky, Len Borisoff , Jerry Gross, Mike Freda and Jim Mealey... - John Blake, Jr.John Blake, Jr.John Blake, Jr. is an American jazz violinist. He has performed most prominently as a sideman in groups led by Grover Washington, Jr. in the late 1970s) and McCoy Tyner , as well as led his own groups.-External links:*[ allmusic's inventory of his record appearances]**...
, jazz violinist - Jerry BlavatJerry BlavatJerry Blavat , also known as "The Geator with The Heator", is an American disc jockey who is known for promoting oldies music on the radio in the Philadelphia area. Blavat was born in South Philadelphia to a Jewish father and Italian mother....
, disc jockey - Bill BloomBill BloomWilliam A. "Bill" Bloom is an American songwriter and musician.Bloom was a staff writer and producer for Philadelphia International Records and WMOT Records. He co-wrote and produced the album Children of Tomorrow by Frankie Smith, including the 1981 hit song "Double Dutch Bus".- External links...
, songwriter/musician - Bernie Ivens, NCAA Basketball star at Temple UniversityTemple UniversityTemple University is a comprehensive public research university in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Originally founded in 1884 by Dr. Russell Conwell, Temple University is among the nation's largest providers of professional education and prepares the largest body of professional...
- Guion S. Bluford, Jr., space-shuttle astronaut; first African-American in space
- Solomon BurkeSolomon BurkeSolomon Burke was an American singer-songwriter, entrepreneur, mortician, and an archbishop of the United House of Prayer For All People. Burke was known as "King Solomon", the "King of Rock 'n' Soul", and as the "Bishop of Soul", and described as "the Muhammad Ali of soul", and as "the most...
, soul singer [Attended briefly, but graduated from John Bartram High SchoolJohn Bartram High SchoolJohn Bartram High School is a public secondary school located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States.The school, which serves grades 9 through 12, is a part of the School District of Philadelphia.-History:... - Bill Cash, Negro League star, Baseball Hall of Famer
- Wilt ChamberlainWilt ChamberlainWilton Norman "Wilt" Chamberlain was an American professional NBA basketball player for the Philadelphia/San Francisco Warriors, the Philadelphia 76ers and the Los Angeles Lakers; he also played for the Harlem Globetrotters prior to playing in the NBA...
, NBA basketball legend - The Delphonics, R&B group
- Jon DrummondJon DrummondJonathan A. Drummond is an American athlete, winner of gold medal in 4x100 m relay at the 2000 Summer Olympics....
, Olympic track gold-medalist - Ted EisenbergTed EisenbergTed Eisenberg is a Philadelphia, Pennsylvania based plastic surgeon who specializes in cosmetic breast surgery. He holds a Guinness World Record for the most breast augmentation surgeries performed in a lifetime -- 3460.-Early years:...
, World record-holding breast surgeon - Chaka FattahChaka FattahChaka Fattah is the U.S. representative for , serving since 1995. He is a member of the Democratic Party...
, U.S. Congressman (D-PA) - Mike GaleMike GaleMichael Eugene Gale is a retired American basketball player.Gale was a 6'4" guard at Elizabeth City State University. He was drafted in the third round of the 1971 NBA Draft by the Chicago Bulls and by the Kentucky Colonels in the 1971 American Basketball Association draft...
, NBA/ABA player - Bobb GoldsteinnBobb GoldsteinnBobb Goldsteinn is an American showman, songwriter, and artist. As a pop pioneer, he wrote The Village Stompers' international hit "Washington Square" and produced The GoldeBriars, Curt Boettcher's original Sunshine Pop singing group.-Early years:Bobb Goldsteinn was born in Philadelphia, where he...
, songwriter/producer; coined term "multimedia" - The Last Emperor (Jamal Gray), rapper
- Walt Hazzard (Mahdi Abdul-Rahmad)Walt HazzardWalter "Walt" Raphael Hazzard Jr. , also known as Mahdi Abdul-Rahman, was an American college, Olympic, and professional basketball player and college basketball coach...
, NBA All-Star; UCLA All-American player and coach - Rosetta HightowerRosetta HightowerRosetta Hightower is an American singer,and the former lead singer of the 1960s girl group The Orlons....
, lead singer, The OrlonsThe OrlonsThe Orlons are an American R&B group from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania that formed in 1960. They received gold discs for the million selling achievements of three of their singles... - Wayne HightowerWayne HightowerWayne A. Hightower was an American basketball player who had a long and productive career in the NBA and ABA during the 1960s and early 1970s. He was a 6'8" power forward and center...
, NBA player; ABAAmerican Basketball AssociationThe American Basketball Association was a professional basketball league founded in 1967. The ABA ceased to exist with the ABA–NBA merger in 1976.-League history:...
All-star - Wali JonesWali JonesWalter "Wali" Jones is a retired American professional basketball player. He was a 6'2" 180 lb guard....
, NBA player; Miami HeatMiami HeatThe Miami Heat is a professional basketball team based in Miami, Florida, United States. The team is a member of the Southeast Division in the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association . They play their home games at American Airlines Arena in Downtown Miami...
executive - Jacob LandauJacob LandauJacob Charles "Jack" Landau was an American journalist, attorney, government official, and free-speech activist. He was the founding first Executive Director of the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press....
, nationally recognized artist, teacher - James LassiterJames LassiterJames Lassiter is an American film producer. He is actor Will Smith's long-time business partner.-Career:Lassiter attended University of Miami and Temple University and befriended Jeffrey "Jazzy Jeff" Townes, who was in a rap duo with then-musician Will Smith. Lassiter met Smith through Townes,...
, film producer; partner in Overbrook EntertainmentOverbrook EntertainmentOverbrook Entertainment is an American entertainment company based in Beverly Hills, California, USA. The production company was started by Will Smith between 1997 and 1999, about the same time the production for Wild Wild West was underway.... - Hal LearHal LearHarold C. Lear is a retired American basketball player.A 6'0" guard, Lear starred at Temple University during the 1950s...
, NBA player - Lewis LloydLewis LloydLewis Kevin Lloyd is a retired American basketball player. A 6'6" swingman, he played most of his professional career for the National Basketball Association's Houston Rockets.-High school and college:...
, NBA player - Frank PiaseckiFrank PiaseckiFrank Piasecki was an American engineer and helicopter aviation pioneer. Piasecki pioneered tandem rotor helicopter designs and created the compound helicopter concept of vectored thrust using a ducted propeller.-Biography:...
, helicopter inventor; National Medal of Technology winner - Marion RamseyMarion RamseyMarion Ramsey in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania is an American actress. She was a regular on the series Cos but is best known for her role as the timid Officer Laverne Hooks in the Police Academy movies...
, film actress - Malik RoseMalik RoseMalik Jabari Rose is an American former professional basketball player, and current broadcaster, serving as a studio analyst for the New York Knicks, and the lead color analyst for the NBA D-League team, the Austin Toros.-High school and college:Rose graduated from Overbrook High School in...
, NBA player - Dee Dee SharpDee Dee SharpDee Dee Sharp is an American R&B singer, who began her career recording as a backing vocalist in 1961.-Career:...
, singer - Will SmithWill SmithWillard Christopher "Will" Smith, Jr. , also known by his stage name The Fresh Prince, is an American actor, producer, and rapper. He has enjoyed success in television, film and music. In April 2007, Newsweek called him the most powerful actor in Hollywood...
, Oscar-nominated actor; rapper - Willie L. WilliamsWillie L. WilliamsWillie L. Williams was chief of the Los Angeles Police Department from 1992 to 1997, taking over after chief Daryl Gates' resignation following the 1992 Los Angeles riots. Williams was the first African-American police commissioner of both the Philadelphia Police Department and the LAPD...
, former police commissioner, Philadelphia and Los Angeles