# Haverhill High School

Haverhill High School (HHS) is a public high school in Haverhill, Massachusetts, United States. It is part of the Haverhill Public Schools district and is open enrollment.

## History

At least three buildings have served as Haverhill High School. A now-demolished building designed by George M. Harding opened in 1874. Another building designed by C. Willis Damon opened in 1909. At present, that building serves as the Haverhill City Hall.
Haverhill High School opened on Monument Street in 1963, with the first class to graduate being the class of 1964.
During the COVID-19 Pandemic in April 2021, Haverhill Public Schools experienced a large ransomware attack that disrupted the district's computer systems, rendering remote learning impossible. The district technology department had decided to shut down the network to prevent widespread corruption. As a result, school was closed, with the district continuing to investigate the breach over the next few days, creating a major disturbance in the continued education of Haverhill students.
On March 31, 2022, an altercation between two students involving a knife at Haverhill High School led to the arrest of a female student. The incident sparked discussions about the school's phone seizure policy, as videos of the altercation were shared on social media, violating the school's cell phone policy. Haverhill School Committee held a special meeting to address the issue, emphasizing the importance of public engagement and the need for clear policies regarding phone misuse.
In October 2022, Haverhill High School staff went on strike after negotiations between the Haverhill Education Association (HEA) and the Haverhill School Committee failed to reach a mutual agreement on a new contract. The primary concerns of the union included increased wages, improved school safety measures, and better working conditions. The strike resulted in school closures for multiple days, affecting thousands of students.
In December 2022, a hazing incident at Haverhill High School came to state-wide attention, resulting in legal charges and termination of employment between two coaches, and the prosecution of an 18-year-old male student. The incident was the subject of a joint investigation by the Haverhill Police Department and the Essex District Attorney's Office.
In July 2023, foreign language teacher James Fiorentini, son of Haverhill's then Mayor James Fiorentini, was accused of making inappropriate comments to underage female students at Haverhill High School. The allegations led to an investigation by school officials and local authorities. James pleaded not guilty to two counts of accosting or annoying another person, both misdemeanors.
On February 26, 2024, Haverhill High School became the first school in the United States to take a live online tour of Auschwitz. The virtual tour called "Auschwitz in Front of Your Eyes" features recorded testimonies from concentration camp survivors, as well as a live tour with a guide who walks through the Auschwitz-Birkenau camps, giving a detailed description and view of the camps.
In September 2024, former Haverhill High School head football coach Timothy O’Connor was found not guilty of charges related to a hazing incident that occurred two years prior, between August and October 2022. O’Connor, who also taught at the school, had been accused of intimidating a witness, failing to comply with mandated reporter duties, and failing to report hazing after videos of a player engaging in explicit acts circulated within the school. After a nearly two-year legal battle, a judge in Haverhill District Court ruled that there was insufficient evidence to support the charges.
Assistant coach Michael Kwegyir-Attah also faced charges in connection with the case, which were dismissed the day before O’Connor's verdict. However, Jesse Rodriguez, an 18-year-old player, still faced charges including hazing, assault and battery, and assault and battery on a person 14 years or older.

## Athletics

Haverhill High School competes in the Merrimack Valley Conference and is a member of the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA).

## Notable alumni

* Jordan Harris (born 2000), NHL hockey player for the Montreal Canadiens
* Bob Montana, comic strip artist — creator of Archie Comics which its high school, known as Riverdale High School, is based on this school when it was in its previous location
* Rob Zombie, musician and filmmaker, co-founder of the heavy metal band White Zombie.
* Tom Bergeron
* Carlos Peña
* Seth Romatelli
* Charles Silvia, Springfield College swimmer, Olympic coach and swimming coach for Springfield College from 1937 through 1978.