State College Area School District history

Once a farmer’s field with a prominent sinkhole on the edge of the borough, the area around what is now Memorial Field became the home to State College schools starting with a two-story, four-room schoolhouse that opened in 1897.

Caption: Still in need of finishing touches, the first unit of the State College High School opened its doors in September 1914.

Jo Hays, who had taken position as supervising principal (now called superintendent) in 1927, remained.

The first football game was played on September 25, 1937, with State College defeating Yeagertown 52-7 before 3,000 spectators.

20th Century Centre County to 1940

One of the first projects of the new State College Joint School Authority was the construction of the Matternville School in 1953.

Roy S. Jamison became Supervising Principal in 1956 when Jo Hays resigned due to his being elected to the state senate.

The new State College High School was built in 1957 on Westerly Parkway, and was used for grades 10,11, and 12.

In 1963, students would no longer be required to recite the Lord’s Prayer or listen to Bible readings to start the school day due to a new Supreme Court ruling.

Jamison would serve until 1964.

In an effort to improve curriculum development, the district established the position of curriculum coordinator in 1965, with responsibilities of improving curriculum and instruction.

The State College Area High School football team won the 1973 state championship on Memorial Field when the team defeated Pittsburgh’s Central Catholic High School 37-20.

Also during the fall of 1988, Learning Enrichment Programs were put into practice to accommodate the large number of gifted children in State College schools.

The name would later be changed in 1993 to Delta Program because students thought that “alternative” was a word that negatively portrayed the students within the program.

After 10 years as Superintendent, Seldon Whitaker turned the post over to William Opdenhoff in 1994.

In 1999, the district adopted a program of 75 “technology competencies” which educators thought students should master in order to be “technologically competent”. The use of computers for instructional purposes had become a standard practice.

By the year 2000, the district would serve a population of over 79,000, and students would be housed in 15 buildings, comprised of 10 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, 2 high school buildings and the Delta Program building.

Sneff, Michael. “$10 million renovation could shut Memorial Field down for more than a year,” Centre Daily Times, February 6, 2019.

A $10 million project in 2020 renovated the home bleachers, locker rooms, press box, restrooms, and concession stand.

First Published: November 30, 2021