G. A. R. Memorial Junior/Senior High School

G.A.R. Memorial Junior/Senior High School (commonly known throughout the area simply as 'G.A.R.') was a high school located on 250 South Grant Street, in Wilkes-Barre, located in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, United States.

G.A.R. Memorial Junior Senior High School
Address
Map
250 South Grant Street

,
18702

Coordinates41°14′02″N 75°52′59″W / 41.234°N 75.883°W / 41.234; -75.883
Information
TypeJunior-Senior High School
Motto"Sons of the Blue and Gray"
Established1925
Closed2021
School districtWilkes-Barre Area School District
PrincipalSean McLaughlin
Staff59.56 (FTE)[1]
Grades7-12
Number of students976 (2018-19)[1]
Student to teacher ratio16.39[1]
Color(s)Blue and Gray
MascotGrenadiers
WebsiteSchool website

G.A.R. was both a junior and senior public high school, offering education to students in grades 7–12. It was named for the Grand Army of the Republic.[2] In 2021, it was consolidated with other high schools in the area to form Wilkes-Barre Area High School. The school continues to operate, now as a middle school for grades 6th-8th.

History

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The school was built in 1925 after construction started in 1921, four years earlier. In 1978, the school district decided to make extensions to the school; this construction was completed in October 1979. The extension included a new cafeteria, gym, chorus room, and band room. The original shop building was demolished and turned into the faculty parking, the Girls Gym was changed into the Library and Girls Gym changing room was remodeled into the Home Ec rooms, the Boys Gym was remodeled into the Tech Ed room, the Boys Gym changing room was changed into the Woodshop room, and the chorus and band rooms were bricked off.

In 2005, a weight room was added. In 2013, the school installed a new turf field in front of the building, replacing the old turf which was worn and damaged after years of use.

The school was consolidated into Wilkes-Barre Area High School prior to the 2021–2022 school year. It is being renovated to be used as a middle school.[3]

Notable alumni

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References

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  1. ^ a b c "G A R Memorial JSHS". National Center for Education Statistics. Archived from the original on April 1, 2019. Retrieved October 5, 2020.
  2. ^ "GAR Memorial Junior Senior High School". publicschoolreview.com. Archived from the original on May 24, 2011. Retrieved April 25, 2011.
  3. ^ Guydish, Mark (July 30, 2021). "WB Area sets ribbon cutting for new school". Times Leader. Archived from the original on July 30, 2021. Retrieved August 30, 2021.
  4. ^ Michael Sisak (August 6, 2010). "Skrepenak sentenced to 24 months in prison, fine". The Times-Tribune. thetimes-tribune.com. Archived from the original on October 28, 2010. Retrieved August 9, 2010.
  5. ^ Barbara Loftus (August 15, 1985). "For Famous Artist Sam Savitt, GAR school days were his 'golden' ones" (PDF). Citizens' Voice. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 21, 2018. Retrieved October 21, 2018.
  6. ^ Leader, Times (June 26, 2015). "Late Coach founder got start here". Times Leader. Retrieved December 31, 2023.