The Schenley Experiment

Contents

Acknowledgments

Introduction

1 Origin Story: The People’s College and Why Schenley High Almost Never Happened

2 These Three Walls: The Comprehensive High School, Edward Stotz, and the Fight to Make Schenley Extraordinary

3 Enter to Learn: 1916–1929

4 Growing Pains : 1930–1949

5 Running Uphill: 1950–1964

6 The Writing on the Walls: 1965–1979

7 If You’re Going to Drop a Bomb: The PHRC, Richard Wallace, and the Teacher Center

8 Renaissance: 1983–1993

9 The School of Choice: 1994–2007

10 Closing Time: Mark Roosevelt, Asbestos, and the “Save Schenley” Movement

11 After Oakland: Reizenstein, University Prep, and Obama Academy

Conclusion

Appendix A Notable Central High Alumni

Appendix B Notable Schenley High Alumni

Appendix C Athletics

Appendix D Theater

Appendix E Pittsburgh Public High Schools Index

Notes

“Those interested in the city of Pittsburgh, urban education, and school choice will have Oresick to thank for this fine book.”

—Jon Shelton, Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography