Opened in September 1962, Danvers High School was the successor to Holten High School. This had opened in 1855 originally in the town hall, with 67 students. It had been funded by the Danvers Prudential Committee. Danvers High School received national (and later international) attention in 2009 when use of the word "
meep" by students was forbidden, due to its disruptive use by some students. Principal Thomas Murray banned the word, and threatened police action over its use in either speech or on clothing. In June 2010,
The Boston Globe commended the speech "Operation Red Sprinkles" by DHS
Salutatorian Anisha Shenai (class of 2010), as one of the most e-mailed inspirational articles at
Boston.com. In 2010, the school began a renovation project which was finished in time for the 2013-2014 school year. With a cost of $70 million, roughly half of it going to the
Massachusetts School Building Authority, the project saw updates to the auditorium, the field house, the Vye Gym and the general classroom wing. New sections included the library, the cafeteria, the science labs, the engineering labs, the administration offices, and the chorus and band rooms. It was the first major change the school since its initial construction in 1962.
Murder of Colleen Ritzer On October 22, 2013, math teacher Colleen Ritzer, 24, was murdered in a restroom at the school. Ritzer's body was found dumped about 20 feet into the woods behind the northeastern Massachusetts high school’s athletic fields. Student Philip Chism, then 14, was arraigned in her death. On November 21, 2013, Chism was indicted on charges of murder, aggravated rape and armed robbery. Chism was charged as an adult and, on December 15, 2015, a jury found him guilty of first-degree murder, aggravated rape and armed robbery. On February 26, 2016, he was sentenced to life in prison with eligibility for parole in 40 years. The school was given additional financial support by the
U.S. Department of Education to help it recover from the murder. ==Academics==