George Washington Educational Campus

George Washington High School was relatively prestigious in the decades after its 1925 founding. Notable alumni included Alan Greenspan, Henry Kissinger, and Murray Jarvik. During the 1960s and 1970s, Washington Heights' Black and Latino population increased. New York City public schools also faced serious overcrowding problems. Today, the student bodies of the four George Washington schools are overwhelmingly Latino, with a minority Black presence, and less than 5% of students identify as White or Asian. During this period, discontent with academics and school policy lead to a wave of student demonstrations, supported by a group of parents who pushed to set up an information table in the school's lobby in order to answer questions and hear complaints regarding the school. and the 1968 teachers' strike – perceived this as an attempt to subvert teachers' authority, leading them to strike after the administration reached a compromise with parents over the table. In 1970, George Washington saw the resignation of three principals and multiple serious incidents of violence amongst students as well as against teachers and security guards; while many safety improvements were made throughout the 1970s, its academic performance continued to decline. In 1999, the school took its present form as the George Washington Educational Campus composed of four smaller schools. In 2018, High School for Health Careers and Sciences was threatened with closure in 2018 due to poor performance, although the proposal was later withdrawn. As of 2019, this school is the only one of the four with a four-year graduation rate above the citywide average. ==Sports==

In 1988, the George Washington Trojans football team won the 1988 City "B" Division Championship. They defeated Tilden High School in the championship game. On November 23, 2008, the squad defeated Far Rockaway High School (Queens), 20–14, in an overtime finish at the Midwood Athletic Complex in Brooklyn. The victory earned GW the 2008 PSAL Cup Championship, their first football title since 1988. Far Rock beat GW 38–8 in the season opener. It was their only loss of the season. The Trojans won their next nine games, holding their last four opponents to a total of 21 points. That included defeating previously unbeaten South Bronx HS, 24–8, to earn the trip to the championship game. Baseball coach Steve Mandl won three championships in 27 years. He was suspended by the PSAL for 16 months for "recruiting violations" and was reinstated to his job thereafter; the case prompted questions about how the PSAL handles charges brought without witnesses or evidence. According to The New York Times, "The Mandl case offers another perspective: the possibility that petty, meritless charges can get traction and turn the disciplinary process itself into a form of punishment long before a verdict has been reached." ==Alumni==

Alumni include: • Moshe Arens (1925–2019), aeronautical engineer; Israeli MK and defense minister • Shaun Abreu (born 1991), member of the New York City Council • Harry Belafonte (1927–2023), actor and singer • David A. Boehm (1914–2000), American publisher, founder of Sterling Publishing and publisher of the American version of the Guinness World Records • Maria Callas (1923–1977), opera singer. • Joseph Campanella (1924–2018), actor, younger brother of Frank Campanella • Frank Campanella (1919–2006), actor, older brother of Joseph Campanella • Rod Carew (born 1945), Major League Baseball Hall of Famer • Carl Gans (1923–2009), mechanical engineer, zoologist, herpetologist • Alan Greenspan (born 1926), economist, Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve • Morris Halle (1923–2018), linguist • Carlos Handy, physicist • Murray Jarvik (1923–2008), UCLA pharmacologist; showed that nicotine was the addictive factor in tobacco; invented the nicotine patch for smokers trying to quit • John George Kemeny (1926–1992), atomic scientist and computer science pioneer • Don Kirshner (1934–2011) was an American music publisher, music consultant, rock music producer, talent manager, and songwriter. Dubbed "the Man with the Golden Ear" • Henry Kissinger (1923-2023), former United States Secretary of State, 1973 winner of the Nobel Peace Prize • Nellie Rodríguez (born 1994), baseball player • Delmore Schwartz (1913–1966), poet, author, and critic • William "Bill" Shea (1907–1991), lawyer, instrumental in the founding of the New York Mets and New York Islanders, namesake of Shea Stadium • Frank Skartados (1956–2018), New York state assemblyman • Ronnie Spector (1943–2022), lead singer of The Ronettes • Tiny Tim (1932–1996), musician • Jerry Wexler (1917–2008), music journalist and producer • Lester L. Wolff (1919–2021), member of Congress • Anthony "Tone Lope" Osbourne, screenwriter, songwriter • Wesley Rodriguez, baseball player ==References==