Mt. Lebanon High School

Mt. Lebanon High School
Location
155 Cochran Rd, Pittsburgh, PA 15228


Coordinates40°22′33″N 80°03′04″W / 40.3759027°N 80.0511651°W / 40.3759027; -80.0511651[1]
Information
TypePublic high school
MottoHome Of The Blue Devils
Established1927 (1927)
School districtMt. Lebanon School District
NCES School ID421611000254[2]
PrincipalJoel Thompson
Staff119.80 (FTE)[3]
Grades9–12
Enrollment1,789 (2023–2024)[3]
Student to teacher ratio14.93[3]
ColorsBlue and Gold    
MascotBlue Devil
NicknameLebo, Mt. Lebo
NewspaperThe Devil's Advocate
Websitehttps://hs.mtlsd.org/

Mt. Lebanon High School is a four-year, comprehensive high school located in Mt. Lebanon, Pennsylvania, a suburb of Pittsburgh. It serves as the only high school in the Mt. Lebanon School District and has an enrollment of 1,789 students in grades 9–12 for the 2023–2024 school year. Its mascot is the Blue Devil.[4]

History

The school was originally built in 1927, and was described after being built as one of the most advanced schools in the state.[5] The school had two additions added in 1956 and 1957. Ground was broken in 1970 for an addition, which was completed in 1972. This addition added another six-story building connected to the original building, an arts wing connected to the auditorium, and a new gymnasium.[6] Ninth grade students were later added to the school due to overcrowding at the junior high schools.

In 2012, construction started for the Science Wing and a new Athletic Building that included a new pool, a main gym, two smaller gyms, and an exercise center. Remaining portions of the school that were renovated include the 1930 wing on Cochran Road, the Auditorium, and Fine Arts Wing. These were completed in 2017. In addition, the old South Gym was renovated into the Center Court, which functions as the cafeteria, and is located to be accessible from all main courses.[5]

Athletics

The sports teams compete in the Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League - District 7 of the PIAA. The teams go by the name "Blue Devils" and the school mascot is the Blue Devil. The student section is known as the Devil's Den.[7]

The high school has a sports rivalry with Upper St. Clair High School.[8] The schools are neighboring communities, with Upper St. Clair High School around 3 miles (5 km) south of Mt. Lebanon High School.[9]

In 2021, Mt. Lebanon football coach Bob Palko was awarded the Don Shula NFL High School Coach of the Year Award, following an undefeated season, winning the WPIAL 6A title, and the PIAA 6A state title.[10] Palko led Mt. Lebanon to a spot in the national rankings.[11]

PIAA State Championships

  • Football
    • 1 PIAA state championship (2021)[12]
  • Baseball (Boys)
    • 1 PIAA state championship (1998)[13]
  • Basketball
    • Boys: 1 PIAA state championship (1940)[14]
    • Girls: 3 PIAA state championships (2009, 2010, and 2011)[14]
  • Cross Country
    • Boys: 12 PIAA state titles (1941, 1943, 1944, 1945, 1950, 1952, 1953, 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1998)[15]
  • Football
    • 1 PIAA state championship (2021)[16]
  • Hockey
    • Boys' Ice: 2 PIHL state championships (1976 and 2006).[17][18]
  • Soccer
    • Boys: 1 PIAA state championship (1981)[19]
    • Girls: 1 PIAA state championship (1992)[19]
  • Swimming
    • Girls: 1 PIAA state championship (2002)[20]
  • Volleyball
    • Girls: 2 PIAA state titles (1997 and 2000)[21]

Academics

As of 2025, the school's average ACT score for students is a 30, and the school's average SAT score is a 1290.[22]

The school offers 24 AP courses.[23]

Facilities

Mt. Lebanon High School is located on 26 acres in the western Pennsylvania hills.[24] The indoor athletic facilities are connected to the Mt. Lebanon High School Center Court and academic buildings via a glass skybridge, recently named McFeeley Way, after the late high school principal Brian McFeeley.[25]

Arts and extracurricular activities

In the 2002–03 school year, the high school received one of six Outstanding School Awards from the Educational Theatre Association.[26] The school's theater program began in 1930 and has produced a number of notable actors.[27]

In 2006, the fine arts department was rated one of eight finest nationwide by the U.S. Department of Education.[26]

In 2007, the American Music Conference listed Mt. Lebanon High school as one of the "Best 100 Communities for Music Education".[28] Mount Lebanon Percussion ensemble were invited by the NHL to perform at the 2011 NHL Winter Classic on live TV for the country.[29] The Mt. Lebanon Forensic Team won the Western Pennsylvania District Forensic Championship four years in a row, beginning in 2001. In 2004, the team won the state championship in dramatic interpretation and extemporaneous speaking and then earned a second-place title in extemporaneous speaking at the national competition in Salt Lake City.[30] In 2006, the team captured the Pennsylvania High School Speech League championship.[31]

The Devil's Advocate is Mt. Lebanon High School's monthly student newspaper.

Awards and rankings

In 2019, Mt. Lebanon High School received the U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon School award for its leadership in sustainability and environmental education while promoting health and wellness.[32]

In 2025, the U.S. News & World Report ranked Mt. Lebanon High School the number one high school in the Pittsburgh region, and 7th in Pennsylvania.[4]

Filmography

Mt. Lebanon High School has been used as a filming location for multiple films or television programs, including the following:

Gung Ho (1986) - starring Pittsburgh native Michael Keaton[33]

Bob Roberts (1992) - starring Jack Black, Alan Rickman, and John Cusack[34]

Mt. Lebanon High School was the subject of an episode of CBS 60 Minutes, following a MRSA outbreak on the school's football team.[35]

Notable alumni

Mt. Lebanon is noted for having an extensive alumni network. This includes prominent figures in business, politics, entertainment, education, and athletics.[36]

Athletics

Business

Entertainment & Media

Government

Education

Other

Notable staff

References

  1. ^ "Mount Lebanon High School". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. August 2, 1979. Retrieved May 4, 2021.
  2. ^ "Search for Public Schools - Mt Lebanon SHS (421611000254)". National Center for Education Statistics. Institute of Education Sciences. Retrieved December 10, 2024.
  3. ^ a b c "Mt Lebanon SHS". National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved December 10, 2024.
  4. ^ a b "Mt. Lebanon High School Ranks #1 in Pittsburgh Metro Area High Schools". www.mtlsd.org. August 19, 2025. Retrieved August 20, 2025.
  5. ^ a b "History". mtlalumni.org. Retrieved April 30, 2021.
  6. ^ Gwyn Cready (May 22, 2017). "Mt. Lebanon in the '70s". lebomag.com. Retrieved April 30, 2021.
  7. ^ admin (November 20, 2024). "2024 PENNSYLVANIA FINAL TOP 40 FOOTBALL STUDENT SECTION RANKINGS". www.studentsectionreport.org. Retrieved August 10, 2025.
  8. ^ Pace, Laura (January 25, 2007). "Rivalry in the bleachers". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved February 4, 2007.
  9. ^ "Mt Lebanon Sr. High School vs. Upper Saint Clair High School - Compare Rankings, Test Scores and Reviews". www.publicschoolreview.com. Retrieved August 10, 2025.
  10. ^ "Palko wins NFL H.S. Coach of the Year". www.steelers.com. Retrieved August 10, 2025.
  11. ^ "Schedule - Mt. Lebanon Blue Devils (Pittsburgh, PA) Varsity Football 21-22". www.maxpreps.com. Retrieved August 10, 2025.
  12. ^ "PIAA FOOTBALL CHAMPIONS". Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association. Retrieved February 23, 2023.
  13. ^ "PIAA BASEBALL CHAMPIONS" (PDF). Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association. Retrieved December 15, 2019.
  14. ^ a b "BASKETBALL PIAA CHAMPIONS" (PDF). Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association. Retrieved December 15, 2019.
  15. ^ "PIAA CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONS" (PDF). Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association. Retrieved December 15, 2019.
  16. ^ "FOOTBALL PIAA CHAMPIONS" (PDF). Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association. Retrieved December 15, 2022.
  17. ^ "WPIHL State Champions". eteamz. Archived from the original on February 24, 2015. Retrieved March 19, 2013.
  18. ^ "Mt. Lebanon Wins State Hockey Title..." Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. April 13, 2006. Archived from the original on November 20, 2016. Retrieved March 19, 2013.
  19. ^ a b "PIAA CHAMPIONS" (PDF). Fall Soccer Results. Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association. Retrieved December 15, 2019.
  20. ^ "Past Team Championships" (PDF). Swimming and Diving Results. Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association. Retrieved December 15, 2019.
  21. ^ "GIRLS' VOLLEYBALL PIAA CHAMPIONS" (PDF). Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association. Retrieved December 15, 2019.
  22. ^ "Mt. Lebanon Senior High School in Mount Lebanon Township, PA".
  23. ^ "High School Profile - Mt. Lebanon High School".
  24. ^ "Athletic Venues - Mt. Lebanon High School Athletics". athletics.mtlsd.org. Retrieved February 11, 2025.
  25. ^ "Mt. Lebanon School District to honor late principal Brian McFeeley with skywalk, signage". The Almanac. Retrieved August 6, 2025.
  26. ^ a b "2006 profile, Mt. Lebanon School District" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on July 17, 2011. Retrieved November 11, 2007.
  27. ^ Mary Niederberger (November 17, 2005). "Mt. Lebanon High School marks 75 years of theater". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved February 4, 2007.
  28. ^ The 2007 "Best 100 Communities for Music Education" Roster Archived June 3, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
  29. ^ "History". Mtlpercussion.com. Retrieved January 22, 2013.
  30. ^ "2003–2004 Report Card, page 11" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on February 15, 2006. Retrieved July 11, 2006.
  31. ^ "Microsoft Word – 06May.doc" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on September 27, 2007. Retrieved June 8, 2006.
  32. ^ "District Awards - Mt. Lebanon School District". www.mtlsd.org. Retrieved November 2, 2024.
  33. ^ "Filmed in Pittsburgh: The Burgh at Work | CMU Libraries". www.library.cmu.edu. Retrieved August 18, 2025.
  34. ^ Bob Roberts (1992) - Filming & production - IMDb. Retrieved August 18, 2025 – via m.imdb.com.
  35. ^ www.tribliveoffers.com https://www.tribliveoffers.com/welcome. Retrieved August 18, 2025. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  36. ^ "Mount Lebanon High School packs a star-studded class of alumni | Sports | Pittsburgh | Pittsburgh City Paper". www.pghcitypaper.com. July 12, 2017. Retrieved August 6, 2025.
  37. ^ "Mia Bhuta - Women's Soccer 2024". Stanford Cardinal - Official Athletics Website.
  38. ^ Chicago Magazine "On Groupon and its founder, Andrew Mason" July 14, 2010
  39. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Great Alumni - Mt. Lebanon School District". www.mtlsd.org. Retrieved August 6, 2025.
  40. ^ "Obituary: Frank E. Cappelli / Delighted kids with studio audience TV variety show". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved July 25, 2025.
  41. ^ "KDKA-TV's Jon Delano receives Great Alumni Award from Mt. Lebanon High School Alumni Association - CBS Pittsburgh". www.cbsnews.com. October 6, 2023. Retrieved August 18, 2025.
  42. ^ Finder, Chuck (June 21, 1999). "Penguins Voice Changing His Tune". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. p. Sports D-1.
  43. ^ Menconi, Lilia (July 20, 2010). "Bob Hoag, What Are You Wearing?". Phoenix New Times. Retrieved August 6, 2025.
  44. ^ Owen, Rob (July 20, 2017). "Showtime Brothers: A Tale of Two Hollanders". Pittsburgh Magazine. Retrieved August 18, 2025.
  45. ^ Randall, Reese (April 2010). "Gillian Jacobs". Pittsburgh Magazine. Archived from the original on April 16, 2016. Retrieved July 5, 2013.
  46. ^ Polke, Clarece (April 3, 2014). "Admired theater teacher retiring after 33 years at Mt. Lebanon". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Archived from the original on April 6, 2014. Retrieved October 17, 2017.
  47. ^ "Nominations Before the Senate Armed Services Committee, First Session, 101st Congress: Hearings Before the Committee on Armed Services, United States Senate". Vol. 101, no. 537. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office. 1990. p. 998.
  48. ^ Cook, Bonnie L. (May 18, 2020). "Q. Todd Dickinson, lawyer who led U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, dies at 67". The Philadelphia Inquirer.
  49. ^ Manning, Christopher. "Christopher Manning and Ph.D. Students' Dissertations". The Stanford Natural Language Processing Group. Retrieved May 24, 2022.
  50. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on August 31, 2007. Retrieved October 28, 2007.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  51. ^ "Xplosion re-sign Armon Gilliam". Our Sports Central. September 5, 2006. Retrieved November 27, 2020.