Robert G. Pennington, 18, had enlisted in 1942, and served four months in the Marine Corps before obtaining a medical discharge.

[7] Country music star and gay rights activist Chely Wright attended the school's 1998 prom, after accepting a request from student Dave Showalter that she be his date.

A $14 million project during the 1970s allowed the school to be completely renovated and a 1200-seat auditorium was built.

In 1995, the Women's Basketball Coaches Association High School All-America game was telecast live from the fieldhouse by ESPN2.

It includes the census-designated places of East Altoona, Elberta, Eldorado, Juniata Gap, Mill Run, Newburg, Red Hill, Sickles Corner, and Wopsononock.

The district owns three fields with artificial turfs enhance physical education, intramural and interscholastic athletic opportunities.

These include Concert Chorus, Drama, one basic and one advanced Jazz Bands, An award-winning, nationally ranked Marching band, Orchestra, Pep band, Wind Ensemble, String Ensemble, Vocal Ensemble, Chorus, Auxiliary, Mountain Lion Television (MLTV), ETC (Et Cetera Literary Magazine), Horseshoe (Yearbook), Mt.

The District also operates the Sheetz Athletic Training Center a 3600 square-foot facility opened in August, 2009.

The following Altoona High School teams won PIAA state championships in their respective sports.