Abington Will Not Rename HS For Donor Who Gave $25 Million

ABINGTON, PA — Abington High School will not be renamed for the alum whose historic $25 million donation was heard around the country.

A change of name had been agreed upon by officials in the wake of the donation, believed to be the largest ever given to a public high school in the United States. The gift came from Stephen A. Schwarzman, class of 1965 and the CEO and co-founder of Blackstone, a private equity firm that operates worldwide.

Just last week, the school board approved a formal plan to rename the high school Abington Schwarzman High School, but quickly faced a backlash.

"The purpose of this generous gift...is to help Abington High School be the best it can be and to undertake a critical renovation that will dramatically improve the student experience as well as student preparedness," Amy Sichel, Superintendent of Schools, said in a statement.

Sichel characterized the opposition as a "minority" in the community that had expressed concerns about changing the school's name.

The $25 million will be used to create a new science and technology center at the school, while also fully renovating the existing high school building, which dates to the 1950s. The gift will also help the district expand their curriculum, giving students a wider diversity of course selections.

Schwarzman hopes his gift will inspire others to invest in public education.

"Ninety percent of America's youth attend public schools, which means investing in public education yields one of the best returns imaginable — a new generation of creative, capable and collaborative future leaders who are prepared to succeed in the evolving workforce," Schwarzman said after the donation was announced in February.

Rendering of new building courtesy of Gilbert Architects via Abington School District