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'Washington Irving High School' is located in the Gramercy Park neighborhood of New York City. Named after the author Washington Irving.This school once used to be an all girl school but now is a co-ed school. This school has had many problems during its transition. Level of violence among students have forced the implementation of metal detectors. It was considered an impact school (a school in need of assistance) under Mayor Bloomberg's effort to fix problems plaguing the New York City school system.
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Several famous women attended Washington Irving. Researching an article for the 1960 year book brought up the names Claudette Colbert (Movie star of the 1930s and 40s, notably ''It Happened One Night'' with Clark Gable), Gertrude Berg (''Molly Goldberg'' star of ''The Goldbergs'' on 1940s and 1950s radio and TV), and Bella Spewak, author and libretist with her husband Sam of Broadway plays and movies, including "Kiss Me Kate" (composed by Cole Porter).
The author of the book ''The Courtship of Eddie's Father'' (later a movie and TV series), Mark Toby taught there in the 1950s.
The auditorium/theater hosted musical programs performed by unknowns and musical stars. The lobby contains a large (although I believe non-working) old style fireplace and settle seats reminiscent of a 17th century manor house. The exterior was used in the TV sit-com ''Head of the Class''