Verona Area High School (VAHS) is a high school in Verona, Wisconsin, United States. It is part of the Verona Area School District.
History The first high school in Verona was established in 1899, with the first class graduating in 1901."Verona Township High School", Wisconsin Historical Society. Retrieved January 2, 2026."Verona High School Class Photos", Verona Area Historical Society. Retrieved January 2, 2026. The school was at first located in the Woodmen Hall, a building belonging to the Modern Woodmen of America, until a new building was constructed for it in 1905."Verona Woodmen Hall Razed to Make Way for Dwelling", Wisconsin State Journal, December 12, 1945, page 9. That building was replaced in 1937 with a larger school located next door to the 1905 building along Marietta Street."Carnival Will Celebrate Opening of Verona School", Madison Capital Times, January 26, 1937, page 3."Downtown Verona Schools", Verona Area Historical Society. Retrieved January 2, 2026. The Richard Street campus was built in 1968;Patten, Neal. "Still united after a half-century: Class of 1972 celebrates 50th reunion", Verona Press, August 27, 2022. Retrieved January 2, 2026. Badger Ridge Middle School moved into that building in 2022.Patten, Neal. "Thirty years, three names, one building: Former Badger Ridge Middle School reunion celebrated", Verona Press, May 4, 2022. Retrieved January 2, 2026.
A new building for the school was completed in June 2020. It was intended to be ready for the 2020–2021 school year, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic, students did not begin to take in-person classes at the new building until February 2021, and the facility was not fully in use until September 2021.Withal, Kimberly. "Verona Area High School community open house set for Sept. 17-18", Fitchburg Star, Wisconsin Media Group, September 3, 2021.
Academics Accredited by the North Central Association, VAHS offers a core curriculum in grades 9 through 12 that does not track students by ability; instead, advanced opportunities are offered within the curriculum of each course. Consequently, VAHS courses do not carry designations such as "Honors" in their titles. Grade 9 and 10 students in core classes are taught in teams of English/social studies and math/science instructors. Students in the 10th, 11th, and 12th grades have the opportunity to take Advanced Placement courses in English Language, English Literature, World History, Human Geography, Music Theory, Chemistry, Biology, Physics, Statistics, Psychology and Calculus. They also have the opportunity to take Project Lead the Way classes, and are able to become a Certified Nursing Assistant.
Athletics In the 2008-09 school year, VAHS became a member of the Big Eight Conference, moving from the Badger South Conference. The school's sports teams were formerly known as the Indians. Due to the Native American mascot controversy, including a letter from local resident and noted activist Ada Deer,Racine, Sue. "Verona Indian mascot seen as 'disrespectful'", Madison Capital Times, April 1, 1988, front page. a contest was held in 1992 to choose a new mascot. Students chose the Wildcats over six other possibilities."Verona kids want Wildcats", Wisconsin State Journal, March 31, 1992, front page.
Sports VAHS competes in the following sports: Dance Cheer Football Cross Country (boys' and girls') Tennis (boys' and girls') Soccer (boys' and girls') Swimming (boys' and girls') Volleyball Golf (boys' and girls') Basketball (boys' and girls') Gymnastics Wrestling Hockey Skiing/snowboarding Softball Baseball Track and field (boys' and girls') Lacrosse (boys' and girls')
State championships Basketball (girls): 2016 Cross country (boys): 1974, 1982, 1991Boys Cross Country Team Champions 1913-2022 wiaawi.org Cross country (girls): 1980, 1981, 1984 Girls Cross Country Team Champions 1975-2022 wiaawi.org Golf (girls): 2014 Gymnastics (girls): 2023 Hockey (boys): 2014, 2020 Lacrosse (boys): 2004, 2005, 2011, 2014, 2018 Soccer (boys): 2019, 2022 Soccer (girls): 2010 Verona wins their first WIAA Girls Soccer Championshipwkow.com Swimming (boys): 1993, 2000Boys Swimming & Diving Team Champions wiaawi.org Swimming (girls): 1998Girls Swimming & Diving Team Champions wiaawi.org Track & field (boys): 1992, 1999, 2010 (wheelchair) Track & field (girls): 1984, 1985, 1991Girls Track Champions 1971-2023 wiaawi.org
Notable alumni Casey FitzRandolph, gold medalist speed skater at the 2002 Winter Olympic Games Ben Rortvedt, Major League Baseball Nick Schmaltz, NHL player for the Utah Mammoth (2024–present); former member of the Arizona Coyotes (2018–2024) and Chicago Blackhawks (2016–2018) Jack Skille, former NHL player with the Chicago Blackhawks (2007-2011), Florida Panthers (2011-2013), Columbus Blue Jackets (2013-2015), Colorado Avalanche (2015-2016), and the Vancouver Canucks (2016–2017) Derek Stanley, former NFL wide receiver with the St. Louis Rams (2007-2009) Eric Studesville, assistant coach with the Denver Broncos (2010–present); he was the interim head coach for the last four games of the 2010 season Neil Walker, gold & silver medalist swimmer at the 2000 Summer Olympics; gold & bronze medalist swimmer at the 2004 Summer Olympics Joe Wineke, Wisconsin politician
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