With the establishment of a high school various "firsts" occurred. In September 1903, Miss Mary Wittler became the first principal of Cleveland Heights High.

In this same year the first music teacher was employed, as was the first penmanship teacher. The school library opened its doors in 1903, and in 1906, the first manual training teacher joined the faculty.

Charles A. Tilden, first Superintendent of the school system, went on the first expense - paid trip to a Superintendents' Meeting in Louisville, Kentucky. The Village Marshall became the first truant officer. A horticulture class was suggested to the Board of Education and it set a precedent for optional gardening classes existing today in the elementary schools. The school year of 1906-07 became thirty-eight weeks long. In the fall of the 1906 Miss Wittler appointed a committee of three pupils to select the new school colors. Clay Hellwig a junior in the class of 1908 had a vested interest. Indulging the current fad, he had spent fifty cents for a black skull cap on which his sister embroidered CHHS with gold thread. In order to protect his investment he spent many hours with the committee arguing the virtues of the colors black and gold. He obviously was successful because Heights High's proud standard still bears the colors black and gold.

It became necessary to enlarge the high school building by 1906 as a fourth year had been added to the school program.

In 1907 the first graduating class of Heights High School consisted of three girls and two boys.

An Early Graduating Class

Cleveland Heights Staff - 1908

Back Row - Gaylord Trace, Charles Cundall(custodian), May Latie, Mary Litzell, Lou Alburn, Josephine Armstrong, May McVey, Charles Tilden(superintendent), Julius Preyor.

Front Row - Mary Wittler(high school principal), Gwendolyn Edwards, Helen Smith, Ophella Smith, Gertrude McGuire, Ruth Allison.