Robert E. Peary High School was located at 13300 Arctic Ave. in Aspen Hill, MD. It opened in the 1960 and closed in 1984 primarily due to declining enrollment. A Facebook group with over 4,000 members keeps its memories alive.
The school received its name from sixth graders at Aspen Hill Elementary School during the 1959-1960 school year. Because the high school was located on Arctic Avenue, the students researched prominent figures and themes associated with the Arctic. They chose to name it after the famous Arctic explorer Robert E. Peary, with permission from his family. Peary High School officially opened its doors in September 1960. The first graduating class was the Class of 1963, who entered as sophomores when the school opened.
The school’s seal featured a globe topped by Polaris (the North Star) with Commander Peary driving a team of huskies across the globe. Underneath were the dates 1909 (discovery of the North Pole) and 1960 (school’s opening). On November 23, 1964, a sledge (similar to those used by Peary) was presented to the school by Peary’s daughter and son, Marie Peary Stafford and Robert E. Peary, Jr. Two anchors, symbolizing Admiral Peary’s “iron will and determination,” were dedicated by the Senior Class of 1963 on April 6, 1963.
The school also had a pipe band, which originated at Peary in 1961 and continued to perform after the school’s closure. Due to declining enrollment, Montgomery County closed Peary High School in 1984. After its closure, some of its students were welcomed into other existing schools, primarily Rockville High School.
After the school closed in 1984, the building sat vacant and deteriorated for over a decade. In 1996, a lease agreement was negotiated with the Hebrew Academy of Greater Washington (now the Melvin J. Berman Hebrew Academy). The building was renovated and the Berman Hebrew Academy opened in the fall of 1999, eventually assuming full ownership of the former Robert E. Peary High School in 2010.
Peary High School’s 50th reunion is fast approaching and kicks off on Friday, June 27, with an 8:30am golf outing at Hampshire Greens Golf Course followed by a 6:00 pm icebreaker at Stained Glass Pub in Silver Spring. On Saturday, June 28, rhere will be a tour of the old Peary High School from noon to 1pm at the Berman Hebrew Academy in Rockville, hosted by Rabbi Uri Topolosky. The event will culminate with festivities at Argyle Country Club from 6:00pm to 10:00 pm.