| Burnsville Senior High School | |
|---|---|
| Address | |
| 600 E. Highway 13 Burnsville MN Burnsville, Minnesota, 55337 USA |
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| Information | |
| Funding type | Taxes/Alumni |
| Established | 1957 |
| School district | Burnsville-Eagan-Savage Independent School District 191 |
| Superintendent | Randall Clegg |
| School code | ISD 191 |
| Principal | Dave Helke |
| Grades | 10 – 12 |
| Gender | Co-Ed |
| Number of students | ~2400 |
| Color(s) | Black and Gold |
| Athletics conference | South Suburban Conference |
| Mascot | Sparky |
| Team name | Blaze |
| Publication | The Reading Edge (online) |
| Newspaper | 'The Voice' |
| Yearbook | 'The Blaze' |
| Tuition | Free |
| Communities served | Burnsville, Savage, Eagan, Shakopee, Apple Valley |
| Website | http://www.isd191.org/bhs |
Burnsville High School (BHS) is a three-year public high school located in Burnsville, Minnesota. The school is part of Burnsville-Eagan-Savage School District 191, which covers most of Burnsville, as well as parts of the surrounding cities Savage and Eagan, and small parts of Shakopee and Apple Valley. A majority of the incoming sophomores come from Eagle Ridge Junior High, Metcalf Junior High, or Nicollet Junior High. The school mascot is Sparky, a humanoid with a fireball for a head.
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Burnsville High School, originally opened in 1957 as a K-12 school with an initial enrollment of about 400 students. In 1966, upon completion of the newly constructed school, students in grades seven through nine started attending Metcalf Junior High. Today, students attending Burnsville's Metcalf, Eagle Ridge and Nicollet Junior High Schools will attend Burnsville Senior High School for grades 10-12.
On April 25, 1994, the largest high school arson in the United States began, which resulted in over $15 million in damages. The same arsonist also started fires at Edina High School and Minnetonka High School. During the restoration, high school students studied at nearby Nicollet Junior High and Sky Oaks Elementary Schools. Around the time of the fire, the school's mascot was changed from the Braves to the Blaze to avoid stigmatizing and stereotyping Native Americans. The name "Blaze" was conceived because of the word "Burnsville" in the school name, and had nothing to do with the fire; it was merely a coincidence. The Braves icon is still widely accepted, and many students still have Brave apparel. Prior to The Braves, the first mascot of Burnsville High School was the Bulldogs.
In 1997, District 191 bought the Diamondhead Mall and converted the top level into the Senior Campus to handle increasing enrollment. A year later, in 1998, it was opened for use. Students can drive or take a shuttle bus to move from one campus to the other. Many classes available only to 12th grade students are offered at the Senior Campus; including many English, math and social studies classes. Most seniors at Burnsville High School spend half their day at this separate campus. The time needed to travel from one campus to the other is only about 10–15 minutes but many students structure their schedule to consolidate their lunch and travel time.
In 2006 the Beautification Committee, a group of volunteer parents, raised $50,000 from donations and proceeds from 50th anniversary blanket sales to purchase an electronic greeting sign, replacing an old stone one, as part of the school's 50th anniversary. Burnsville was one of the last not to have an electronic sign, as Lakeville, Bloomington, and Eagan already did. This group has also volunteered their time, energy, and resources to help upkeep the gardens and grounds of the school. There was some controversy among students and community members over the cost of the sign, asking if people would raise such money for books, new computers, or technology education equipment. The money for the sign, however, was raised by local businesses and private donors, and not taken from the school's budget.
The original portion of Burnsville High School was constructed in 1969, with additions in 1958, 1962, 1971, 1976, 1977, 1980, 1993, 1998 that bring the school's total square footage to 405,553.
There is a proposed renovation set to start in summer 2011. This construction would focus on improving the school's visual image, upgrading classrooms, science labs, the cafeteria, media center and toilets while renovating HVAC systems and upgrading air quality.[1] It is estimated that the project could cost $22 million over the next three years.[2]
The school also participates in the University of Minnesota's College in the Schools program.[3]
As of the 2010-11 school year, there were 2,218 students attending Burnsville High School. In terms of race, white students made up 69% of the student population, while black students made up the largest minority, representing 13% of the student population. Asian and Hispanic students made up 10% and 8% of the student population respectively. American Indian students made up less than 1% of the student population.
Students with limited English proficiency made up 5% of the student body. Students with special education needs made up 9% of the student body. Students eligible for free or reduced price lunch made up just over one-quarter (26%) of the student body.[4]
Burnsville High School is affiliated with the Minnesota State High School League (MSHSL) and was a member of the Lake Conference until 2010-11 when they left to join the South Suburban Conference.
| State Championships | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Sport | Number of Championships | Year |
| Fall | Soccer, Boys | 4 | 1980, 1982, 1990, 1993 |
| Soccer, Girls | 2 | 1992, 1993 | |
| Cross Country Running, Boys | 5 | 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1986 | |
| Cross Country Running, Girls | 1 | 2007 | |
| Football | 5 | 1972, 1980, 1985, 1989, 1991 | |
| Swimming, Girls | 5 | 1981, 1982, 1983, 1985, 2002 | |
| Cheerleading | 4 | 1986, 1987, 1998, 1992, 2011 | |
| Chess | 15 | 1983, 1985, 1987, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005 | |
| Winter | Dance Team, Girls | 10 | 1982, 1983, 1987, 1990, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2008 |
| Gymnastics, Girls | 4 | 1975, 1977, 1978, 1982 | |
| Gymnastics, Boys | 1 | 1988 | |
| Hockey, Boys | 2 | 1985, 1986 | |
| Swimming, Boys | 2 | 1985, 2007 | |
| Basketball, Girls | 3 | 1977, 1991, 1992 | |
| Drumline | 6 | 1997, 2003, 2004, 2007, 2009, 2010 | |
| Nordic Skiing, Girls | 1 | 2009 | |
| Spring | Golf, Girls | 3 | 1990, 2000, 2007 |
| Baseball, Boys | 1 | 2011 | |
| Badminton, Girls | 4 | 1996, 1997,1998,1999 | |
| Track and Field, Boys | 1 | 1978 | |
| Softball, Girls | 3 | 2004, 2005, 2010 | |
| Total | 82 | ||
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