| South Salem High School | |
|---|---|
| South Salem High School Crest | |
| Address | |
| 1910 Church St SE Salem, Oregon, Marion County, 97302 United States |
|
| Information | |
| Type | Public |
| Opened | 1954 |
| School district | Salem-Keizer School District |
| Principal | David Phelps[1][2] |
| Grades | 9-12[2] |
| Number of students | 1898[2] |
| Color(s) | Columbia blue and scarlet [1] |
| Athletics conference | OSAA Central Valley Conference 6A-7[1] |
| Mascot | Saxons[1] |
| Newspaper | 'The Clypian http://clypian.com/ |
| Website | http://www.southsaxons.com/ |
South Salem High School was the second public high school built in Salem, Oregon, in 1954, at which time the former Salem High School was renamed North Salem High School.
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South Salem High School is not the first school to be built on the current site. Leslie Middle School was built in 1927, and the high school was connected to it when the high school was constructed in 1954. The schools shared common facilities, including the cafeteria and auditorium. When the middle school was moved in 1997, the old building became home to Howard Street Charter School.[3][4]
South Salem offers the International Baccalaureate program in the 11th and 12th grades, as well as a preparatory Honors program for 9th and 10th grades. The first graduating class to have spent 4 years with the IB program was the class of 2002.
In 1987, South Salem High School was honored in the Blue Ribbon Schools Program, the highest honor a school can receive in the United States.[5]
In 2008, 78% of the school's seniors received their high school diploma. Of 466 students, 364 graduated, 69 dropped out, 1 received a modified diploma, and 32 are still in high school.[6][7]
Every year since 2005, South Salem High School's entire music department has been nationally recognized as a Gold[8] school in the Grammy Signature School program. [9]
The band program is led by Mary Lou Boderman, the Oregon Music Educator of the Year award recipient of 2006-2007. Since the OSAA State Band Contest began in 1987, the SSHS's Wind Ensemble has won in 1987, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, and 2008.[10] The Wind Ensemble also performed in Shanghai and Beijing in activities surrounding the 2008 Summer Olympics in China.[11]
Since the state choir championship began in 1987, SSHS placed first in 1987, 1988, 1991, 1992, 1995, 1996, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002 and 2010.[12]
The state orchestra championship also began in 1987, and SSHS placed first in 2001, 2004, and 2007.[13]
In 1989, Oregon added Full Orchestra to the state competition; SSHS won in 1995, 2000, 2005, 2007, and 2010.[13]