South Side High School is a public high school in Bee Branch, Arkansas. South Side High School has about 530 students enrolled. Despite its name, kindergarten through twelfth grade are taught in this school. South Side High School is currently one of the smallest "single A" public schools in Arkansas since the recent state-wide school consolidations. The mascot for South Side High School is the hornet. The athletics department consists of basketball, baseball, softball, golf, and track and field.
On May 11 of 2007, the South Side High School boys' baseball team won the single A State Championship against Trinity Christian of Texarkana. Over a four year period, the high school boys' baseball team compiled a 126-8 record. South Side High School has an especially strong tradition in high school girls' basketball. In the 1990-1991 school year, the Lady Hornets won the Overall State Championship, the first single "A" school in the state ever to do so. In recent years, the South Side High School girls' track and field team has been very strong, placing in regional and state competitions. This past year, the South Side High School girls' track and field team won district and placed as runner-up at 1A State.
Academically, South Side High School is widely recognized for its success in the state, with many crediting this success to the school's use of the JEdI learning program. Each year, the percentage of graduating seniors who receive college scholarships is far above state and national averages. Average ACT scores at South Side High School are usually much higher than state and national averages as well. The school has also garnered an unusually strong reputation for the strength of its high school Quiz Bowl program. In the 2007-2008 academic year, the Senior Quiz Bowl team placed third in the "single A" State Championship and held an undefeated record against public schools. In the 2008 Senior Beta Quiz Bowl Competition, the team defeated many five and six "A" schools. In the 1994 - 1995 school year, the Senior Quiz Bowl team placed first in the Senior Beta Quiz Bowl Competition and went on to compete nationally. Also in 1995 the Senior Quiz Bowl team won the State "A" division competition and received runner-up status to Fort Smith North Side in the overall competition. The tournament was broadcast on the Arkansas Educational Television Network (AETN). The Junior High Quiz Bowl team is also outstanding, placing third in the region this past year.
South Side High School is recognized state-wide for consistently garnering regional and state championships in both academics and athletics, a rare achievement for a small public school.
South Side was established in 1934. On the night of November 15, 1988, an F3 tornado destroyed the high school and gym, and damaged several other buildings. However, this destruction led to widespread community support for a massive rebuilding and improvement effort beginning the same year.