Valley Stream South High School

Valley Stream South High School (VSSHS) is a combined public junior and senior high school located in the hamlet of South Valley Stream, New York, USA, in southwest Nassau County on Long Island. The school was established in 1955.^[1]

The high school is one of three high schools in the Valley Stream Central High School District as well as one of two combined junior-senior high schools which educate grades seventh through twelfth. Students who attend Valley Stream South High School are mainly graduates of the local South Valley Stream elementary schools, including William L. Buck Elementary School, Brooklyn Avenue Elementary School, Forest Road Elementary School, and Robert W. Carbonaro Elementary School which is approximately 600 feet to the junior-senior high school complex. Valley Stream South High School is known to the local population simply as "South".

Valley Stream North High School was built at the same time. Both schools were originally similar in architecture and were arch rivals in to sporting events. During the 2007–2008 school year, South's athletics division was changed to Division 3 due to the size of the student body. The school has three floors and was originally designed in the shape of a cube with a landscaped courtyard in the center.

Approximately 1,350 students attend VSSHS. The school's official colors are red, white and gray. The school's mascot is the falcon.

School ethnicity

eam South is one of the most diverse high schools in New York according to Niche, ranking 13th most diverse in the state, and 3rd most diverse outside of New York City.

• White/Non-Hispanic = 33% of students
• Hispanic = 26% of students
• Black/Non-Hispanic = 22% of students
• Asian/Pacific Islander = 19% of students

Newsweek rankings

South was ranked as one of the top high schools in the country according by Newsweek magazine. Since Newsweek started ranking high schools in 1999, South has ranked as one of the top 300 public high schools in America, until 2012, as well as one of the top 25 public high schools on Long Island.^[2] In April 2014, Valley Stream South was ranked as the 16th best public high school on Long Island, but was not one of the top 500 best high schools in America according to Newsweek.^{[3] [4]}

South was ranked, according to Newsweek:

• 41st best high school in America in 1999
• 33rd best high school in America in 2000
• 152nd best high school in America in 2005
• 264th best high school in America in 2006
• 294th best high school in America in 2007
• 299th best high school in America in 2010
• 333rd best high school in America in 2012
• 400th best high school in America in 2013

The Falcon Report

The Falcon Report began broadcasting on November 22, 2002, as a 7- to 10-minute student-made weekly TV news report shown school-wide on Fridays at 8:28 during homeroom period. All activity at South comes to a halt during the broadcast as all students and faculty watch the show. Full-footage news coverage is provided on 4 to 7 issues that are prominent in the mainstream news that week. Other elements typically shown are a student-made commercial, a weather report and a sports segment. Topics frequently covered include school events, recent trips, innovative projects in various classes, and unique happenings at the school. Taping of the show is typically done on a Thursday after the completion of the school day and lasts late into that evening. The logo of the program is the symbol and mascot of Valley Stream South High School, a red falcon. The club is advised by Mr. Ross Lipsky, a mathematics teacher at South High School. Many Falcon Report alumni have gone on to study in communications or other related fields in college.

Notable alumni

• Lon Babby, president of the Phoenix Suns
• Deborah Oppenheimer, Academy Award Winner for her documentary, Into the Arms of Strangers: Stories of the Kindertransport
• Gary Portnoy, singer/songwriter, most notably the performer of the Cheers theme song, "Where Everybody Knows Your Name"
• Larry Miller, comedian and actor, notably in Pretty Woman, Law & Order, Boston Legal, Bee Movie, The Princes Diaries, Seinfeld and 10 things I Hate About You

References

External links

• VSSHS website

Coordinates: 40°39′15″N 73°42′50″W / 40.65417°N 73.71389°W / 40.65417; -73.71389