Salem High School (Salem, Virginia)

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Salem High School is a public high school in Salem, Virginia. It is the sole high school for the City of Salem public school system.

Contents 1 History 2 Academics 3 Athletics and Extracurriculars 4 Famous alumni 5 External links

[edit] History

Salem High School was opened for the 1977-1978 school year by Roanoke County public schools. The student bodies of Andrew Lewis High School in Salem and Glenvar High School in western Roanoke County were consolidated into Salem High School. Some members of the community petitioned without success to have the new school retain the Andrew Lewis name in honor of the colonial era general. The predecessor to Andrew Lewis High School was also called Salem High School, so the name was not without precedent. The incoming students from Andrew Lewis and Glenvar voted to adopt maroon and silver as the new school's colors and Spartans as the nickname.

In 1983, the city of Salem decided to establish an independent school district. Beginning with the 1983-1984 school year, enrollment in Salem High School was limited to the city of Salem. Glenvar High School was reopened to serve western Roanoke County.

[edit] Academics

Salem High School is a comprehensive high school which includes grades 9-12 with a student enrollment of 1,271. The school offers over 150 courses that include academic, vocational, and Advanced Placement courses. Salem has offered the International Baccalaureate degree program since 1990. Approximately 50% of graduates attend a four year college while another 40% attend a two year college. Mean SAT scores are 518 in verbal and 524 in math. Pass rates for Virginia's Standards of Learning tests average a little over 90%, which makes the school fully accredited.

[edit] Athletics and Extracurriculars

Salem High School is a member of the Virginia High School League and competes in the AA River Ridge District, a district in Region III of Group AA. Salem competed in the Group AAA Roanoke Valley District when it was opened but dropped down to the Group AA Blue Ridge District in 1988, a few years after Glenvar's student population left. When the Blue Ridge split in 2003, Salem was assigned to the new River Ridge District. Salem has enjoyed championship level success in athletics since the early 1990s. Best known is the football team, which plays in the Salem Football Stadium, and has captured six state championships since 1996. Salem has also won Group AA state titles in men's basketball, men's tennis, volleyball, softball, and women's soccer. The men's golf team won the Group AAA state championship in 1982.

The quiz bowl and forensics teams have also won VHSL state championships. The school's Pride of Salem marching band has also won several competitions. Salem High School supports three publications: the Laconian yearbook, the Oracle newspaper, and the Delphi literary magazine. The school offers a total of 31 clubs.

[edit] Famous alumni

Dennis Haley - NFL player

Mike Powers - Radio Personality

Bob Fresh - Radio Personality

Brad Braxton - Rhodes Scholar

[edit] External links

• Salem High School
• Virginia Department of Education Report Card

• Great Schools site