South Anchorage High School
Encyclopedia
South Anchorage High School is a public high school
that serves grades 9-12 in Anchorage, Alaska
, as well as students from the neighboring Turnagain Arm
communities of Girdwood
and Indian. South Anchorage High School is part of the Anchorage School District
, and opened in the fall of 2004. The official school colors of SAHS are black and gold, the mascot
is the wolverine
.
and Mears Middle School. The schedule varies throughout the week. On Monday and Friday there are 6 classes, each divided into 50 minute periods. A blocking schedule is used on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, with each class lasting for 80 minutes. On Tuesday students attend periods 1,2,4,5; Wednesday students attend periods 2,3,5,6; Thursday, students attend periods 1,3,4,6. Lunch on Monday and Friday lasts for 45 minutes, and on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, lunch is 50 minutes long. On assembly days, class periods are shortened to make time at the end of the day.
For the 2008-2009 school year, 8.44% of the students were reported as 'economically disadvantaged,' compared to a district average of 35.58%. 2008-2009 demographic information from the Anchorage School District reports South Anchorage to be 75% white
, 2% black, 7% Hispanic
, 7% Asian
/Pacific Islander
, 6% American Indian
/Alaska Native, and 4% Multi-Ethnic
District averages for high schools are 53% white, 6% black, 7% Alaska Native/American Indian, 14% Asian/Pacific Islander, 9% Hispanic and 10% Multi-Ethnic.
For the 2008-2009 school year, graduation rate was 83.99%, compared to a district average of 69.40%. On the Alaska High School Graduation Qualifying Examination (HSGQE), South Anchorage had a 95.13% proficiency rate in Reading (district average 91.54%), 89.32% in Writing (district average 80.15%), and 92.29% in Mathematics (district average 82.44%) among 10th graders. (The HSGQE is initially administered in 10th grade, and retaken in subsequent semesters by students who didn't achieve proficiency in any of the three categories.)
, in which the Wolverines placed First in the Nation in the Boys Free style event. The school also sent one member of their rifle team to Junior Olympics
where the person did very well.
, and Ms. Nelson is a member of the Alaska Chamber Singers, and other Choral groups as such.
Drama department are well-known across the state for their theater productions and musicals. In 2011,The Phantom Of The Opera
, as the first High School in the nation that took on the monsterous task.
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
that serves grades 9-12 in Anchorage, Alaska
Anchorage, Alaska
Anchorage is a unified home rule municipality in the southcentral part of the U.S. state of Alaska. It is the northernmost major city in the United States...
, as well as students from the neighboring Turnagain Arm
Cook Inlet
Cook Inlet stretches from the Gulf of Alaska to Anchorage in south-central Alaska. Cook Inlet branches into the Knik Arm and Turnagain Arm at its northern end, almost surrounding Anchorage....
communities of Girdwood
Girdwood, Alaska
Girdwood is an unincorporated year-round ski resort community within the Municipality of Anchorage in the U.S. state of Alaska. It lies in a valley in the Chugach Mountains near the end of the Turnagain Arm of Cook Inlet, 36 miles southeast of Anchorage proper.It is surrounded by seven permanent...
and Indian. South Anchorage High School is part of the Anchorage School District
Anchorage School District
The Anchorage School District manages all public schools within the Municipality of Anchorage in the U.S. state of Alaska. It is the 93rd largest school district in the United States, serving nearly 50,000 students at over 90 schools. As one of the United States' largest districts, it is often...
, and opened in the fall of 2004. The official school colors of SAHS are black and gold, the mascot
Mascot
The term mascot – defined as a term for any person, animal, or object thought to bring luck – colloquially includes anything used to represent a group with a common public identity, such as a school, professional sports team, society, military unit, or brand name...
is the wolverine
Wolverine
The wolverine, pronounced , Gulo gulo , also referred to as glutton, carcajou, skunk bear, or quickhatch, is the largest land-dwelling species of the family Mustelidae . It is a stocky and muscular carnivore, more closely resembling a small bear than other mustelids...
.
General information
South Anchorage High School has roughly 1,700 students, with the majority coming from Goldenview Middle SchoolGoldenview Middle School
Goldenview Middle School is a middle school for grades 7 and 8 located in Anchorage, Alaska with 750 students. Part of the Anchorage School District, Goldenview opened in 1997 after two years of construction and a total cost of $239 million. The school's name is derived from its panoramic “Golden...
and Mears Middle School. The schedule varies throughout the week. On Monday and Friday there are 6 classes, each divided into 50 minute periods. A blocking schedule is used on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, with each class lasting for 80 minutes. On Tuesday students attend periods 1,2,4,5; Wednesday students attend periods 2,3,5,6; Thursday, students attend periods 1,3,4,6. Lunch on Monday and Friday lasts for 45 minutes, and on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, lunch is 50 minutes long. On assembly days, class periods are shortened to make time at the end of the day.
Statistics
As of the year 2008, 1,730 students were enrolled at South Anchorage High School, and 89 teachers were employed, 52% with advanced degrees.For the 2008-2009 school year, 8.44% of the students were reported as 'economically disadvantaged,' compared to a district average of 35.58%. 2008-2009 demographic information from the Anchorage School District reports South Anchorage to be 75% white
White American
White Americans are people of the United States who are considered or consider themselves White. The United States Census Bureau defines White people as those "having origins in any of the original peoples of Europe, the Middle East, or North Africa...
, 2% black, 7% Hispanic
Hispanic and Latino Americans
Hispanic or Latino Americans are Americans with origins in the Hispanic countries of Latin America or in Spain, and in general all persons in the United States who self-identify as Hispanic or Latino.1990 Census of Population and Housing: A self-designated classification for people whose origins...
, 7% Asian
Asian American
Asian Americans are Americans of Asian descent. The U.S. Census Bureau definition of Asians as "Asian” refers to a person having origins in any of the original peoples of the Far East, Southeast Asia, or the Indian subcontinent, including, for example, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan,...
/Pacific Islander
Pacific Islander American
Pacific Islander Americans, also known as Oceanian Americans, are residents of the United States with original ancestry from Oceania. They represent the smallest racial group counted in the United States census of 2000. They numbered 874,000 people or 0.3 percent of the United States population...
, 6% American Indian
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
/Alaska Native, and 4% Multi-Ethnic
Multiracial
The terms multiracial and mixed-race describe people whose ancestries come from multiple races. Unlike the term biracial, which often is only used to refer to having parents or grandparents of two different races, the term multiracial may encompass biracial people but can also include people with...
District averages for high schools are 53% white, 6% black, 7% Alaska Native/American Indian, 14% Asian/Pacific Islander, 9% Hispanic and 10% Multi-Ethnic.
For the 2008-2009 school year, graduation rate was 83.99%, compared to a district average of 69.40%. On the Alaska High School Graduation Qualifying Examination (HSGQE), South Anchorage had a 95.13% proficiency rate in Reading (district average 91.54%), 89.32% in Writing (district average 80.15%), and 92.29% in Mathematics (district average 82.44%) among 10th graders. (The HSGQE is initially administered in 10th grade, and retaken in subsequent semesters by students who didn't achieve proficiency in any of the three categories.)
Athletics
South Anchorage High School is well known across the state as a powerhouse in most sports. The school frequently sees several state championship banners hung in the halls each year. In the 2010-2011 school year alone South captured Region and/or State championships in many major sports, including Volleyball, Cross Country Running, Hockey, Soccer, Baseball, Tennis, and Cross Country Skiing. The Wolverines also sent several skiiers to compete in the Junior OlympicsJunior olympics
Junior Olympics and Jr. Olympics can refer to any one of many different sporting events and organizations around the world dedicated to youth sporting activities.*Junior Olympic Gold, American national youth singles bowling tournament...
, in which the Wolverines placed First in the Nation in the Boys Free style event. The school also sent one member of their rifle team to Junior Olympics
Junior olympics
Junior Olympics and Jr. Olympics can refer to any one of many different sporting events and organizations around the world dedicated to youth sporting activities.*Junior Olympic Gold, American national youth singles bowling tournament...
where the person did very well.
Music and Drama
The Music department at South Anchorage High School is led up by Mr. Darrell Kincade, the Band director at South. The Orchestra is conducted by Ms. Mari Jamieson, and the Choir is led by Ms.Rebecca Nelson. Both Mr. Kincade and Ms. Jamieson are members of the Anchorage Symphony OrchestraAnchorage Symphony Orchestra
The Anchorage Symphony Orchestra is a semi-professional symphony orchestra located in Anchorage, Alaska. Randall Craig Fleischer is the director and conductor, and Linn Weeda is the assistant director and conductor....
, and Ms. Nelson is a member of the Alaska Chamber Singers, and other Choral groups as such.
Drama department are well-known across the state for their theater productions and musicals. In 2011,The Phantom Of The Opera
The Phantom of the Opera
Le Fantôme de l'Opéra is a novel by French writer Gaston Leroux. It was first published as a serialisation in "Le Gaulois" from September 23, 1909 to January 8, 1910...
, as the first High School in the nation that took on the monsterous task.