Valley Stream South High School
| Valley Stream South High School | |
|---|---|
| Address | |
| 150 Jedwood Place Valley Stream, New York, 11581  United States |
|
| Information | |
| School type | Public |
| Opened | 1955 |
| School district | Valley Stream Central High School District |
| Principal | Maureen Henry |
| Vice principal | Kara Jacobson |
| Grades | 7–12 |
| Gender | Coeducational |
| Enrolment | ~1,350 |
| Mascot | Falco the Falcon |
| Team name | The Falcons |
| Magnet School | No |
| Year-round schedule | No |
| Website | 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 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 as Valley Stream South High School. Both schools were originally quite similar in architecture and were arch rivals with regard 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 is composed of 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. According to recent published statistics VSSHS is a top school that spends more on its students than any other high school in the nation.[citation needed]
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[edit] School Ethnicity
South High School has significant ethnic and racial diversity:[citation needed]
- White/Non-Hispanic = 54% of Students
- Hispanic = 18% of Students
- Asian/Pacific Islander = 14% of Students
- Black/Non-Hispanic = 13% of Students
- Native American = <1% of Students
[edit] Newsweek Rankings
South was ranked as one of the top high schools in the country according to Newsweek Magazine. Ever since Newsweek has started ranking high schools, South has ranked as one of the top 300 public high schools in America, as well as one of the top 25 public high schools on Long Island.[2]
South was ranked:
- 41st best high school in America in 1999
- 33rd best high school in America in 2000
- 228th best high school in America in 2003
- 152nd best high school in America in 2005
- 264th best high school in America in 2006
- 294th best high school in America in 2007
- 345th best high school in America in 2008
- 291st best high school in America in 2009
- 299th best high school in America in 2010
[edit] The Falcon Report
The Falcon Report began broadcasting on November 22, 2002 as a 7-10 minute student-made weekly TV news report shown school-wide on Fridays at 9:13 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 4-7 different issues that were prominent in the mainstream news that week. Other elements typically shown are a Character Action award winner segment, 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 widely respected throughout the entire school, and is advised by Mr. Ross Lipsky, a math teacher at South High School. Mr. Lipsky provides insight into certain complex aspects and intricacies of the production process in order to make the program better, but the rest is usually done by the students, for the students. Many Falcon Report alumni have gone on to study in communications or other related fields in college.
[edit] Notable alumni
- Gary Portnoy, singer/songwriter, most notably the performer of the Cheers theme song.
- Larry Miller, comedian/actor
- Lon Babby, president of the Phoenix Suns
- Deborah Oppenheimer, Academy Award Winner for her documentary, Into the Arms of Strangers: Stories of the Kindertransport.
[edit] References
[edit] External links
Coordinates: 40°39′15″N 73°42′50″W / 40.65417°N 73.71389°W
