Grand Saline High School

Last updated

Grand Saline High School
Fullsizeoutput 80.jpg
Address
Grand Saline High School
500 Stadium Dr.

Grand Saline
,
Texas
75140-1038

United States
Coordinates 32°41′08″N95°42′50″W / 32.68556°N 95.71375°W / 32.68556; -95.71375
Information
School type Public high school
MottoTruth, Honor, Loyalty, Indian Pride!
Established1925;99 years ago (1925)
School district Grand Saline Independent School District
PrincipalRicky LaPrade
Staff22.12 (FTE) [1]
Grades9–12
Enrollment305 (2018–19) [1]
Student to teacher ratio13.19 [1]
Color(s)  Black
  Orange
Athletics conference UIL Class 3A
MascotIndian
NewspaperTomahawk Express
Website Grand Saline High School website

Grand Saline High School is a public high school located in Grand Saline, Texas (USA) and classified as a 3A school by the UIL. It is part of the Grand Saline Independent School District located in northeast Van Zandt County. In 2015, the school was rated "Met Standard" by the Texas Education Agency. [2]

Contents

History

Grand Saline's first high school was built in 1925 approximately 2 miles from its present location. It was originally part of a school building that housed over 300 total students. In the 1940s Grand Saline ISD had fully consolidated with the rural communities and built a school to house grades 1–6 and ease the crowded school. Shortly thereafter, Person's Stadium, the district's first football stadium, was built. In 1963 Grand Saline's Board of Education and the citizens approved the construction of a new high school, a new gymnasium and renovations to Person's Stadium. The new high school was finished in 1964 along with Stadium Drive, which was built for access to the new high school and Person's Stadium. Renovations would not come again until 1992, when GSISD voters approved a bond issue that built a cafetorium, a new parking lot, and additional classroom buildings to ease crowding. The bond issue also added a student commons area which would connect the gymnasium and the classroom wings and create one building. Additionally, voters approved the construction of Indian Memorial Stadium, a new football stadium with an olympic quality track and field set-up and a seating capacity of 4,500 fans, replacing the aging Person's Stadium, which became a practice field.

In late 1999, due to a steady growth in the district, school district officials sought out community and district opinion regarding building a new high school building on open pasture land next to the current high school at the time. In the Spring of 2000, voters approved the bond issue to build a new high school at the price of 7 million dollars. Construction began in Summer of 2002 and was opened for classes in Fall of 2004, with the capacity to house 550 students. The old high school became the district's middle school and a new baseball facility was constructed behind the new school and was finished a full year before the new school was. In addition to much bigger classrooms, the new school houses a gymnasium with 3 basketball courts and seating for 1,200 fans, the capacity to host basketball play-off games, a new fine arts auditorium and a library.

Academics

GSHS has an agreement with nearby Tyler Junior College for college bound Juniors and Seniors to earn both high school and college credit while taking classes. Also, students who plan to major in Nursing or Pharmacy/Pharmacy Tech. programs also have pre-college classes available to them. GSHS has had higher than above average SAT and ACT scores and above average rate of college bound graduating Seniors.

Fine Arts

GSHS offers students programs in Drama, Marching Band, Choir, Art and Painting Classes. Grand Saline's Theater Department presents several shows each year, including Shakespeare and musical theatre. Additionally, the theater department has a strong program in East Texas competing in numerous One Act play performances. The Indian Marching Band has achieved both Regional and State Wide honors earning UIL "Sweepstakes" awards for its Marching Band performances.[ citation needed ]

Academic Championships

2016 State Championship Math Team (Coach: Carter Elliott)

2022 State Championship Lincoln-Douglas Debate (Coach: Michael Mattis)

2019, 2022 Speech Team Regional Champion Runner-up

2018, 2019, 2020, 2022 Academic District Champions

2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 CX Debate District Champions

2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 Speech District Champions

Athletics

The Grand Saline Indians compete in the following sports - [3]

Cross Country, Volleyball, Football, Basketball, Powerlifting, Soccer, Golf, Tennis, Track, Softball & Baseball.

Grand Saline Indian Football

Grand Saline Football has a rich tradition in East Texas. The Indians have been competing since 1923, and have won numerous district, Bi-District and Area titles. The best teams in school history were the 1982 team, which allowed opponents only 4 points per game while averaging 37 a game, the 1990 team which lost to state power and eventual champion Groveton after posting a 12–1 record and finishing ranked 4th in the state, and the 1999 team, which lost to state power and eventual champion Celina after posting a 12–1 record. The most successful eras for Indian football were the 1940s, 1980s, 1990s and early 2000s. From 1982 to 2003, the Indian Football program amassed a win–loss–tie record of 180–75–2 (.700 winning percentage), with 18 Texas State Playoff appearances, 10 district championships, and 9 seasons of 10 wins or more. Carter Elliott is the most successful coach in the history of the program, leading the Indians to 5 regional finals berths. He was the head coach from 1978 to 1991 and from 1997 to 2000. The Indians started to downturn in 2004 by going 3–7 that season and missing the playoffs. From 2004–2014, Grand Saline had 4 head coaches and went 25–86. In 2013, GSHS alumnus and former All-State Indian Football player Mike Ridge was named athletic director and head football coach. Ridge had back to back winless seasons due to injuries, lower participation, and being the smallest school in their district. In 2015, the streak was snapped as Ridge led the Indians to a district championship, a .500 regular season, and took the Indians back to the playoffs for the first time since 2007. The Indians are coached by Joe Drennon, who won a Texas State Championship with rival Mineola High School in 2016. Drennon has led the Indians to the playoffs in all but one season since arriving in 2020.

Grand Saline Indians against the Winona Wildcats at Indian Memorial Stadium in September 2016. Fullsizeoutput 87.jpg
Grand Saline Indians against the Winona Wildcats at Indian Memorial Stadium in September 2016.

Grand Saline Indian Football Tradition-

Athletic championships

GSHS also has strong traditions in Baseball, Softball, Tennis, and Track and Field.

State Champions-

State Finalists:

Rivalries

Grand Saline has rivalries with 4 schools due to its proximity to the schools. Rivals are:

Van High School Vandals - Highway 110 Rivalry. Grand Saline and Van have the third longest streak in Texas High School Football history of playing each other every year, currently at 85 straight games. The Football rivalry went defunct in 2012 due to mutual desires to play schools of similar sizes, however both still enjoy the rivalry in Basketball, Baseball, Softball, and Tennis.

Quitman High School (Texas) Bulldogs - Rivalry developed in the 1980s mainly around football, rivalry heated back up in 2002 when QHS dropped from UIL conference AAA and back to AA and has been in GSHS's conference ever since. This is currently the most heated rivalry.

Edgewood High School Bulldogs - Highway 80 rivalry. Traditionally dominated in Football by Grand Saline and in Basketball by Edgewood, the rivalry continues to thrive as the two schools compete well against each other in all sports and in academic UIL.

Mineola High School (Texas) Yellowjackets - Sabine River Rivalry. Mineola is located just across the Sabine River down US Highway 80 from Grand Saline. The two schools also have a 50-year-old rivalry in football.

Notable alumni

Notable events

Related Research Articles

Leander High School is a secondary school in Leander, Texas, United States, and is part of the Leander Independent School District. It was established in 1983 and was the only high school in district, until the establishment of Cedar Park High School in 1998.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cedar Park High School</span> Public school in the United States

Cedar Park High School (CPHS) is a high school in Cedar Park, Texas. It was established in 1998 to serve as the second high school in the Leander Independent School District due to the rapid growth in the area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lake Highlands High School</span> Public, secondary school

Lake Highlands High School (LHHS) is a secondary school serving grades 9–12 in the Lake Highlands area of northeastern Dallas, Texas, United States, primarily serving the Lake Highlands community. The school is part of the Richardson Independent School District and is in central Lake Highlands near the DART Blue Line. The Lake Highlands Freshman Center formerly housed the 9th-grade students, but has recently been integrated into the rest of the school, housing classes for all 9–12 students. The first graduating class of Lake Highlands High School was in 1964.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">L. D. Bell High School</span> Co-educational, public, secondary school in Hurst, Tarrant County, Texas, United States

Lawrence Dale Bell High School is an American high school located in the cities of Hurst and Bedford, Texas and part of the Hurst-Euless-Bedford Independent School District. The school is named for Lawrence Dale Bell, the founder of nearby Bell Helicopter Textron, and was recognized as a National Blue Ribbon School for 1994–96.

Frisco High School is a public high school located in Frisco, Texas and is a part of the Frisco Independent School District. In 2015, the school was rated "Met Standard" by the Texas Education Agency.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Grand Saline Independent School District</span> School district in Texas

Grand Saline Independent School District is an East Texas public school district based in Grand Saline, Texas (USA). The district encompasses roughly all of northeastern Van Zandt County and has a very small portion in extreme northwestern Smith County. The district operates 4 campuses in 5 buildings and also has various other buildings on former school district property. The district has a rating of "Standards Met", the highest rating given by the Texas Education Agency.

DeSoto High School is a comprehensive public high school in DeSoto, Texas, United States. It is part of the DeSoto Independent School District and is classified as a 6A school by the UIL. In 2015, the school was rated "Met Standard" by the Texas Education Agency.

Andrews High School or AHS is a public high school based in Andrews, Texas, United States and classified as a 4A school by the University Interscholastic League (UIL). It is a part of the Andrews Independent School District which serves all of Andrews County.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">A&M Consolidated High School</span> Public school in College Station, Texas, United States

A&M Consolidated High School, also known as "Consol", is a public high school located in the city of College Station, Texas, United States. It is classified as a 5A school by the UIL. The school is part of the College Station Independent School District located in southern Brazos County. In 2015, the school was rated "Met Standard" by the Texas Education Agency. Until the opening of College Station High School in 2012, A&M Consolidated was the only high school in College Station; the two schools are now crosstown rivals.

Judson High School is a public, co-educational secondary school in Converse, Texas, United States, 15 miles northeast of downtown San Antonio. It was established in 1959 as part of the Judson Independent School District, and is currently classified as a 6A school by the University Interscholastic League (UIL). Judson High School is the second oldest International Baccalaureate World School in Texas, since 1985. The school and the District were named after Moses Campbell Judson, who served on the Bexar County School Board from 1918 to 1939. His nephew Jack Judson was on the board when the decision was made to name the new rural high school Judson.

Belton High School (BHS) is a public high school that serves the city of Belton, Texas, United States, parts of Bell County and classified as a 5A school by the University Interscholastic League (UIL). It is a part of the Belton Independent School District located in south central Bell County. For the 2021-2022 school year, the school was given a "B" by the Texas Education Agency.

Celina High School is a public high school located in Celina, Texas, United States. It is part of the Celina Independent School District located in northwestern Collin County and classified as a 4A school by the UIL. In 2022, the school was received an overall accountability rating of 'A' from the Texas Education Agency.

Holliday High School is a public high school located in Holliday, Texas, United States, and classified as a 3A school by the UIL. It is part of the Holliday Independent School District located in northwestern Archer County. For the 2021-2022 school year, the school was given an "A" by the Texas Education Agency.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Del Valle High School (El Paso, Texas)</span> Public school in the United States

Del Valle High is a public high school located on the southeast side of El Paso, Texas. DV, as it is commonly called, is part of the Ysleta Independent School District, serving 2,000 students in grades 9 to 12. At the start of the 2022 academic year, Ivan Cedillo was appointed principal of Del Valle High School. The TEA association classifies Del Valle as a "recognized school" as of 2011.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Everman Joe C. Bean High School</span> Public high school in Everman, Texas, Texas, United States

Everman Joe C. Bean High School is a public secondary school located in Everman, Texas. The school is a part of the Everman Independent School District and serves students in grades 9-12. The school mascot is the Bulldog, and school colors are purple and gold.

Waxahachie High School is a public high school in the city of Waxahachie, Texas, United States and classified as a 6A school by the University Interscholastic League (UIL). It is a part of the Waxahachie Independent School District located in central Ellis County. In 2015, the school was rated "Met Standard" by the Texas Education Agency.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bay City High School</span> Public high school in Bay City, Matagorda, Texas, United States

Bay City High School is a public high school located on Texas State Highway 35 on the western edge of Bay City, Texas, United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Georgetown High School (Texas)</span> Public school in Georgetown, Texas, United States

Georgetown High School is a 5A public high school located in Georgetown, Texas (USA). It is part of the Georgetown Independent School District located in central Williamson County. GHS is a comprehensive high school. The school was a National Blue Ribbon Award winner in 1994–1995. In 2011, the school was rated "Academically Acceptable" by the Texas Education Agency.

Princeton High School is a public high school located in Princeton, Texas (USA). It is part of the Princeton Independent School District located in central Collin County and classified as a 5A school by the UIL. In 2017, the school was rated "Met Standard" by the Texas Education Agency. The school will be competing in the 5A classification as of Fall 2018. As of the 2021-2022 school year, the high school was separated into a 10-12 high school due to the creation of Lovelady High School, a freshman center. In the 2024-2025 school year, Princeton High School will become a senior high school with Lovelady being an underclassman high school after additional construction.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Crane High School (Texas)</span> Public school in Crane, Crane County, Texas, United States

Crane High School is a public high school located in Crane, Texas, United States. It is part of the Crane Independent School District which covers all of Crane County and is classified as a 3A school by the UIL. In 2015, the school was rated "Met Standard" by the Texas Education Agency.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "GRAND SALINE H S". National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved 15 March 2021.
  2. ↑ "2015 Accountability Rating System" (PDF). Texas Education Agency. Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 September 2015.
  3. ↑ The Athletics Department
  4. ↑ "Heroes & Friends - Chris Tomlin". Accessed 8 October 2017. "I was fortunate enough to receive a Presidential Scholarship to TJC when I graduated Grand Saline High School."
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.