Spring Valley High School and Ramapo High School form the East Ramapo Marching Band. The band was featured in the 2004 film The Manchurian Candidate.
The school
History
The original Spring Valley High School on South Main Street, later used as Spring Valley Junior High School until 1972.
This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (January 2011)
Prior to the creation of Spring Valley High School, a Union Free School was established in 1871,[3] located at the intersection of Route 59 (East Central Avenue) and Route 45 (South Main Street) which was later the site of the Shoppers Paradise department store.[3][4][5] A high school program was started in the Union Free School circa 1888.[4] In 1896, a new K–12 school was constructed at 50 South Main Street.[3][6] Records indicate that Albert Henry Goodhardt was the first clerk of the Spring Valley Board of Education after its incorporation in 1902. Following that, he was trustee of the Spring Valley High School for six years, and president of the Board of Education for the Village of Spring Valley for five years.[7]
Spring Valley High School was first located at 89 South Main Street (Route 45) in Spring Valley,[8] opened in 1924.[3][9][10][11] In 1950 as part of the centralization of multiple school districts in East Ramapo, a new senior high school was proposed to replace the South Main Street School.[12] Offices for the Ramapo Central School District No. 2 (now East Ramapo Central School District) were relocated into the new Spring Valley Senior High School on Route 59 in March 1957 following a fire in their main offices.[13] Students moved into the new building in late April 1957.[14][15] The new building was dedicated on November 10, 1957, with the school costing $2 million to construct.[4]
The old South Main Street building would become Spring Valley Junior High School in January 1958.[16] The Main Street building was closed in 1972,[10][17] replaced by a new South Spring Valley Junior High School (now Chestnut Ridge Middle School) in what is now Chestnut Ridge, New York.[10][17][18]
The first underground newspaper, The Bohemia, was created, published, and distributed throughout the student body in 1959. It contained news, politics, social information, and mostly humor. This effort was unsanctioned, but it was supported by parents and heroic teachers including Larry Hopp (science) and Robert Kreps (art). Students credits included Jay Frogel (Salutatorian 1962), and Michael Potash (valedictorian 1962).
Curriculum
Spring Valley High School offers a 200 course curriculum. Presently, this includes 16 Advanced Placement courses in the five major departments, as well as college credit courses offered through two universities. 45% or more of students taking AP exams score a "3" or better on average at SVHS. In the 1950s and 1960s, the curriculum was one to two years behind that of New York City schools. For example, the mathematics department did not offer calculus.
Educational tools
A library media center with more than 20,000 volumes.
Student placement
Grouping in Spring Valley is by ability, achievement, and teacher evaluation. Those in advanced placement courses constitute the upper 10% of the student body. Those in honors courses comprise the upper 20% of the student body. Regents courses contain students in the average academic group.
This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (January 2011)
Spring Valley High School has been cited by The College Board for the excellence of its Advanced Placement program.[citation needed]
In the last five years an average of 93% of students continue of to post-secondary education, with an average of 52% going to four-year institutions.[citation needed] The five-year average for scholarship monies received is $2.75 million.[19]
Spring Valley High School was ranked by Newsweek among the top 500 high schools in the nation for four consecutive years.[20]
Spring Valley High School was ranked one of America's best high schools in 2010 by Newsweek.[21]
Gerald S. O'Loughlin: Gerald Stuart O'Loughlin Jr. (b. 1921), television, stage, and film actor and director who was primarily known for playing tough-talking and rough-looking characters.[33]
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