Biddeford High School

History

The first public high school in Biddeford was established in 1848. The building for the high school was erected on Washington Street close to the city's downtown. After a rise in Biddeford's population in the late 19th-century, a new high school was constructed in 1888 on a lot in close-by Alfred Street. The former high school building on Washington Street was then converted to a primary school before being demolished in the 1960s.

The high school moved to its new building in 1890. The Alfred Street building suffered a massive fire in 1893 and was promptly rebuilt. A rear annex and gymnasium were added in 1925.

The high school moved out of the Alfred Street building in the 1960s to its present location farther away from the Downtown core. This coincided with the establishment of the Biddeford Regional Center of Technology in 1969 located at the same location.

Sports

Biddeford High School football has won 11 Class A state championships since 1950 (in 1965, 1966, 1967, 1971, 1980, 1983, 1984, 1990, 1991, 1993, and 1994). The school has a long-standing football rivalry with Saco's Thornton Academy dating to 1893 which is referred to as the "Battle of the Bridges" by residents of both communities. This is in reference to the multiple bridges which interconnect the two cities over the Saco River. After Biddeford High School was demoted to Class B in 2015, the two teams no longer compete with one another within the same Class.

In 1971, the boys and girls gymnastics teams won dual state championships. The boys' team repeated as state champions in 1972, while the girls' team would win the state championship again in 1979 and 2003. Biddeford High won the Class A competitive cheerleading state championships in 2002, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2014, 2019, and 2020, with the 2014 team capping off the season by winning the New England Championship in the coed division. Other Class A state championships include: ice hockey (in 2007, 2008, and 2010), softball (in 2006, 2016, and 2022), field hockey (in 1990 and 2018), baseball (in 1984 and 2025), girls' volleyball (in 2010 and 2022), boys' basketball (in 1924), boys' golf (in 1993 and 1994), boys' outdoor track (in 1995), and girls' outdoor track (in 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, and 1998). Biddeford High also won the Class B boys' hockey state championship in 1977.

Academic Competitions

Biddeford students taking part in the 1971 Southern Maine Regional Science Fair held at Falmouth High School came home with five of the nine first-place awards. Altogether, Biddeford High School students earned 12 of the 22 total awards.

In 1972, Biddeford High students won the statewide first place Novice Trophy in debate at Brunswick High School.

Biddeford High School's Marching Band won first place in the Division 1 category at the 2024 New England Scholastic Band Association (NESBA) Championship.

In April of 2025, Biddeford High’s Marching Arts program took top honors at the New England Scholastic Band Association (NESBA) Winter Percussion Finals. BlackOut Percussion earned first place, while Blizzard Winds secured a third-place finish.

Also in April of 2025, Biddeford High School’s Performance and Technical Teams were named Maine Odyssey of the Mind State Champions and World Finalists during the State Finals Tournament.

Notable alumni

• Fred Davis Jr. - politician
• Brian Dumoulin - professional ice hockey player
• Ryan Fecteau - politician and the Speaker of the Maine House of Representatives
• Dennis Gadbois - former football wide receiver

Notable staff

• Alan Casavant - politician and teacher

References

References

1. "Old Orchard Beach High staff member tests positive for virus".
2. "The Roar".
3. "Old Biddeford High School, Washington Street, ca. 1910".
4. Biddeford High School Alumni Association. (1887). "Biddeford High School. Teachers and Graduates, from 1848 to 1888.".
5. "Biddeford High School, Alfred Street, 1955".
6. Wells, Tammy. (2022-11-17). "New and expanded programs 'dream come true' at BRCOT".
7. https://www.mpa.cc/page/3231/custom/297
8. (July 2, 2011). "Thornton Academy ~ Battle of the Bridge".
9. (October 1, 2015). "A Battle Lost – Maine Football – Down East Magazine".
10. Bouthillette, Emma R.. (2017). "Brief History of Biddeford, A". Arcadia Publishing.
11. (May 4, 2012). "State Of Maine High School Football Conferences – Maine Football Coaches Association".
12. https://maineanencyclopedia.com/gymnastics/
13. https://www.mpa.cc/page/3213/custom/189
14. https://www.fosters.com/story/sports/high-school/2014/03/26/green-wave-spirit-second-at/37992819007/
15. https://www.mpa.cc/page/3237/custom/345
16. https://www.mpa.cc/page/3258/custom/438
17. https://www.mpa.cc/page/3228/custom/282
18. https://www.mpa.cc/page/3207/custom/4200
19. https://sports.yahoo.com/article/biddeford-baseball-battles-past-mt-225500596.html
20. https://www.mpa.cc/page/3294/custom/612
21. https://www.mpa.cc/page/3210/custom/690
22. https://www.mpa.cc/page/3234/custom/747
23. https://www.mpa.cc/page/3282/custom/561
24. https://www.mpa.cc/page/3282/custom/945
25. https://www.mpa.cc/page/3237/custom/345
26. Maine Sunday Telegram, March 21, 1971, p. 18A.
27. Biddeford-Saco Journal, March 17, 1972, p.8.
28. https://sacobaynews.com/biddeford-marching-band-wins-first-place-at-new-england-championship.htm
29. https://biddeford-gazette.com/2025/04/07/biddeford-marching-arts-named-new-england-champions/
30. https://www.pressherald.com/2025/04/15/biddeford-students-named-state-champions-in-creative-challenge/
31. (August 24, 2017). "Dumoulin a lifelong winner". National Hockey League.