Salem High School (New Hampshire)

History

The original high school for the town of Salem was Woodbury High School. In the 1960s it was converted to a middle school, and the current building was built. The school has recently suffered from overcrowding, leading administrators to place portable classrooms on the campus. This also led the neighboring town of Windham, whose students were sent to Salem, to construct its own high school in 2009. The class of 2011 was the last graduating class from Salem High to include students from Windham. All class of 2012 students from Windham were required to transfer to Windham High School, starting at the beginning of the 2009-2010 school year.

The school has various traditions that include the video yearbook in which many of the students are showcased in one way or another.

Senior Safe Night started when students decided to camp out at the high school. Chaperones were eventually called for when students were believed to be involved in illicit behavior in their tents. It has grown from a student-led initiative to one run by the communities. Many of these are parents of children in the high school, who want to make sure the seniors can have one last night to hang out before graduation. They have created an environment in which there are no drugs or alcohol. There are usually door prizes and a massive yearbook signing towards the beginning of the night, when teachers are there to wish the students fun on their night in.

On March 11, 2014, Salem voted to approve a $75 million renovation project for Salem High School and its Career and Technical Education Center. Construction was completed in 2018.

Campus

Demographics

|total#=1131 |teacher#=101.0

|gr9#=285 |gr10#=289 |gr11#=295 |gr12#=261 |fem#=561 |male#=570}}

Extra-curricular activities

Athletics

Salem High School was listed by Sports Illustrated in 2008 as having the best athletics program in the state of New Hampshire.

82 State Championships have been won by the Blue Devil athletic programs. The most recent is the 2025 Girls Wrestling Team State Championship.

The varsity football team were state champions in 2009, defeating Nashua North and have won 4 other championships with football championships in 1995 (Division II), 1983 and 1975 (Division I), and in 1957 (Division IV) as Woodbury High School.

The men's varsity basketball team won the Class L state championship in 2007 and 2008 (the first championship in 1995). The field hockey team won the state championship game six times between 2002 and 2008. Softball has won seventeen Class L state championships (When?-2010), Coach Harold Sachs recorded his 500th win on May 24, 2011. The softball program won its 19th State Championship in 2021.

The boys' volleyball team has a national record 112-match win streak and have won ten straight state championships (2004–2014) according to NFHS.org. Along with 11 State Championship Banners overall hanging from the Davis Gym rafters.

Its currently rivalry in athletics is with Windham High School with "The Battle of Route 111" since their high school opened in the past 10 years. Previously the Blue Devils had "The Battle of Route 28" with Pinkerton Academy of Derry, however they still maintain a healthy rivalry. Other rivals include Timberlane Regional of Plaistow and Londonderry High School. The football team used to have Thanksgiving Day rivalries with the Hillies of Haverhill High school in the 90’s and the Lawrence High School Lancers from 2010-2014 (Lawrence finishing with a 3-2 record).

Performing arts

The Salem High School Performing Arts program offers Chorus, Theater Arts, Band and Color Guard. The bands program consist of performing ensembles including Marching Band, Concert Band, Jazz Band, as well as the Salem Blue Devils Winter Percussion Ensemble. The band program strives to enrich the lives of students through various music experiences. The marching band is open to all students, Grades 9-12, who have previously studied a musical instrument either in or out of school. The Marching band have performed in the Macys Thanksgiving Day Parade, and the Fiesta Bowl Parade. The theater arts program performs in the Seifert Performing arts center every year in a fall and spring play.

Clubs

As of September 2018, there were 33 individual clubs students could choose to join. There are multiple student organizations such as the LABTA Club and the Muslim Student Association. Other academic based clubs include National Honor Society, Math Team, Language Clubs, and Homework Club. Other clubs are career and technical skills based, like FBLA, Film Club, Girls Who Code, and the Robotics Club.

Notable alumni

• Matt Frahm, racing driver
• Pamela Gidley, actress and model
• Breanne Hill, actress
• Katie King-Crowley, Olympic gold medalist in ice hockey
• Dan Stemkoski, StarCraft 2 eSports commentator
• John E. Sununu (class of 1982), former U.S. senator
• Valerie McDonnell (class of 2022), youngest-ever New Hampshire state legislator

References

References

1. "Salem High School". National Center for Education Statistics.
2. "Salem High School".
3. Halpin, David. "SSD Public Website: Salem High School: Academics".
4. (12 March 2014). "Salem Election Results".
5. (2015-04-28). "New beginnings: Salem High renovations wrap up". Ssd.sau57.org.
6. (2008-05-20). "No. 1 in Each State".
7. Peithmann, Lauren. "SSD Public Website: SHS Performing Arts: SHS Performing Arts Home".
8. Peithmann, Lauren. "SSD Public Website: SHS Performing Arts: Band".
9. "Salem High School Marching Band Macy's Parade 2002".
10. "Salem, NH High School Band: Fiesta Bowl Parade 2005".
11. Boucher, Kerri. "SSD Public Website: Student Life: Clubs and Activities".
12. (April 28, 2012). "In the driver's seat: Salem N.H.'s Matt Frahm has moved to North Carolina in hopes of making it big time in racing".
13. "Salem grad living dream among the stars".
14. (14 January 2016). "King and her court: Salem legend brings her undefeated BC team to Merrimack". The Eagle Tribune.
15. (July 16, 2013). "How two StarCraft commentators became stars". [[Vox Media]].
16. (2005). "Congressional Directory 2005-2006: One Hundred Ninth Congress". US Government Printing Office.