South Anchorage High School

General information

The majority of students come from Goldenview Middle School and Mears Middle School. The schedule varies throughout the week. On Monday and Friday there are 6 classes, each divided into 50 minute periods. A blocking schedule is used on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, with each class lasting for 80 minutes. On Tuesday students attend periods 1, 2, 4, and 5; Wednesday students attend periods 2, 3, 5, and 6; Thursday, students attend periods 1, 3, 4, and 6. Lunch on Monday and Friday lasts for 45 minutes, and on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, lunch is 50 minutes long. On assembly days, class periods are shortened to make time at the end of the day.

Statistics

As of 2008, 1,730 students were enrolled at South Anchorage High School, and 89 teachers were employed, 52% with advanced degrees.

For the 2008-2009 school year, 8.44% of the students were reported as "economically disadvantaged," compared to a district average of 35.58%. 2008-2009 demographic information from the Anchorage School District reported South Anchorage to be 75% white, 2% black, 7% Hispanic, 7% Asian/Pacific Islander, 6% American Indian/Alaska Native, and 4% multi-ethnic. District averages for high schools are 53% white, 6% black, 7% Alaska Native/American Indian, 14% Asian/Pacific Islander, 9% Hispanic and 10% multi-ethnic.

For the 2008-2009 school year, graduation rate was 83.99%, compared to a district average of 69.40%. On the Alaska High School Graduation Qualifying Examination (HSGQE), South Anchorage had a 95.13% proficiency rate in Reading (district average 91.54%), 89.32% in Writing (district average 80.15%), and 92.29% in Mathematics (district average 82.44%) among 10th graders. (The HSGQE is initially administered in 10th grade, and retaken in subsequent semesters by students who didn't achieve proficiency in any of the three categories.)

Building

The school consists of two floors, with a heating system as the third floor. There is a full size gym with an upstairs track, and a smaller gym. There is a weight room and a physical therapy room. Students eat lunch in the commons, a large opening in the middle of the school. There are alphabetically ordered halls (A - H) and a large library next to the front office. Students order lunch from the cafeteria near F hall or order at the café near E hall.

Lorax Club

The Lorax Club is an environmental conservation organization run by students.

Partner’s Club

South's Partner's Club has students work with students with special needs.

GSA

South has an active student Gay-Straight Alliance.

Yearbook

The school's yearbook, On the Edge, began publication in 2008.

Drama, Debate, and Forensics

South's competitive Drama, Debate, and Forensics team competes in the Alaska School Activities Association's state championship 4A division.

Theater

South's theater program is headed by Erin Dagon Mitchell, of TBA Theater. Recently they were honored to travel to the world-famous Edinburgh Festival Fringe as part of the American High School Theatre Festival (AHSTF).

Sports

South Anchorage High School participates in all 18 sports sanctioned by the Alaska School Activities Association, as well as bowling, which is sponsored by Anchorage Scholastic Bowling League.