Saranac Lake High School


Saranac Lake High School is located in the village of Saranac Lake, New York, USA. There are currently about 350 students in grades 9 through 12. It is under the jurisdiction of the Saranac Lake Central School District, whose offices are housed on the ground floor of the auditorium building. The school is housed in a building, completed in 1969. It is designed in the typical unsightly style of the mid-century period and is colloquially referred to as "prison-like" in image and nature among staff and students.
The majority of graduating students from Saranac Lake High School attend an institution of higher education. Approximately one-half of each graduating class continues on to a four-year college or university. Recently, students have matriculated to institutions such as Amherst College, the California Institute of Technology, Columbia University, Cornell University, Hamilton College, Harvard University, Oberlin College, and many other highly regarded colleges and universities. About one-half of the students continuing their education from Saranac Lake High School attend a State University of New York institution, such as SUNY Plattsburgh and SUNY Albany. High school seniors that have shown particular academic excellence are accepted into SUNY Plattsburgh and SUNY North Country Community College with free tuition.

History

Saranac Lake's first schools date to 1838. In 1870, a new school was built in the center of the village. In 1890, the first high school was built, and was dedicated by U.S. President Benjamin Harrison. In 1924, a new school was built on Petrova Avenue that housed grades 1 through 12. The Petrova School was dedicated in February 1925. Then in 1968 and 1969 the present building was erected; the former school became an elementary and middle school. Classes were first held in the current school on December 1, 1969 following the Thanksgiving holiday break.

Arts

Recently, the Saranac Lake High School has been recognized for its music program, with which about one half of the student body participates in. Choral conductor Drew Benware was named a national semifinalist as a Grammy Award music educator in 2017. Additionally, a number of students have participated in the NYSSMA and NAFME Conference All-State and All-Eastern music festivals for both instrumental and vocal music.

Athletics

The school colors are red and white, and the school's sports teams are called the Red Storm. The Team's former name was the "Saranac Lake Redskins," until the name was changed in 2001 due to its racist associations and stereotypes. Unfortunately, many community members were and are upset about the name change, but the current consensus is that it was for the best. Sports include Football, Soccer, Cross Country, Basketball, Ice Hockey, Basketball, Downhill Skiing, Cross Country Skiing, Volleyball, Lacrosse, Baseball, Softball, Track and Golf. SLHS teams have won NYS titles in boys speed skating three times, boys cross country two times and girls alpine skiing two times. In 1995, the boys cross country team won the state championship, the first Saranac Lake team ever to win a Cross Country state title; they also went undefeated in the fall of 2006. The girls team has made regular appearances at the state championships for the past several years in addition to a recent win streak in dual meets. The current coach is Bill Peer who led the team into yet another state meet in 2007.
Also in 1995, the "Redskins" played against Leroy for the New York State Class C High School Championship in the Carrier Dome in Syracuse. The 2004-2005 Boys Ice Hockey team made it to the New York State Final Four for the first time in school history, defeating Williamsville East High School, the defending State Champions to do so. The Boys Ice Hockey team also made it to the NYS Final Four in 2011-2012.
In 1998 the Redskins football team defeated Voorheesville, at home on Ken Wilson field, to advance to the state Final Four in Kingston, NY where they lost to the eventual state champions Edgemont. In 2008 the Red Storm football team defeated Watervilet to visit Kingston, NY and play in the state Final Four. They did the same again in 2010 when they defeated Hoosick Falls and went on to play Bronxville.

Controversy

Throughout the tenure of Mr. Eric Bennett as the Athletic Director, many students and community members have been critical of his leadership and unequal prioritization of sports over other aspects of the educational experience. Current and former students have voiced their concerns over review platforms and in the media. Most recently, some students have commented on the likely Title IX violation of the lack of appropriate restroom facilities for the disabled and in general across the sports facilities. A number of alumni have mentioned across the Niche website that he has placed sport priorities over academically-related ones and there was a lack of action from the administration and Bennett regarding those claims. Additionally, the high school administration has gotten a fair amount of negative attention for being strongly disciplinarian in nature, yet under the direction of Mr. Josh Dann it has seen a positive trend in reputation.