Massabesic High School
Encyclopedia
Massabesic High School, Pronounced "MASS-UH-BEE-SlK" (also referred to as MHS) is a public
high school
located in Waterboro
, Maine
, United States
. The school is part of the RSU 57 school system, which serves six southwestern Maine towns with a combined population of approximately 22,000 residents: Alfred
, Limerick
, Lyman
, Newfield
, Shapleigh
and Waterboro
.
The school is divided into 2 separate buildings: the High School which serves grades 10-12, and the east building (sometimes referred to as the Freshman Academy) which often serves grade 9
MHS at this time (2011) is still having problems with academic achievement. Records from 2009 show that MHS had a 42% failure rate per trimester down to 37% in 2010. 2011 a drug problem was brought to light with the arrest of one teacher accused of providing drugs as well as having sexual relations with a 15 year old student. (not proven at this time)
The east building contains most of the freshman ant the high school the foreign language department and the N.J.R.O.T.C. program. It is also the adult education center for R.S.U.# 57.
The east building also holds a new program called alternative education.
The reason for the new middle school was for the overcrowding at the High School so the east wing could be created from the old JR high.
The site was picked due to what locals call a conflict of interest because it was bought by a selectman.
Education in the United States
Education in the United States is mainly provided by the public sector, with control and funding coming from three levels: federal, state, and local. Child education is compulsory.Public education is universally available...
high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
located in Waterboro
Waterboro, Maine
Waterboro is a town in York County, Maine, United States. The population was 6,214 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Portland–South Portland–Biddeford, Maine metropolitan statistical area....
, Maine
Maine
Maine is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and south, New Hampshire to the west, and the Canadian provinces of Quebec to the northwest and New Brunswick to the northeast. Maine is both the northernmost and easternmost...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The school is part of the RSU 57 school system, which serves six southwestern Maine towns with a combined population of approximately 22,000 residents: Alfred
Alfred, Maine
Alfred is a town in York County, Maine, in the United States. As of the 2000 census, the town population was 2,497. Alfred is the county seat of York County and home to part of the Massabesic Experimental Forest...
, Limerick
Limerick, Maine
Limerick is a town in York County, Maine, United States. It is part of the Portland–South Portland–Biddeford, Maine metropolitan statistical area. The population was 2,240 at the 2000 census.-History:...
, Lyman
Lyman, Maine
Lyman is a town in York County, Maine, United States. The population was 3,795 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Portland–South Portland–Biddeford, Maine metropolitan statistical area...
, Newfield
Newfield, Maine
Newfield is a town in York County, Maine, United States. The population was 1,328 at the 2000 census. Home to Willowbrook Museum Village, Newfield is part of the Portland–South Portland–Biddeford metropolitan statistical area.-History:...
, Shapleigh
Shapleigh, Maine
Shapleigh, pronounced "SHAP-lee", is a town in York County, Maine, United States which was incorporated as the state's 43rd town in 1785. The population was 2,326 at the 2000 census. Shapleigh is divided into the villages of North Shapleigh, Shapleigh Corner, Ross Corner and Emery Mills...
and Waterboro
Waterboro, Maine
Waterboro is a town in York County, Maine, United States. The population was 6,214 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Portland–South Portland–Biddeford, Maine metropolitan statistical area....
.
The school is divided into 2 separate buildings: the High School which serves grades 10-12, and the east building (sometimes referred to as the Freshman Academy) which often serves grade 9
MHS at this time (2011) is still having problems with academic achievement. Records from 2009 show that MHS had a 42% failure rate per trimester down to 37% in 2010. 2011 a drug problem was brought to light with the arrest of one teacher accused of providing drugs as well as having sexual relations with a 15 year old student. (not proven at this time)
History
Massabesic High School first opened in 1969 with an enrollment of over nine-hundred students within the grades of 9 through 12. Over the years, the student population increased to its current enrollment of nearly 1,300.The East Building expansion
On August 29, 2007, Massabesic High School occupied the former Massabesic Junior High School building to open the East Building which expanded the high school, eliminating overcrowding controversies as well as student population policies.The east building contains most of the freshman ant the high school the foreign language department and the N.J.R.O.T.C. program. It is also the adult education center for R.S.U.# 57.
The east building also holds a new program called alternative education.
Massabesic Middle School
The new middle school was built 2003 and opened in 2006 The problem is the school was built in an old Gravel pit that in the past was the site of illegal burning and burying of waste product from Monsanto corp by the owner of Rickard gravel pit. Shortly after this many homes in the area now have contaminated wells But the school and town still fight to keep this hidden. The Waterboro citizen how discovered this has proved to the town of the brown water problem.(2011 the town had to agree) But the school of 700 students remains open even as the school may now be sinking as it was built in an abandoned pit for the wet lands it was located in. All Documents are on file in the Maine state DEP archives.The reason for the new middle school was for the overcrowding at the High School so the east wing could be created from the old JR high.
The site was picked due to what locals call a conflict of interest because it was bought by a selectman.
Key facts
- MHS is a member of the MASC
- MHS was one of the Maine schools which did not make "Adequate Yearly Progress", according to the Maine Department of Education in 2006.
- Previous dramatic overcrowding (with some class sizes exceeding 30) was almost eliminated with the opening of the Freshman Academy in August 2007. This helped solve some of the overcrowding issues, but many classes still must be held in portable trailers.
- MHS has a prominent arts department, featuring many theater arts classes and groups as well as choral and band groups with scheduled competitions.Art Gallery
Athletic
Massabesic High School's team name for all the athletic teams is called the Massabesic Mustangs.- The Massabesic Mustangs football team won the Class A state championship in 2000.
- The Girls Lacrosse team won the Class A State Championship in 2007.
- The wrestling team won the Class A championships in 1975, 1998,2007 and 2008.
- The Boys swim team won state champion ships 2008-2009.
- The Girls Cross Country Team placed second in both Regionals and States.
- The Boys Cross Country Team placed second in Regionals.
Non-Athletic
- Massabesic High school is known to be the winner of the 2005 Odyssey of the MindOdyssey of the MindOdyssey of the Mind, often called OM , is a creative problem-solving competition involving students from kindergarten through college. Team members work together at length to solve a predefined problem ; and present their solution to the problem at a competition...
World Finals. - Massabesic Drill Team, a part of the NJROTC placed 3rd overall in the Greater New England Drill League in the 2006-07 season.
- Massabesic Drill Team's Armed Exhibition, Unarmed Exhibition, and Personnel Inspection also placed well in the 2006-07 season.
Clubs and activities
- Student Council
- Odyssey of the Mind
- ECO (a paper recycling club)
- Chorus
- Chamber Singers
- Treble Choir
- Band
- Jazz Band
- Pep Band (plays at basketball games)
- School Newspaper (Also known as the "Hoofbeat")
- Math Team
- Natural Helpers
- Lion's Club (Often referred to as the "Leo Club")
- Amnesty International
- National Honor Society (NHS)
- Social Issues Improv Reach Out (SIIRO)
- Dance Team
- Drama
- Open Mic
- Yearbook Staff
- Civil Rights Team
- Gay Straight Alliance
- Young Adults Against Dating Abuse(YAADA)
- Naval JROTC (The only unit of its kind in the state of Maine)
- Drill Team*Student Mock Trial Team
- Dungeon and Dragons club
- Bagels and Books
- Debate Team
- Culture Club
- Game Club
- The Green Team
High School Administration
- Principal - Christian Elkington
- Assistant Principal - John Morin
- Assistant Principal - Timothy Stinson
- Athletic Director - Brendan Scully
- Head of Guidance Dept. - Neil Raymond