Valley Stream South High School
Encyclopedia
Valley Stream South High School (VSSHS) is a combined public junior and senior high school
in the village of Valley Stream, New York
, more specifically, the hamlet of South Valley Stream, New York
in southwest Nassau County
on Long Island
. The school was established in 1955.
The high school is one of three high schools in the Valley Stream Central High School District
as well as one of two combined junior-senior high schools which educate grades seventh through twelfth. Students who attend Valley Stream South High School are mainly graduates of the local South Valley Stream elementary schools, including William L. Buck Elementary School, Brooklyn Avenue Elementary School, Forest Road Elementary School, and Robert W. Carbonaro Elementary School which is approximately 600 feet to the junior-senior high school complex. Valley Stream South High School is known to the local population simply as "South".
Valley Stream North High School
was built at the same time as Valley Stream South High School. Both schools were originally quite similar in architecture and were arch rivals with regard to sporting events. During the 2007-2008 school year South's athletics division was changed to Division 3 due to the size of the student body. The school is composed of three floors and was originally designed in the shape of a cube with a landscaped courtyard in the center.
Approximately 1,350 students attend VSSHS. The school's official colors are red, white, and gray. The school's mascot is the falcon. According to recent published statistics VSSHS is a top school that spends more on its students than any other high school in the nation.
Magazine.
South was ranked:
Please help provide the years for entries listed as unknown.
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....
in the village of Valley Stream, New York
Valley Stream, New York
Valley Stream is a village in Nassau County, New York in the United States. The population in the village of Valley Stream was 37,511 at the 2010 census...
, more specifically, the hamlet of South Valley Stream, New York
South Valley Stream, New York
South Valley Stream is a hamlet in Nassau County, New York, United States. The population was 5,962 at the 2010 census.South Valley Stream is in the south part of the Town of Hempstead.-Geography:...
in southwest Nassau County
Nassau County, New York
Nassau County is a suburban county on Long Island, east of New York City in the U.S. state of New York, within the New York Metropolitan Area. As of the 2010 census, the population was 1,339,532...
on Long Island
Long Island
Long Island is an island located in the southeast part of the U.S. state of New York, just east of Manhattan. Stretching northeast into the Atlantic Ocean, Long Island contains four counties, two of which are boroughs of New York City , and two of which are mainly suburban...
. The school was established in 1955.
The high school is one of three high schools in the Valley Stream Central High School District
Valley Stream Central High School District
The Valley Stream Central High School District is a public central high school district in New York State that serves about 4500 students in most of the village of Valley Stream, all of South Valley Stream, and most of North Valley Stream as well as parts of Elmont in Nassau County. It is one of...
as well as one of two combined junior-senior high schools which educate grades seventh through twelfth. Students who attend Valley Stream South High School are mainly graduates of the local South Valley Stream elementary schools, including William L. Buck Elementary School, Brooklyn Avenue Elementary School, Forest Road Elementary School, and Robert W. Carbonaro Elementary School which is approximately 600 feet to the junior-senior high school complex. Valley Stream South High School is known to the local population simply as "South".
Valley Stream North High School
Valley Stream North High School
Valley Stream North High School is a public junior and senior high school in the hamlet of Franklin Square, New York in southwest Nassau County. It is part of the Valley Stream Central High School District. As of 2006, the school principal is Mr. Clifford Odell. The assistant principals are...
was built at the same time as Valley Stream South High School. Both schools were originally quite similar in architecture and were arch rivals with regard to sporting events. During the 2007-2008 school year South's athletics division was changed to Division 3 due to the size of the student body. The school is composed of three floors and was originally designed in the shape of a cube with a landscaped courtyard in the center.
Approximately 1,350 students attend VSSHS. The school's official colors are red, white, and gray. The school's mascot is the falcon. According to recent published statistics VSSHS is a top school that spends more on its students than any other high school in the nation.
School Ethnicity
South High School has significant ethnic and racial diversity:- White/Non-Hispanic = 54% of Students
- Hispanic = 18% of Students
- Asian/Pacific Islander = 14% of Students
- Black/Non-Hispanic = 13% of Students
- Native American = <1% of Students
Newsweek Rankings
South was ranked as one of the top high schools in the country according to NewsweekNewsweek
Newsweek is an American weekly news magazine published in New York City. It is distributed throughout the United States and internationally. It is the second-largest news weekly magazine in the U.S., having trailed Time in circulation and advertising revenue for most of its existence...
Magazine.
South was ranked:
- 41st best high school in America in 1999
- 33rd best high school in America in 2000
- 228th best high school in America in 2003
- 152nd best high school in America in 2005
- 264th best high school in America in 2006
- 294th best high school in America in 2007
- 345th best high school in America in 2008
- 291st best high school in America in 2009
- 299th best high school in America in 2010
The Falcon Report
The Falcon Report began broadcasting on November 22, 2002 as a 7-10 minute student-made weekly TV news report shown school-wide on Fridays at 9:13 during homeroom period. All activity at South comes to a halt during the broadcast as all students and faculty watch the show. Full-footage news coverage is provided on 4-7 different issues that were prominent in the mainstream news that week. Other elements typically shown are a Character Action award winner segment, a student-made commercial, a weather report, and a sports segment. Topics frequently covered include school events, recent trips, innovative projects in various classes, and unique happenings at the school. Taping of the show is typically done on a Thursday after the completion of the school day and lasts late into that evening. The logo of the program is the symbol and mascot of Valley Stream South High School, a red falcon. The club is widely respected throughout the entire school, and is advised by Mr. Ross Lipsky, a math teacher at South High School. Mr. Lipsky provides insight into certain complex aspects and intricacies of the production process in order to make the program better, but the rest is usually done by the students, for the students. Many Falcon Report alumni have gone on to study in communications or other related fields in college.Athletics
South High School is widely known for its athletics program. Its teams have won several championships.Please help provide the years for entries listed as unknown.
| Sport | Season | Conference Champion |
County Champion |
State Champion |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Badminton | Spring | unknown | unknown | unknown |
| Baseball | Spring | unknown | unknown | unknown |
| Bowling | Winter | unknown | unknown | unknown |
| Basketball (Men) | Winter | unknown | unknown | unknown |
| Basketball (Women) | Winter | unknown | unknown | unknown |
| Cheerleading | Fall/Winter | unknown | unknown | unknown |
| Football | Fall | unknown | unknown | unknown |
| Rifle | winter | a lot of times | 2005,2006,2007,2008,2009,2010,2011 | 1995,2007,2008,2009,2010,2011 |
| Soccer (Men) | Fall | 2006,2008 | 1998,2006 | unknown |
| Soccer (Women) | Fall | unknown | 2000 | unknown |
| Softball | Spring | 2005,2007 | 2003,2004 | unknown |
| Tennis | Spring | 1970,2010 | unknown | unknown |
| Track | Spring | 2004 | unknown | unknown |
| Volleyball (Men) | Winter | 2008 | unknown | unknown |
| Volleyball (Women) | Winter | 2006 | 2006 | unknown |
| Wrestling | Winter | unknown | unknown | unknown |
Notable alumni
- Gary PortnoyGary PortnoyGary Portnoy is a singer/ songwriter from New York, best known for co-writing and singing the theme songs to two U.S. television sitcoms:*Cheers Theme: "Where Everybody Knows Your Name"*Punky Brewster Theme: "Every Time I Turn Around"...
, singer/songwriter - Larry MillerLarry Miller (actor)Lawrence J. "Larry" Miller is an American actor, voice artist, comedian, podcaster, and columnist.-Early life:Miller was born in Valley Stream, New York, attended Valley Stream South High School graduating in 1971. He attended Amherst College...
, comedian/actor - Lon BabbyLon BabbyLon Babby is a long-time NBA player agent who was named the Phoenix Suns President of Basketball Operations on Tuesday July 20, 2010.-Career:Babby graduated from the Yale Law School and Valley Stream South High School....
, president of the Phoenix SunsPhoenix SunsThe Phoenix Suns are a professional basketball team based in Phoenix, Arizona. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association and the only team in their division not to be based in California. Their home arena since 1992 has been the US... - Deborah Oppenheimer, Academy Award Winner 2001 for Best Documentary
- Michael Mirth, Professional