Selma High School
| Selma High School | |
|---|---|
| Location | |
|
Selma, Alabama United States | |
| Coordinates | 32°25′42″N 87°1′17″W / 32.42833°N 87.02139°WCoordinates: 32°25′42″N 87°1′17″W / 32.42833°N 87.02139°W |
| Information | |
| Type | Public |
| Established | 1970 |
| Principal | Emma Alexander |
| Grades | 9–12 |
| Color(s) | Columbia Blue and gold |
| Mascot | Saints |
| Website | selmahigh.selmacityschools.org |
Selma High School is a public secondary school in Selma, Alabama, USA, the only public high school Selma City School System.
History
Selma High School was formed in 1970 in response to court-ordered integration, merging A.G. Parrish High School and R.B. Hudson High School. The school is in the building of Parrish High, which was constructed in 1939. R.B. Hudson's building was converted to Westside Junior High School, was renamed Selma Middle CHAT Academy and, in 2012, became known as R.B. Hudson Middle School.
In 1990, Selma High received national attention due to a series of protests addressing the school's tracking procedures. The school, like many other, had "ability grouping" tracks for students to set their high school curriculum. However, ethnic minority students in these programs formed a larger percentage of the lower tracks, while the most advanced curriculum had primarily white students in it. In 1990, a group of students, instigated by local activist and wife of local state senator, Rose Sanders, led protests at Selma High School against this policy and the dismissal of the system's superintendent, who was trying to address this program. The protests were successful in removing the tracking programs at Selma High and in drawing larger attention to the racial disparities in these programs.[1]The protests, however, had the negative result of defacto re-segregating the schools in the city as many of the White students parents elected to withdraw their children to attend schools in the county or one of the private academies locally. This unfortunate situation continues to this day (2016) as the city school system is now is almost wholly attended by African-American children.
Athletics
Selma High's sports teams compete in the Alabama High School Athletics Association's 6A classification. As of 2014, the school fielded teams in American football, basketball, baseball, wrestling, track and field, volleyball and softball.
The school won the 1946 AA, 1947 AA (as A.G. Parish High), 1977 4A, and 1994 6A state boys' basketball championship,[2] as well as golf championships in 1949 and 1950 (as A.G. Parish High).[3] The school holds the record for most consecutive victories in basketball (73, including playoff games and 88 regular season games) and most state tournament appearances.
Alumni
Notable alumni of Selma High School, and its two predecessors, include:
- William Lehman (Florida politician)
- Ben Obomanu, wide receiver for the Auburn Tigers and Seattle Seahawks
- James Perkins, Jr., first African-American mayor of Selma.
- Terry Leach, former MLB player (New York Mets, Kansas City Royals, Minnesota Twins, Chicago White Sox)
- Ralph "Shug" Jordan, legendary Auburn University football coach (attended Parrish High)
- Jai Miller, former MLB outfielder (Kansas City Royals, Oakland Athletics, Baltimore Orioles) and current Safety at the University of Alabama
- Terri Sewell, U.S. Congressperson for Alabama's 7th District
References
- ↑ "Selma: What Has Changed?", Southern Changes, 13 (4), pp. 12–15, retrieved 2009-07-03
- ↑ Basketball Past State Champions (Boys), Alabama High School Athletic Association, retrieved 2009-07-03
- ↑ Golf Past State Champions - Boys, Alabama High School Athletic Association, retrieved 2009-07-03