Spring Valley High School is a
high school
A secondary school describes an institution that provides secondary education and also usually includes the building where this takes place. Some secondary schools provide both '' lower secondary education'' (ages 11 to 14) and ''upper seconda ...
located in
Spring Valley, New York
Spring Valley is a village in the towns of Ramapo and Clarkstown in Rockland County, New York, United States. It is located north of Chestnut Ridge, east of Airmont and Monsey, south of Hillcrest, and west of Nanuet. The population was 33, ...
, educating students in grades 9 through 12.
Spring Valley is one of two high schools in the
East Ramapo Central School District
East Ramapo Central School District is a school district in Ramapo, New York, United States. It is headquartered in the Senator Eugene Levy Dr. Jack R. Anderson Education Center.
History 20th century
On March 4, 1952, seven school districts mer ...
(ERCSD). The school is accredited by the
New York State Board of Regents The Board of Regents of the University of the State of New York is responsible for the general supervision of all educational activities within New York State, presiding over University of the State of New York and the New York State Education Depa ...
.
The School District
The
East Ramapo Central School District
East Ramapo Central School District is a school district in Ramapo, New York, United States. It is headquartered in the Senator Eugene Levy Dr. Jack R. Anderson Education Center.
History 20th century
On March 4, 1952, seven school districts mer ...
is the largest school district in
Rockland County, New York
Rockland County is the southernmost county on the west side of the Hudson River in the U.S. state of New York. It is part of the New York metropolitan area. It is about from the Bronx at their closest points. The county's population, as of t ...
. Spring Valley High School and
Ramapo High School are the two high schools within East Ramapo. Located northwest of New York, in the center of Rockland County, East Ramapo is a
middle-class
The middle class refers to a class of people in the middle of a social hierarchy, often defined by occupation, income, education, or social status. The term has historically been associated with modernity, capitalism and political debate. Comm ...
suburban, predominantly residential community within commuting distance of
New York City
New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the List of United States cities by population, most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the L ...
,
Westchester County
Westchester County is located in the U.S. state of New York. It is the seventh most populous county in the State of New York and the most populous north of New York City. According to the 2020 United States Census, the county had a population o ...
, and
northern New Jersey
North Jersey comprises the northern portions of the U.S. state of New Jersey between the upper Delaware River and the Atlantic Ocean. The designation of northern New Jersey with a distinct toponym is a colloquial one rather than an administrativ ...
. The district's total area is , with an estimated 80,000 residents within its borders.
East Ramapo Marching Band
Spring Valley High School and Ramapo High School form the East Ramapo Marching Band. The band was featured in the 2004 film ''
The Manchurian Candidate
''The Manchurian Candidate'' is a novel by Richard Condon, first published in 1959. It is a political thriller about the son of a prominent U.S. political family who is brainwashed into being an unwitting assassin for a Communist conspiracy.
The ...
''.
The school
History
Records indicate that Albert Henry Goodhardt was the first clerk of the Spring Valley Board of Education after its incorporation in 1902. Following that, he was trustee of the Spring Valley High School for six years, and president of the Board of Education for the Village of Spring Valley for five years.
Spring Valley High School was first located on Main Street (
Route 45) in Spring Valley, New York. Around 1958, it became Spring Valley Junior High, and the new high school on
Route 59 was opened. Honor students were enlisted to make the transition as smoothly as possible. As the population in the area rose, Spring Valley Junior High School and Spring Valley Senior High School were built (Spring Valley Junior High School being located in present-day
Chestnut Ridge, New York
Chestnut Ridge is a Administrative divisions of New York (state)#Village, village in the town of Ramapo, New York, Ramapo, Rockland County, New York, Rockland County, New York (state), New York, United States, located north of the state of New Je ...
and renamed ''"Chestnut Ridge Middle School"'', and Spring Valley Senior High School being located at its present-day address).
The first underground newspaper, The Bohemia, was created, published, and distributed throughout the student body in 1959. It contained news, politics, social information, and mostly humor. This effort was unsanctioned, but it was supported by parents and heroic teachers including Larry Hopp (science) and Robert Kreps (art). Students credits included Jay Frogel (
Salutatorian
Salutatorian is an academic title given in the United States, Armenia, and the Philippines to the second-highest-ranked graduate of the entire graduating class of a specific discipline. Only the valedictorian is ranked higher. This honor is tradi ...
1962), and Michael Potash (valedictorian 1962).
Curriculum
Spring Valley High School offers a 200 course curriculum. Presently, this includes 16
Advanced Placement
Advanced Placement (AP) is a program in the United States and Canada created by the College Board which offers college-level curricula and examinations to high school students. American colleges and universities may grant placement and course ...
courses in the five major departments, as well as college credit courses offered through two universities. 45% or more of students taking AP exams score a "3" or better on average at SVHS. In the 1950s and 1960s, the curriculum was one to two years behind that of New York City schools. For example, the mathematics department did not offer calculus.
Educational tools
* A library media center with more than 20,000 volumes.
Student placement
Grouping in Spring Valley is by ability, achievement, and teacher evaluation. Those in
advanced placement
Advanced Placement (AP) is a program in the United States and Canada created by the College Board which offers college-level curricula and examinations to high school students. American colleges and universities may grant placement and course ...
courses constitute the upper 10% of the student body. Those in honors courses comprise the upper 20% of the student body. Regents courses contain students in the average academic group.
Graduation requirements
Recognition/achievements
*Spring Valley High School has been cited by
The College Board
The College Board is an American nonprofit organization that was formed in December 1899 as the College Entrance Examination Board (CEEB) to expand access to higher education. While the College Board is not an association of colleges, it runs a ...
for the excellence of its Advanced Placement program.
*In the last five years an average of 93% of students continue of to post-secondary education, with an average of 52% going to four-year institutions. The five-year average for scholarship monies received is $2.75 million.
*Spring Valley High School was ranked by Newsweek among the top 500 high schools in the nation for four consecutive years.
[ERCSD](_blank)
* Spring Valley High School was ranked one of America's best high schools in 2010 by ''
Newsweek
''Newsweek'' is an American weekly online news magazine co-owned 50 percent each by Dev Pragad, its president and CEO, and Johnathan Davis (businessman), Johnathan Davis, who has no operational role at ''Newsweek''. Founded as a weekly print m ...
''.
[Newsweek Rankings](_blank)
/ref>
* Spring Valley's Key Club
Key Club International, also called Key Club, is an international service organization for high school students. As a student-led organization, Key Club's goal is to encourage leadership through serving others. Key Club International is the hig ...
is one of the most respected high school service organizations anywhere. It was ranked "Best in the World" six times during the 1990s and continues to win countless awards.
* The Spring Valley Debate
Debate is a process that involves formal discourse on a particular topic, often including a moderator and audience. In a debate, arguments are put forward for often opposing viewpoints. Debates have historically occurred in public meetings, a ...
Team is consistently ranked among the top 5 in The Rockland County Championships.
* Spring Valley's co-educational athletic program consists of 22 separate teams.
* The Microbiotics program received newspaper and television coverage.
* Intel Science Talent Research Semi-Finalist and Ron Brown
Ronald Harmon Brown (August 1, 1941 – April 3, 1996) was an American politician. He served as the United States Secretary of Commerce during the first term of President of the United States, President Bill Clinton. Prior to this he was chairm ...
Finalist.
* Spring Valley ranked in the top 10 Science Olympiad
Science Olympiad is an American team competition in which students compete in 23 events pertaining to various fields of science, including earth science, biology, chemistry, physics, and engineering. Over 7,800 middle school and high school team ...
for the region.
Notable alumni
*Marty Appel
Martin E. Appel (born August 7, 1948), is an American public relations and sports management executive, television executive producer, and author.
Appel's career has included sports public relations (including as Public Relations Director for t ...
: Class of 1966; public relations and sports management executive, television executive producer, and author of 20 books.
*Joel Berg: Class of 1982, anti-hunger activist and author.
* Phil Bogle: former American football
American football (referred to simply as football in the United States and Canada), also known as gridiron, is a team sport played by two teams of eleven players on a rectangular field with goalposts at each end. The offense, the team with ...
guard
Guard or guards may refer to:
Professional occupations
* Bodyguard, who protects an individual from personal assault
* Crossing guard, who stops traffic so pedestrians can cross the street
* Lifeguard, who rescues people from drowning
* Prison ...
in the National Football League
The National Football League (NFL) is a professional American football league that consists of 32 teams, divided equally between the American Football Conference (AFC) and the National Football Conference (NFC). The NFL is one of the ...
for the San Diego Chargers
The San Diego Chargers were a professional American football team that played in San Diego from 1961 until the end of the 2016 season, before relocating to Los Angeles, where the franchise had played its inaugural 1960 season. The team is now ...
.
* Jonathan Eig
Jonathan Eig (born April 26, 1964) is an American journalist and biographer and the author of five books. His most recent book, ''Ali: A Life'', is a biography of Muhammad Ali.
Biography
Eig was born in Brooklyn, New York and grew up in Monsey, N ...
: Class of 1982, writer of five non-fiction books, as well articles for ''The Wall Street Journal
''The Wall Street Journal'' is an American business-focused, international daily newspaper based in New York City, with international editions also available in Chinese and Japanese. The ''Journal'', along with its Asian editions, is published ...
'', ''The New York Times
''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid ...
'', ''Esquire
Esquire (, ; abbreviated Esq.) is usually a courtesy title.
In the United Kingdom, ''esquire'' historically was a title of respect accorded to men of higher social rank, particularly members of the landed gentry above the rank of gentlema ...
'', and ''Chicago Magazine''.
* David Fried: former Rockland County
Rockland County is the southernmost county on the west side of the Hudson River in the U.S. state of New York. It is part of the New York metropolitan area. It is about from the Bronx at their closest points. The county's population, as of th ...
legislator
A legislator (also known as a deputy or lawmaker) is a person who writes and passes laws, especially someone who is a member of a legislature. Legislators are often elected by the people of the state. Legislatures may be supra-national (for ex ...
.
* Roger Graham: former American football running back. Winner of the 1993 Harlon Hill Trophy
The Harlon Hill Trophy is an award in American college football given to the individual selected as the most valuable player in NCAA Division II. The award is named for former University of North Alabama and National Football League player Harlo ...
.
* Lucy Grealy
Lucinda Margaret Grealy (June 3, 1963 – December 18, 2002) was an Irish-American poet and memoirist who wrote '' Autobiography of a Face'' in 1994. This critically acclaimed book describes her childhood and early adolescent experience with cance ...
: (1963–2002, Dublin, Ireland), poet and memoirist. Author of ''Autobiography of a Face
''Autobiography of a Face'' is a memoir by Lucy Grealy in which she narrates her life before and after being diagnosed with Ewing's sarcoma. The memoir describes her life from the age of nine to adulthood. In this memoir, she narrates the conseq ...
'', first published in 1994 and released again in 2003.
* John Harvey John Harvey may refer to:
People Academics
* John Harvey (astrologer) (1564–1592), English astrologer and physician
* John Harvey (architectural historian) (1911–1997), British architectural historian, who wrote on English Gothic architecture ...
: former American football running back
A running back (RB) is a member of the offensive backfield in gridiron football. The primary roles of a running back are to receive American football plays#Offensive terminology, handoffs from the quarterback to Rush (American football)#Offen ...
in the National Football League for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a professional American football team based in Tampa, Florida. The Buccaneers compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's National Football Conference (NFC) NFC South, South divisio ...
.
*Mondaire Jones
Mondaire L. Jones (born May 18, 1987) is an American lawyer and politician who was the U.S. representative for from 2021 to 2023. The district includes most of central and northwestern Westchester County and all of Rockland County. A member of t ...
: Class of 2005, Member of the United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives, often referred to as the House of Representatives, the U.S. House, or simply the House, is the Lower house, lower chamber of the United States Congress, with the United States Senate, Senate being ...
from New York's 17th district.
* Seth Joyner
Seth,; el, Σήθ ''Sḗth''; ; "placed", "appointed") in Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Mandaeism, and Sethianism, was the third son of Adam and Eve and brother of Cain and Abel, their only other child mentioned by name in the Hebrew Bible. ...
: former American football linebacker
Linebacker (LB) is a playing position in gridiron football. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage and the defensive linemen. They are the "middle ground" of defenders, p ...
in the National Football League for the Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia. The Eagles compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's National Football Conference (NFC) East division. The team plays ...
, Arizona Cardinals
The Arizona Cardinals are a professional American football team based in the Phoenix metropolitan area. The Cardinals compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) West division, and play t ...
, Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers are a professional American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The Packers compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC North, North division. It ...
and Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos are a professional American football franchise based in Denver. The Broncos compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's American Football Conference (AFC) West division. The team is headquart ...
.
* Clayton Landey
Clayton Landey is an American actor who has appeared in films and television shows. He played James Westmont in the TV series ''Knots Landing'' from 1982-1983. He has been a professional performer, mime, actor, director, producer, writer and tea ...
: Class of 1968 is in his 40th year as a professional performer, actor, director, producer, writer and teacher. Best known for his role in ''Knots Landing
''Knots Landing'' is an American prime time television soap opera that aired on CBS from December 27, 1979, to May 13, 1993. A spin-off of ''Dallas'', it was set in a fictitious coastal suburb of Los Angeles and initially centered on the lives of ...
''.
* Eugene Levy (politician)
* Bishop Nehru
Markel Ni'Jee Scott (born August 26, 1996), better known by his stage name Bishop Nehru, is an American rapper and record producer from Nanuet, New York. He also directs and edits music videos.
Career
2009–13: Early career
At age 13, Nehru ...
: American rapper signed to Mass Appeal
* Gerald S. O'Loughlin
Gerald Stuart O'Loughlin Jr. (December 23, 1921 – July 31, 2015) was an American television, stage, and film actor and director who was primarily known for playing tough-talking and rough-looking characters. He is best known for Ed Ryker on ''T ...
: Gerald Stuart O'Loughlin Jr. (b. 1921), television, stage, and film actor and director who was primarily known for playing tough-talking and rough-looking characters.Gerald S. O'Loughlin
Gerald Stuart O'Loughlin Jr. (December 23, 1921 – July 31, 2015) was an American television, stage, and film actor and director who was primarily known for playing tough-talking and rough-looking characters. He is best known for Ed Ryker on ''T ...
* R-Kal Truluck
R-Kal K-Quan Truluck ( ; September 30, 1974 – November 29, 2019) was an American professional football player. Truluck died on November 29, 2019, due to complications from ALS and cancer.
Early life
Truluck attended Spring Valley High School, ...
: former American football defensive end
Defensive end (DE) is a defensive position in the sport of gridiron football.
This position has designated the players at each end of the defensive line, but changes in formation (American football), formations over the years have substantially ...
in the National Football League for the Kansas City Chiefs
The Kansas City Chiefs are a professional American football team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Chiefs compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's American Football Conference (AFC) West division.
The tea ...
, Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers are a professional American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The Packers compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC North, North division. It ...
and Arizona Cardinals
The Arizona Cardinals are a professional American football team based in the Phoenix metropolitan area. The Cardinals compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) West division, and play t ...
.
References
External links
Spring Valley High School
{{authority control
Schools in Rockland County, New York
Public high schools in New York (state)