Burnsville High School

Burnsville High School (BHS) is a four-year public high school in Burnsville, Minnesota, United States. Burnsville is a southern suburb about 15 miles south of Minneapolis. The school is part of Burnsville-Eagan-Savage School District 191, which covers most of Burnsville, as well as parts of the surrounding cities Savage and Eagan, and small parts of Shakopee and Apple Valley. Most of the incoming freshmen come from Eagle Ridge and Nicollet Middle Schools. The school mascot is Sparky, a humanoid with a fireball for a head. Burnsville High School athletics are a part of the South Suburban Conference.

History

Burnsville High School originally opened in 1956 as a K- 12 school with an enrollment of about 400 students. In 1966, upon completion of the newly constructed school, students in grades seven through nine started attending Metcalf Junior High, later renamed Metcalf Middle School, which has since closed. Today, students attending Burnsville's newer Eagle Ridge and Nicollet Middle Schools go on to Burnsville Senior High School for grades 9-12.

On April 25, 1994, the largest high school arson in the United States occurred, which resulted in over $15 million in damages. The same arsonist also started fires at Edina High School and Minnetonka High School. During the restoration, high school students studied at nearby Nicollet Junior High and Sky Oaks Elementary Schools. Around the time of the fire, the school's mascot was changed from the Braves to the Blaze to avoid stigmatizing and stereotyping Native Americans. Prior to the Braves, the first mascot of Burnsville High School was the Bulldogs.

In 1997, District 191 bought the Diamondhead Mall and converted the top level into the Senior Campus to handle increasing enrollment. A year later, it was opened for use. At the end of the 2015–16 school year, the Burnsville High School Senior Campus closed permanently, and is now used for school district offices.

The original portion of Burnsville High School was constructed in 1959, with additions in 1962, 1971, 1976, 1977, 1980, 1993, 1998, and 2016, that bring the school's area to over 440,000 square feet.

A three-year, $13 million renovation began in 2011. Renovations included upgrades to the building's science labs, heating system, bathrooms and classrooms, and made the school more accessible to people with disabilities. Lockers were replaced, the cafeteria was enlarged and reconfigured, and a larger, more open commons was created.

On February 24, 2015, voters from around the school district voted to approve a funding levy to transform Burnsville High School into a 9-12 school, close the Senior Campus, and convert junior highs into 6-8 middle schools, and elementary schools into K-5 schools. As a result of the increased number of students, Burnsville High School required an expansion, including classrooms, new fabrication and auto labs, a new gymnasium, and further renovations.

The school participates in the University of Minnesota's College in the Schools program.

Demographics

As of the 2017–18 school year, 2,534 students attended Burnsville High School. White students made up 50% of the student population, while African American students made up the largest minority, representing 20% of the student population. Asian and Hispanic students made up 9% and 16% of the student population, respectively. American Indian students made up less than 1% of the student population. 52% of the student body was male and 48% female. Students eligible for free or reduced price lunch made up 41% of the student body. As of 2011, Students with limited English proficiency made up 5% of the student body. Students with special education needs made up 9% of the student body.

Athletics

Burnsville High School is affiliated with the Minnesota State High School League (MSHSL) and was a member of the Lake Conference until 2010-11, when it left to join the South Suburban Conference.

Notable alumni

* Cameron Beckman (class of 1988), professional golfer - played golf at Texas Lutheran University, has won three PGA Tour events, and played in three major championships
* Brock Boeser (class of 2015) - professional hockey player. Attended college, and played for the University of North Dakota, now plays for the Vancouver Canucks
* Todd Boonstra (class of 1980), two-time Olympian (cross country skiing), 1988 and 1994
*Janell Cannon (class of 1975), author and illustrator, most notably of '' Stellaluna''
* Sam Carlson (class of 2017), second round pick in the 2017 MLB Draft by the Seattle Mariners
* Nate DiCasmirro (class of 1997), professional hockey player
* TeTori Dixon (class of 2010), volleyball player for Team USA
* David L. Knutson (class of 1978), Minnesota State Senator of District 37, 2003–2004
* Holly Manthei (class of 1994), member of the 1995 US Women's World Cup Team
* Kamal Martin (class of 2016), professional football player. Attended college, and played for the University of Minnesota, currently plays for the Carolina Panthers
* Pam (Matychuk) Myhra (class of 1975), two term Minnesota State Representative for portions of Burnsville and Savage for House District 40A, 2011-12, and House District 56A, 2013-14
* Todd Okerlund (class of 1983), member of the 1988 US Olympic Hockey Team
*Kirsten Olson (class of 2010), figure skater and actor in ''Ice Princess''
*Mark Osiecki (class of 1987), former NHL player 1990–1993; the head men's hockey coach at Ohio State University
*Melissa Peterman (class of 1989), played "Barbra Jean" on the show '' Reba''
* Chase Roullier (class of 2012), NFL center for the Washington Football Team
* James Ruffin (class of 2005), former pro football player with the Spokane Shock
* Randy Scheunemann (class of 1978), lobbyist and foreign policy advisor to John McCain
* Tyler Sheehy (class of 2013), professional hockey player
* C. J. Smith (class of 2011), former NFL cornerback for the Cleveland Browns.
* Jason Suttle (class of 1993), former NFL football player for the Denver Broncos
*Cedric Yarbrough (class of 1991), actor, most notably of TV shows ''Reno 911!'' , Speechless, and '' The Boondocks''

References

External links

Burnsville High SchoolBHS all class alumni website

{{DEFAULTSORT:Burnsville High School
Public high schools in Minnesota
Educational institutions established in 1957
Schools in Dakota County, Minnesota
Burnsville, Minnesota
School buildings in the United States destroyed by arson
1957 establishments in Minnesota