Advanced Placement courses are available for enrollment in the subjects of Calculus (AB), Chemistry, Physics 1, Physics 2, Biology, English Language and Composition, English Literature and Composition, United States Government and Politics, French Language and Culture, Spanish Language and Culture, Music Theory and Statistics.
Dual enrollment courses are available in the following subjects: English Literature, American Politics, Physics 1, and Calculus 1.
History
Southmoreland High School was formed in the fall of 1964 with the merger of Scottdale Joint High School, located in Scottdale and East Huntingdon High School, located in Alverton.[2] With the merger, Southmoreland encompassed 51 total miles with approximately 15,000 residents in the district.
The original Southmoreland building was on the site of the former East Huntingdon High School, where classes took place until the mid-1970's. In 1975, the newly constructed Southmoreland High School opened directly across from the former school, which became Southmoreland Junior High School.[3] The original school building was demolished in 2010.[4]
The school grew to prominence with its football team in the 1970's. Southmoreland linebacker Russ Grimm went on to play professional football for the Washington Redskins where he would become a three time Super Bowl champion and be inducted into the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame in 2023.[5]
In August 2013, Southmoreland's football field, Russ Grimm field, was destroyed in a flash flood.[6] The base beneath the turf was eroded by the water, creating divots in the ground below the field which lifted the AstroTurf, causing the field to warp.[7] In addition to this, a new stream subsequentially formed on the field itself. Southmoreland played the remainder of the 2013 season at nearby California University of Pennsylvania's Adamson Stadium. A new field was unveiled ahead of the 2014 season.[8]
Southmoreland's theater program ceased operation with advent of the new school building in 1975. This was until 2018 when the program was reintroduced with the musical Cinderella.[9]
The school's marching band has participated in the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Marching Band Association (PIMBA) since 1996 where they compete in class single A. They have been PIMBA champions five times in 2001,[10] 2017, 2021, 2022 and 2023.
2010 fetus incident
On May 19, 2010, a janitor at Southmoreland had been doing routine cleaning of the school's stairwells when they discovered the presence of blood what was believed to be a human fetus.[11] It was originally believed by state police to be aged between 7 and 9 weeks and was likely the result of a miscarriage.[12] The fetus was examined by forensic pathologist Cyril Wecht, who determined that the fetus was actually a type of unspecified "vegetable matter".[13]
2021 mask protest incident
In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, Southmoreland began to utilize zoom meetings[14] in an effort to social distance. When in person meetings resumed in 2021, the school board voted 8-1 on the requirement for all board members to wear protective face coverings with the only dissenting vote being attributed to former school psychologist Dr. Catherine Fike.
During the April 15, 2021 school board meeting, Fike thrusted Southmoreland into the national spotlight when she wore a paper bag over her head in protest of the district's mask policies.[15] During the meeting, Fike equated wearing masks to "depriving us of our individual rights and freedoms."[16]