Fairport High School

Fairport High School
Address
Map
1 Dave Paddock Way

Fairport
,
New York
14450

United States
Coordinates43°04′47″N 77°24′54″W / 43.0798°N 77.4150°W / 43.0798; -77.4150
Information
TypePublic
Established1874; 150 years ago (1874)
School districtFairport Central School District
NCES School ID361089000860[1]
PrincipalRobert Clark
Teaching staff112.10 (on an FTE basis)[1]
Grades10-12
GenderCo-ed
Enrollment1,299 (2021-2022)[1]
Student to teacher ratio11.59[1]
CampusSuburban
HousesBlue, Red, White
Color(s)Red, White and Royal Blue
     
Fight songOn Old Fairport
Athletics conferenceSection V (NYSPHSAA)
Monroe County Public School Athletic Conference
Sports37 varsity sports[3]
MascotRed Raiders
RivalRush-Henrietta Senior High School
Pittsford Mendon High School
Pittsford Sutherland High School
McQuaid Jesuit High School
East Rochester Junior-Senior High School
AccreditationNew York State Education Department
USNWR rankingDecrease 1,167 (2018 national)
Decrease 113 (2018 state)[2]
NewspaperThe Lampion
YearbookThe Hourglass
Feeder schoolsMinerva DeLand High School
Websitewww.fairport.org/our-schools/fairport-high-school/

Fairport High School (FHS) is a public high school serving the tenth through twelfth grades in the Village of Fairport and most of the Town of Perinton, New York. It is part of the Fairport Central School District. The Principal, as of the end of the 2014–2015 school year, is Robert Clark following his time as an Assistant Principal.

Current enrollment estimates place the student population around 1,700. The Class of 2009 was the largest class to pass through FHS in approximately 15 years, totaling just over 600 students. FHS takes part in numerous international exchange programs, including trips to Ireland, France, Spain, Germany and Italy.

In 2009, Fairport became the first high school in New York State to offer a course in Game Design and Development. On a similar note, after district residents approved a technology funding measure, the Fairport Central School District made plans for a complete technological overhaul of FHS which began during the summer of 2010.

History

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Prior to the introduction of high school classes to Fairport, families with the means could send their teenage children to academies or seminaries in nearby towns.[footnote 1]

In 1874, the State Board of Regents accredited the former Fairport Classical and Union Free School on West Church Street in the Village of Fairport as a high school.[footnote 2][4][5] Originally it offered a three-year high school course, but this was expanded to four in 1895.[6] In September 1924, after the village population increased half again in size over the preceding decade and a state law was passed raising the age of compulsory education to 18, the first dedicated high school opened on West Avenue in the village.[6][7][8] In September 1959, the Minerva DeLand School on Hulburt Road became the district's high school.[9] July 10, 1968 marked the groundbreaking of the current Fairport High School on Ayrault Road, which opened to students on December 7, 1970.

FHS FACT 12

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In 1996 FHS was given permission to broadcast educational programs on FACT 12, programs included the FHS Morning Show, Homecoming events, Concerts, Award Ceremonies, and Sporting Events.[10]

Campus/school site

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Pre-1970 campus

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The original Fairport High School, in the Village of Fairport, has been converted to condominiums.

From 1924 to 1959, the Fairport High School campus was located at 71 West Avenue, only two blocks from Main Street in the village. The building was originally 166 feet front by 135 feet deep[11] and included an auditorium with a 32 by 20 foot stage, a 40 by 70 foot gymnasium, a laboratory for chemistry and physics, and a laboratory for biology.[12] Classes for the seventh and eighth grades were conducted on the first floor alongside offices for the superintendent and principal. Classes for the higher grades were held on the second floor. The basement contained the school cafeteria and kitchens as well as rooms for manual training, home economics, and business classes.

From 1965 until the early 1980s, the old campus served as the West Avenue School, with grades 4–6. As the school district's needs changed, the old campus was sold in 1984 and developed into condominiums.[13][14] Likewise, after the high school moved out of the Classical and Union Free School building in 1924, that building served as the South Side Elementary School until its demolition in 1955.[15] As of 2016, the Minerva DeLand School continues to serve ninth grade high school students.

Post-1970 campus

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Fairport High School library includes a large selection of books and computers for research

As the population of the town increased the town saw the need to build a much larger high school. The campus was relocated to 1358 Ayrault Road to accommodates a much larger campus. In 1968 land was broken for the new Fairport High School Campus.

Fields

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The new campus was much larger than its predecessor which included a much larger surface area for athletic events to be held on. The athletic fields include:

  • Track and field Approved in 2000[16]
  • Football Turf Field with 1,000 Seat Bleacher named after former coach Joe Cummings
  • 5 Tennis courts
  • Discus/hammer Throw field
  • 2 Softball fields
  • 2 Baseball fields
  • 4 General purpose fields

In addition, there is a concession stand as well as an admissions booth used for FHS Sporting Events. In 2019, the residents within Fairport approved an expansion onto these fields. Construction is set to begin in 2020.

Indoor facilities

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  • Athletics
    • Competition swimming/diving pool[17]
    • 1 Gym divided Into 4 sections
  • General
    • 3 cafeterias
    • 1 Small auditorium
    • 1 Large auditorium
    • Autoshop
    • Woodshop
    • 3 art/crafts rooms
    • 3 music rooms
    • 4 Computer labs
    • Library
    • Staff offices

Construction projects/other

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In the 1990s an East and West Wing was added to the school which held additional class space. In 2006 there were plans for a 50,000-square-foot (4,600 m2) field house and the installation of lights on the football field.[18] The fall 2011 sports season is the first time the new field lights are in use. In 2007 a multi-use turf field was approved. The Fairport Forward Capital Improvement Project commenced in 2020 and oversees the improvement of athletic fields as well as reconstruction of science labs and main cafeteria.[19]

Academics

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The high school is divided into three houses (Red, White, Blue) each with its own assistant principal. Several course areas are offered to students:[20]

  • Art, business, English, family and consumer science, foreign languages (Spanish, French, German), health, mathematics, music, physical education, science, social studies, and technology

There are services to students with disabilities, and a curriculum leading to the International Baccalaureate – Fairport HS was the first High School in Monroe County to offer this program.[21]

However, the IB programs were cut at FHS after the 2011–12 school year due to budget constraints.

Music

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Day Jazz, Afternoon Jazz, Sophomore Band, Symphonic Band, Concert Band, Full Orchestra, Chamber Orchestra, Polyphonic Women's Choir, Polyphonic Mixed Choir, and Sophomore Choir are all credit-bearing ensembles. The groups usually obtain gold or gold with distinction ratings at NYSSMA festivals. Students from the three bands are also members of the Pep Band, which plays at home games, at pep rallies, and in parades. A Pit Orchestra is also selected from the top students every year to perform during the spring musical.

The Prisms Concert, which takes place every spring, is a concert featuring many of these groups, as well as students performing solos or small group pieces. This concert is unique because the groups play in different areas of the auditorium. A spotlight focuses on the group or student performing as they play one three-minute piece. When they finish, the spotlight moves to another performer.

Higher level courses

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  • Advanced Placement courses are offered at Fairport High School to allow students planning to attend college to get a head start on courses. Advanced Placement courses that are offered include Language & Composition, English Humanities, Spanish, Statistics, AB Calculus, BC Calculus, Computer Science, Biology, Chemistry, Physics B, Physics C, Music Theory, U.S. History, American History: Humanities, European History and World History.
  • The Project Advance program offers courses that allow students to earn transferable college credit early through a special program at Syracuse University. Courses include Information Technology, Economics, Policy Analysis, Psychology, Forensic Science, and Sociology.
  • Cisco Networking courses at Fairport High School reward passing students with entry-level Cisco Career Certifications for networking.

Extracurricular activities

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Athletics

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FHS Homecoming Football Game

The Fairport High School athletic nickname is the Red Raiders. The school's colors are red, white and blue. FHS has a strong athletic tradition in many of its varsity sports such as baseball, basketball, cheerleading, football, field hockey, ice hockey, lacrosse, tennis, volleyball, soccer, softball, swimming, gymnastics, and cross country. Fairport offers 35 varsity sports as well as offerings at the junior varsity and modified levels.

In 2006 and 2007, Fairport won the Class AAA basketball championship in Section 5. In both years the team played against its archrival Rush Henrietta. In 2017, the Red Raiders won the Class AA championship and advanced to the NYSPHSAA Championship, losing to Mount Vernon. The cheerleading squad has won three national titles as well as numerous other sectional and regional titles. The baseball team won three consecutive Section 5 Class AAA titles in 2005, 2006 and 2007.[22] As well as being ranked No. 1 in the state 16 times since 1982,[23] the men's swimming program at Fairport High School has won 20 Section V Class A titles, including 17 in a row from 1981 to 1997.[24]

Along with winning the Class A Section 5 championship 10 times, the cross country team also had a state champion, Pat Dupont, in 2007.[25]

Student organizations/clubs

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FHS FIRST Robotics team

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FHS FRC 578

Fairport High School's FIRST Robotics team has been a participant in the FIRST Robotics Competition program since they were founded. When the team was founded in 1997 they were sponsored by Eastman Kodak and was known as Team 36 Kod-Red and, was the first suburban FIRST team in the Rochester, NY region. In 1999 Kodak discontinued its sponsorship and the Gleason Works became the sponsor for the team known as Team 578 Blue Lightning. The team is no longer sponsored by the Gleason Works, but Xerox Corporation has agreed to become the team's new major sponsor. They are supported mainly by the Fairport High School. During the 2010–2011 school year, the team changed its name to Red Raider Robotics (R^3) so it would be more closely linked with the school. In 2000 they became the FIRST Philadelphia Regional Winners and the year after they became the FIRST Nasa VCU Regional Winners. In 2004 the team became the FRC Pittsburgh Finalist.[26] In 2007 They won the Woodie Flowers award at the Finger Lakes Regional.[27] In 2011 they won the Engineering Inspiration Award at the Finger Lakes Regional. A few years later in 2016 in the FRC game STRONGHOLD at the New York City Regional they placed as a Regional Finalist as well as won the Team Spirit Award.[27]

Notable alumni/faculty

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Philip Seymour Hoffman

Principals

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Former FHS Principal David Paddock (left) shakes hands with Former New York Governor Spitzer
Principals
Name Tenure
John R. Gordon August 1873[29] – 1883
Augustus S. Downing July 1883[30] – 1886
Floyd J. Bartlett September 1886 – 1891
William D. Manro 1891 – 1893
Elmer G. Frail[31] July 1893 – 1896
Arthur C. Simmons December 1896[32] – June 1901
Thomas C. Wilbur[33] August 1901 – June 1903[34]
Arthur Cain Nute[35] July 1903 – June 1906
Ira M. Gast July 1906[36] – April 1908[37]
Albert H. Watkins[38] April 1908 – 1908
Frederick A. Woodward[39] September 1908 – June 1912
George A. Burton[40] July 1912 – 1915
John Lee Hopkins[41] January 1916 – September 1917
Albert T. Bouck[42] October 1917 – 1920
H. Claude Hardy[43] August 1920 – December 1920[44]
Minerva L. DeLand January 1921 – June 1935
Andrew C. Lynch July 1935 – 1948
Nelson R. Burton 1948 – August 1954
Leon Warner[45] August 1954 – January 1955 (interim)
Charles E. Witty January 1955 – August 1970
Lyman C. Cook[46] September 1970 – 1991[47]
Robert L. Reiter[48] 1991 – 1995
David M. Paddock[49] 1995[50] – 2008
Pamula F. Ciranni[51] 2008 – 2009 (interim)
Christopher Salinas[51] July 2009 – May 2012
Gerald E. Bucklin[52] May 2012 – August 2012 (interim)
Joseph D. Fantigrossi[53] September 2012 – October 2014
Robert Clark[54] October 2014 – December 2014 (interim)
December 2014 – present

Major school events

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Brotherhood/sisterhood week

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Every spring, Fairport students celebrate Brotherhood/Sisterhood Week. The week is focused around Civility, Awareness, Respect, and Embrace (CARE). The event is most prominent at FHS, where a different activity takes place each day of the week. Monday is Family Talk Day, during which a student and an adult are selected to speak to the students. Tuesday consists of a presentation during which student voices writings are read. The writings anonymously tell students' feelings about CARE. On Wednesday, a community member is asked to speak. On Wednesday of the 2007 celebration, Rachel's Challenge visited the school. The program encouraged students to improve the atmosphere of their school. The program impacted the students in a large way, partly because they had lost a beloved member of the student body the night before. Wednesday is also the annual Junior-4th Grade walk. The district's 4th and 11th graders walk the village streets together to build relationships with each other. Thursday's program is known as Unplugged, and is a non-stop musical performance available to students with free periods or lunch. Friday concludes the eventful week with Outreach Day. On this day, the entire school is bused to the three elementary schools. Students meet with their new little brothers and sisters for an hour. They play games and teach them about CARE. A song written about this week by former students Sean Lyness, John Cieply, Pat Dupont, and David Lachance is played yearly.

Graduation

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Fairport High School Students Sing the Graduation Song at the 2007 Fairport HS Graduation

Fairport High School holds its high school graduation at the Blue Cross Arena in downtown Rochester, NY.

See also

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Footnotes

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  1. ^ For example, The History of Macedon Academy lists dozens of alumni from Fairport and Perinton.
  2. ^ As a union school, it continued to educate students in grades 1–8 after the high school course was introduced.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d "Search for Public Schools - FAIRPORT SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL (361089000860)". National Center for Education Statistics. Institute of Education Sciences. Retrieved July 17, 2023.
  2. ^ "U.S. News High School Rankings". U.S. News & World Report. Washington, D.C. 2018. Retrieved July 22, 2018.
  3. ^ "Sports Offerings & Signup Process - Fairport Central School District". Fairport Central School District. Retrieved July 22, 2018.
  4. ^ "Village Schools". Fairport Herald-Mail. Perinton Pastimes. Fairport, New York. September 16, 1987. p. 4. LCCN 88074714. OCLC 7856342.
  5. ^ "History of the Fairport Library". www.fairportlibrary.org. Fairport, New York: Fairport Public Library. Retrieved October 16, 2016. In 1874, this was chartered by the N.Y. Regents as Fairport's first high school.
  6. ^ a b Keplinger (July 29, 2009). "FAIRPORT UNION FREE SCHOOL" (PDF). www.perinton.org. Perinton, New York: Town of Perinton Historian. p. 1. Retrieved September 24, 2016.
  7. ^ "Fairport's Board of Education Votes to Construct a New High School Building". Monroe County Mail. Fairport, New York. December 14, 1922. p. 1. LCCN 88074547. OCLC 15722849. Retrieved October 16, 2016.
  8. ^ "Fairport's Public School System and Buildings". Monroe County Mail. Fairport, New York. September 4, 1924. p. 1. LCCN 88074547. OCLC 15722849. Retrieved October 16, 2016.
  9. ^ "Education keeps pace with the changing times". Fairport Perinton Post. Fairport, New York. February 8, 1996.
  10. ^ "Village History". Archived from the original on September 25, 2006. Retrieved June 1, 2008.
  11. ^ "School". Fairport Herald. Fairport, New York. March 14, 1923. p. 1. LCCN 85026408. OCLC 12210253. Retrieved October 16, 2016.
  12. ^ Perinton Historical Society (2004). Perinton and Fairport in the 20th Century. Portsmouth, New Hampshire: Arcadia Publishing. p. 75. ISBN 9780738512020. OCLC 54802551.
  13. ^ Keplinger (October 22, 2008). "EDUCATING THE CHILDREN of PERINTON & FAIRPORT – AN OVERVIEW" (PDF). www.perinton.org. Perinton, New York: Town of Perinton Historian. p. 1. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 28, 2010. Retrieved October 16, 2016.
  14. ^ West Ave Fairport High School
  15. ^ Perinton Historical Society (2004). Perinton and Fairport in the 20th Century. Portsmouth, New Hampshire: Arcadia Publishing. p. 73. ISBN 9780738512020. OCLC 54802551.
  16. ^ McDermott, Meaghan (September 4, 2000). "Fairport students will see changes". Rochester Democrat and Chronicle (NY). pp. 3B.
  17. ^ FHS Pool Directions Archived October 7, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  18. ^ Diaz, Fernando (February 9, 2006). "Fairport at a crossroads". Rochester Democrat and Chronicle (NY). pp. 1B, 4B.
  19. ^ Steenburgh, Megan (June 14, 2007). "What's new in fairport and perinton". Rochester Democrat and Chronicle (NY). pp. 1B, 4B.
  20. ^ FHS Academics
  21. ^ FHS IB Department
  22. ^ "Fairport baseball coach Granger dies at age 54". Democrat and Chronicle. November 29, 2007. Retrieved November 29, 2007.
  23. ^ [1] Archived February 12, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
  24. ^ [2] Archived March 25, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
  25. ^ "Tradition | Fairport Cross Country". Archived from the original on September 4, 2013. Retrieved March 20, 2013.
  26. ^ Fairport FIRST Robotics Team Website
  27. ^ a b [3]
  28. ^ "Fairport teen becoming YouTube sensation". Archived from the original on May 17, 2008. Retrieved June 1, 2008.
  29. ^ "School". Fairport Herald. Fairport, New York. August 22, 1873. p. 4. LCCN 85026408. OCLC 12210253. Retrieved October 1, 2016.
  30. ^ "Fairport School Matters". Fairport Herald. Fairport, New York. July 13, 1883. p. 3. LCCN 85026408. OCLC 12210253. Retrieved October 1, 2016.
  31. ^ "Local Paragraphs". Monroe County Mail. Fairport, New York. July 6, 1893. p. 3. LCCN 88074547. OCLC 15722849. Retrieved October 1, 2016.
  32. ^ "A Principal Engaged". Monroe County Mail. Fairport, New York. November 26, 1896. p. 5. LCCN 88074547. OCLC 15722849. Retrieved October 1, 2016.
  33. ^ "Additional Local". Monroe County Mail. Fairport, New York. August 15, 1901. p. 3. LCCN 88074547. OCLC 15722849. Retrieved October 1, 2016.
  34. ^ "Prof. Wilbur Resigns". Monroe County Mail. Fairport, New York. April 9, 1903. p. 7. LCCN 88074547. OCLC 15722849. Retrieved October 1, 2016.
  35. ^ "The New Principal". Monroe County Mail. Fairport, New York. April 16, 1903. p. 6. LCCN 88074547. OCLC 15722849. Retrieved October 1, 2016.
  36. ^ "IRA M. GAST". Monroe County Mail. Fairport, New York. May 10, 1906. p. 5. LCCN 88074547. OCLC 15722849. Retrieved October 1, 2016.
  37. ^ "Prof Gast Resigns to Accept Better Position". Monroe County Mail. Fairport, New York. April 16, 1908. p. 11. LCCN 88074547. OCLC 15722849. Retrieved October 1, 2016.
  38. ^ New York State Teachers Association (May 1908). "County Items". The ScHool Bulletin and New York State Educational Journal. XXXIV (405). Syracuse, New York: 163. OCLC 7051820. Retrieved October 1, 2016.
  39. ^ "Home and Vicinity". Monroe County Mail. Fairport, New York. August 27, 1908. p. 6. LCCN 88074547. OCLC 15722849. Retrieved October 1, 2016.
  40. ^ "UTICA MAN PRINCIPAL G. A. Burton Chosen Head of Fairport Schools". Fairport Herald. Fairport, New York. April 10, 1912. p. 1. LCCN 85026408. OCLC 12210253. Retrieved October 1, 2016.
  41. ^ "NEW PRINCIPAL J.L. Hopkins of Nunda Chosen to Head Fairport Schools". Fairport Herald. Fairport, New York. December 15, 1915. p. 2. LCCN 85026408. OCLC 12210253. Retrieved October 1, 2016.
  42. ^ "NEW PRINCIPAL Albert T. Bouck of Glen Cove Comes to Fairport Schools". Fairport Herald. Fairport, New York. September 26, 1917. p. 4. LCCN 85026408. OCLC 12210253. Retrieved October 1, 2016.
  43. ^ "PROF. H. CLAUDE HARDY OF SIDNEY HIGH SCHOOL SECURED FOR FAIRPORT". Monroe County Mail. Fairport, New York. March 11, 1920. p. 3. LCCN 88074547. OCLC 15722849. Retrieved October 1, 2016.
  44. ^ "Educational News". Journal of Education. XCII (22). Boston: 618. December 16, 1920. Retrieved September 26, 2016.
  45. ^ "Principal Named at Fairport". Democrat and Chronicle. Rochester, New York. January 21, 1955. p. 22. ISSN 1088-5153. Retrieved September 24, 2016.
  46. ^ "Cook Named High School Principal" (PDF). Herald-Mail. Fairport, New York. September 24, 1969. p. 1. Retrieved September 24, 2016.
  47. ^ "Fairport High principal and Class of 2008 will move on together". Daily Messenger. Canandaigua, New York. June 15, 2008. Archived from the original on September 11, 2012. Retrieved February 14, 2009.
  48. ^ "Retired principal keeps tabs on 'his kids'". Democrat and Chronicle. Rochester, New York. July 29, 1998. p. 6B. ISSN 1088-5153.
  49. ^ "Farewell to Fairport Principal Dave Paddock". Daily Messenger. Canandaigua, New York. May 28, 2008. Retrieved September 24, 2016.
  50. ^ "Paddock named FHS principal". Perinton-Fairport Post. Fairport, New York. September 6, 1995. pp. 1–2.
  51. ^ a b "New principal named at Fairport High School". Daily Messenger. Canandaigua, New York. May 21, 2009. Retrieved September 24, 2016.
  52. ^ "Fairport principal Chris Salinas resigns". Webster Post. Webster, New York. May 21, 2012. p. 2. Retrieved September 24, 2016.
  53. ^ "Fairport H.S. principal resigns". Democrat and Chronicle. Rochester, New York. November 4, 2014. p. 1B. ISSN 1088-5153. Retrieved September 24, 2016.
  54. ^ "Fairport makes Robert Clark's high school job permanent". Democrat and Chronicle. Rochester, New York. December 18, 2014. p. 1B. ISSN 1088-5153. Retrieved September 24, 2016.
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