William A. Shine Great Neck South High School facts for kids
Quick facts for kids William A. Shine Great Neck South High School |
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| Address | |
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341 Lakeville Road
, 11020
United States
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| Information | |
| Type | Comprehensive school |
| Founded | 1958 |
| School district | Great Neck Union Free School District |
| Principal | Christopher Gitz |
| Faculty | 114.75 FTEs |
| Enrollment | 1,222 (2021–22) |
| Student to teacher ratio | 10.65 |
| Color(s) | Orange and blue |
| Team name | Rebels |
| Newspaper | The Southerner |
| Yearbook | Vista |
| Website | School website |
William A. Shine Great Neck South High School is a public high school in Lake Success, New York. People often call it Great Neck South or South High School. It serves students from 9th to 12th grade. The school is part of the Great Neck school district.
Great Neck South is one of three high schools in its district. The other two are Great Neck North High School and Great Neck Village High School. Great Neck South helps students learn faster with special advanced classes. It also offers special education for students with disabilities. The school first opened in 1958. It was renamed in 2006 to honor Dr. William A. Shine.
In the 2021–22 school year, 1,222 students attended the school. There were about 115 teachers. This means there was about one teacher for every 10 or 11 students.
Contents
School History
In 1949, the school district bought a large piece of land. It was once owned by Henry Phipps Jr., who worked with Andrew Carnegie in the steel business. Phipps' family gave his mansion and some land to the district. This mansion is now the Phipps Administration Building. The rest of the land was bought for $279,000.
South High School was built on this land in 1957. When the land was given, it was agreed that part of it would stay natural. This promise was kept during construction. The school was designed by a New York company called LaPierre, Litchfield & Partners.
A small part of the Long Island Motor Parkway runs through the school's campus. This was the first road in the United States built only for cars.
In 1958, Great Neck Senior High School changed its name. It became Great Neck North High School. This was to tell it apart from the new Great Neck South High School. Before 1979, Great Neck South High School taught grades 10 through 12. In 1980, 9th grade was added. In 2006, the school was renamed to honor Dr. William A. Shine. He was a respected person in the Great Neck School District.
Great Neck South has more rules about leaving campus during the school day. This is different from Great Neck North. A school spokesperson explained that Great Neck South is further from shopping areas. Students would need a car to leave for lunch. Before 1980, all students could leave campus. After 1980, only 11th and 12th graders at Great Neck South could leave during the day.
Mascot and Flag Changes
Years ago, South High School used a Confederate battle flag as part of its logo. Its mascot was a gray Confederate rebel. Students used to wave these flags with great school spirit. They saw it as a fun way to show they were the "southern" high school in Great Neck.
However, a student named David Gurfein from the Class of 1983 learned about the flag's history. He saw that it was connected to painful times in American history. He realized the flag had a different meaning for many people. Because of this, he led an effort to change the mascot and flag. The school decided to replace the Confederate flag and soldier. They chose a more general American Revolutionary War rebel and the Betsy Ross flag. This change helped the school keep its spirit while using symbols that were welcoming to everyone.
Academics and Learning
Newsweek magazine ranked Great Neck South High School very high. In 2011, it was 49th out of 500 "Best High Schools in America." The school offers many challenging courses. These include Advanced Placement (AP) classes, honors classes, and accelerated programs. These classes help students earn college credit or learn at a faster pace.
Students with disabilities attend special education classes. The school also uses new technology to help students learn. For example, they tested audience response technology in a physics class. This was successful, and the school district expanded it to other schools.
Most students at South High (over 90%) get good grades, a B average or better. In 2019, 98% of students from South High School went on to college. Many students (19%) were also recognized by the National Merit Scholarship Program. This program honors high-achieving students across the country.
School Events
Cultural Heritage Night
One of the most popular events at Great Neck South is Cultural Heritage Night. Students put on a two-hour show. It includes multicultural art, theater, and dance. It's a fun way to celebrate different cultures.
Blazing Trails-4-Autism
Great Neck South has hosted the Blazing Trails-4-Autism event on its campus. This event is a run/walk to raise awareness and support for autism. In 2009, it was chosen to be part of a series of road races on Long Island.
Rebel War
Rebel War is a fun tradition at the school. Students are divided into four teams based on their graduation year. They compete in different games like speedball and tug of war. Team members wear their team colors. They also work together to design a class banner. The Rebel War was canceled in some recent years due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Student Population
Student Backgrounds
As of the 2021–22 school year, Great Neck South had 1,222 students. The student body is made up of:
- 69% Asian students
- 0.9% Black or African American students
- 8% Hispanic or Latino students
- 20% White students
- 2% multiracial students
Most students at Great Neck South are Asian American. There is also a large group of White students. Smaller groups include Hispanic and Latino Americans and African American students.
Grade Levels
Here is how many students were in each grade during the 2021–22 school year:
- Grade 9: 288 students
- Grade 10: 300 students
- Grade 11: 307 students
- Grade 12: 327 students
Notable Alumni
Many successful people have graduated from Great Neck South High School. Here are a few:
- Dan Ahdoot: a comedian and actor.
- Nikki Blonsky: an actress who starred in the movie Hairspray.
- Peter de Sève: a famous illustrator and animator.
- Jamie Gorelick: a former Deputy Attorney General of the United States.
- David Miner: an Emmy Award-winning TV producer.
- Bruce Paltrow: a writer and producer for TV and movies. He was the husband of actress Blythe Danner and father of Gwyneth Paltrow.
- Sarah Sherman: a comedian and cast member on Saturday Night Live.
- Talia Shire: an actress who starred in the Rocky movies.
- Bob Simon: a well-known TV news correspondent.
- Jon Taffer: a TV personality known for Bar Rescue.
- Charles Williams: a former Major League Baseball pitcher.
See also
