Spring Valley High School (New York)
Spring Valley High School is a high school located in Spring Valley, New York, educating students in grades 9 through 12. Spring Valley is one of two high schools in the East Ramapo Central School District (ERCSD). The school is accredited by the New York State Board of Regents. The School District. The East Ramapo Central School District is the largest school district in Rockland County, New York. 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 suburban, predominantly residential community within commuting distance of New York City, Westchester County, and northern New Jersey. 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 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 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 1962), and Michael Potash (valedictorian 1962). Curriculum. Spring Valley High School offers a 200 course curriculum. Presently, this includes 16 Advanced Placement 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. Student placement. Grouping in Spring Valley is by ability, achievement, and teacher evaluation. Those in advanced placement 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.