Biddeford High School Explained

Biddeford High School
Address:20 Maplewood Avenue
State:Maine
Zipcode:04005
Country:United States
Pushpin Map:USA Maine
Pushpin Map Caption:Location of school in Maine
District:Biddeford Public Schools
Superintendent:Jeremy Ray
Principal:Martha Jacques
Teaching Staff:51.50
Grades:8–12
Enrollment:769
Campus Type:Suburban
Colors:Orange and black
Mascot:Tigers
Accreditation:NEASC[1]
Newspaper:The Roar[2]

Biddeford High School (BHS) is a public high school in Biddeford, Maine, United States. It is the secondary school for Biddeford Public Schools, a school district which exclusively serves the city of Biddeford.

History

The first public high school in Biddeford was established in 1848. The building for the high school was erected on Washington Street close to the city's downtown. After a rise in Biddeford's population in the late 19th-century, a new high school was constructed in 1888 on a lot in close-by Alfred Street. The former high school building on Washington Street was then converted to a primary school before being demolished in the 1960s.[3] [4]

The high school moved to its new building in 1890. The Alfred Street building suffered a massive fire in 1893 and was promptly rebuilt. A rear annex and gymnasium were added in 1925.[5]

The high school moved out of the Alfred Street building in the 1960s to its present location farther away from the Downtown core. This coincided with the establishment of the Biddeford Regional Center of Technology in 1969[6] located at the same location.

Sports

Biddeford High School football has won 12 football state championships since 1950. The school has a long-standing football rivalry with Saco's Thornton Academy dating to 1893 which is referred to as the "Battle of the Bridges" by residents of both communities. This is in reference to the multiple bridges which interconnect the two cities over the Saco River.[7] [8] [9] After Biddeford High School was demoted to Class B in 2015, the two teams no longer compete with one another in state championships.[10]

Notable alumni

Notable staff

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Old Orchard Beach High staff member tests positive for virus. April 22, 2020.
  2. Web site: The Roar. April 16, 2021.
  3. Web site: Old Biddeford High School, Washington Street, ca. 1910. Maine Memory Network. en. April 23, 2020.
  4. Book: Biddeford High School Alumni Association. Biddeford High School. Teachers and Graduates, from 1848 to 1888.. 1887.
  5. Web site: Biddeford High School, Alfred Street, 1955. mcarthur.pastperfectonline.com/. April 22, 2020.
  6. Web site: Wells . Tammy . 2022-11-17 . New and expanded programs 'dream come true' at BRCOT . 2023-02-04 . Press Herald.
  7. Web site: Thornton Academy ~ Battle of the Bridge. July 2, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110727013849/http://www.thorntonacademy.org/podium/default.aspx?t=115802. April 23, 2020. July 27, 2011.
  8. Web site: A Battle Lost – Maine Football – Down East Magazine. October 1, 2015. Down East. en-US. April 23, 2020.
  9. Book: Bouthillette, Emma R.. Brief History of Biddeford, A. 2017. Arcadia Publishing. 978-1-4671-3614-3. en.
  10. Web site: State Of Maine High School Football Conferences – Maine Football Coaches Association. May 4, 2012 . en-US. April 23, 2020.
  11. Web site: Crechiolo . Michelle . Dumoulin a lifelong winner . National Hockey League . January 19, 2022 . August 24, 2017.