Sam Barlow High School Explained

Sam Barlow High School (SBHS, colloquially Barlow) is a public high school in Gresham, Oregon, United States, in the Gresham-Barlow School District. It was named after the Oregon pioneer Sam Barlow.

History

Sam Barlow High School opened in September 1968 in its present location at 302nd Street and Lusted Road, east of Gresham, Oregon.^[4]

Teacher Stephen Corkett received the University of Oregon's high school teacher of the year award in 2009.^[5]

On November 23, 2009, two students discussed plans for a school shooting at Barlow High on Myspace.^[6] They were found guilty of disorderly conduct in February 2010.

On October 5, 2017, around 11AM, a 911 call was reported about a potential shooting as they saw a student with a handgun. The school was under lockdown for 2 hours before being lifted at around 1PM. The incident has since been ruled a hoax.

Academics

In 2008, 75% of the school's seniors received a high school diploma. Of 419 students, 315 graduated, 74 dropped out, ten received a modified diploma, and 20 were still in high school the following year.^{[7] [8]}

In 2013, 85% of the school's seniors received a high school diploma. Of 400 students, 340 graduated, 40 dropped out, six received a modified diploma, and 13 were still in high school the following year.^[9]

Barlow's students have been filling AP classes and passing AP exams at such a high rate that the College Board named the Gresham-Barlow School District to its fourth-annual Advanced Placement District Honor Roll. Just three districts in Oregon received the honor.^[10]

Sports

State championships

• Girls' volleyball: 1987, 1992, 1993, 1995, 1996^[11]
• Boys' track and field: 1999, 2008^[12]
• Boys' wrestling: 1980, 1981^[13]
• Girls' track and field: 1982, 2015^[14]
• Girls' water polo: 2018, 2021^[15]
• Boys water polo: 2023

Activities

State championships

• Band: 1994, 1995^[16]
• Speech: 1988, 1998, 2002, 2008, 2011^[17]

National Championships

• Girls' Racquetball: 2020 ^[18]

Notable alumni

• Brian Burres – Major League Baseball pitcher, Pittsburgh Pirates^[19]
• Ryan Crouser – athlete, gold medalist in shot put at the 2016, 2020 and 2024 Summer Olympics
• Mike Ekstrom – Major League Baseball pitcher, Tampa Bay Rays^[20]
• Dave Jansen – mixed martial arts fighter, Bellator
• Fred Jones – former National Basketball Association shooting guard
• Brent Knopf – singer, songwriter and musician in indie bands Menomena, Ramona Falls and EL VY^[21]
• Mike Pierce – professional mixed martial arts fighter, formerly competing in the UFC^[22]
• Oscar Wood – wrestler^[23]
• Doc Haskell - Head esports coach at Boise State University

Notes and References

1. Web site: Oregon School Directory 2008-09. Oregon Department of Education. 139. 2009-05-28.
2. Web site: OSAA - Error. www.osaa.org.
3. Web site: Sam Barlow High School. National Center for Education Statistics. September 8, 2024.
4. Web site: About Us. Sam Barlow High School.
5. Web site: September 21, 2009 . University of Oregon to usher in 2009-2010 academic year with Convocation . Media Relations.
6. News: MySpace conversation about shooting up Barlow High leads jury to find ex-students guilty of disorderly conduct. Green. Aimee. 2010-02-03. The Oregonian. 2010-02-09.
7. News: State releases high school graduation rates. 2009-06-30. The Oregonian. 2009-07-01.
8. Web site: Oregon dropout rates for 2008. 2009-06-30. The Oregonian. 2009-07-01.
9. News: Your Schools. 2013. The Oregonian. 2014-04-16.
10. News: Gresham-Barlow School District honored for promoting Advanced Placement classes for high-performing students. 2014-01-20. The Oregonian. 2014-04-16.
11. Web site: OSAA - Error. www.osaa.org.
12. Web site: OSAA - Error. www.osaa.org.
13. Web site: OSAA - Error. www.osaa.org.
14. Web site: OSAA Girls Track & Field Championships. OSAA Records and Archives.
15. Web site: Four Teams Claim State Titles In Oregon High School Water Polo. USA Water Polo.
16. Web site: OSAA - Error. www.osaa.org.
17. Web site: OSAA - Error. www.osaa.org.
18. Web site: NATIONAL CHAMPION TEAMS. mohsra.
19. Web site: Brian Burres Stats, Fantasy & News. MLB.com.
20. Web site: Mike Ekstrom Stats, Fantasy & News. MLB.com.
21. Web site: Six Feet High And Rising. Seattle Weekly. www.seattleweekly.org. 2004-03-03.
22. Web site: Mike Pierce. UFC. https://web.archive.org/web/20100824104143/http://www.ufc.com:80/fighter/Mike_Pierce. 24 August 2010.
23. News: Quick. Jason. Oregon State Wrestling's madman of the mat. The Oregonian. December 27, 1996. E1.