Greely High School is a public high school for grades 9 to 12 located in Cumberland, Maine, United States. The enrollment is approximately 715 students. It also has a professional teaching staff of 64 and 50% of the teachers have advanced degrees. Greely High School is a part of Maine School Administrative District 51, which serves the towns of Cumberland and North Yarmouth. The school completed a 10-million-dollar addition/renovation in 2009. It adopted the International Baccalaureate program in 2009.
History
Greely was founded in 1868 with money granted in the will of Eliphalet and Elizabeth Greely. Greely was originally private and known as the Greely Institute until a 1953 town meeting voted to make it a free school.
Arts
Greely students have the opportunity to participate in two Theatre Arts electives and collaborate with professional affiliate artists from Portland Stage Company. In addition, Greely’s Theater Program involves 75–100 students each year in a fall musical and spring production. Students have the opportunity to develop skills in technical theatre as well as in acting, dance, and vocal performance. Greely's theatre program has been run for over twenty years by Audrey Northway, history teacher and resident of Cumberland Center. Greely’s Vocal Music Program features a 60-voice Concert Choir and an honors Madrigal Choir of about 16 students. Students are encouraged to audition for District and All State Music Festivals, where Greely's singers have been well represented. The Band Program includes a Concert Band as well as a Jazz Band, Jazz Combo named "So Fresh, So Clean" by Kevin Thibault and Michelle Poulin, and Second Jazz Band. Both the Jazz Band and Combo have been well represented at the state level and have received numerous rewards for their performances. Students participate in District and All-State Festivals, All-New-England Band Festival and Portland Youth Wind Ensemble and Orchestra. Advanced Placement Music Theory, Guitar, and Piano are also offered. The Visual Arts Program has had student art displayed in the Congressional Art Exhibit, the Maine College of Art and the Portland Museum of Art. Additionally, student artwork has been published in various local newspapers, and the school literary Magazine, Inkwell. A unique aspect of the Visual Arts Program is Honors Art, which encourages individual growth through advanced studio work and Advanced Placement Studio Art for seniors who wish to develop a portfolio that is representative of a college art program. Unfortunately, due to funding issues, Honors Art is no longer a course.
Athletics
Approximately 70% of Greely High School students participate in athletics, on 47 teams, 28 of which are varsity. Activities include: Soccer, Cross Country Running, Golf, Football, Field Hockey, Volleyball, Basketball, Alpine Skiing, Nordic Skiing, Swimming/Diving, Indoor Track and Field, Ice Hockey, Cheering, Outdoor Track and Field, Baseball, Softball, Lacrosse, and Tennis. In the fifteen-year history of the Western Maine Conference, Greely teams have won 56 league Championships; during the last eight years, teams have won 44 Regional or State Championships. Most notably, the Girls Volleyball team has won seven consecutive State titles and went undefeated for five of the six, and the Boys Soccer team is considered one of the best programs in the state, most recently winning the State Championship in 2013. The Boys Varsity swim team won 5 straight Class B state championships from 2010-2014, making coach Rob Hale one of the most decorated high school swim coaches in the state of Maine. Greely student athletes have also garnered a positive reputation in the state for sportsmanship and character. Greely's Hockey team won the Class B State Championship for the first time in 2009 and again in 2012 and 2013. Also in 2012, the boys and girls hockey teams won states as well. Greely high school has a track field and multiple sports fields where the athletic teams practice. is located 5 minutes down the road and provides running trails and more athletic fields. Greely teams are called the Greely Rangers, and their colors are maroon and white.
Co-Curriculars
A large number of Greely students participate in co-curricular activities which include: French & Spanish Honor Society, National Honor Society, Drama, Natural Helpers, Global Awareness Club, Inkwell, Greely Shield, Greely Times, Student Council, Forensics Team, Math Team, Stage Band, Coloring Club, Science Fair Club, GSA Club and Key Club. There is also a Model United Nations club that annually participates in the Maine Model UN Conference, routinely filling a significant role in committees such as the Security Council. Recently a French Club and a Gaming Club have been added, and a sailing team is yet to come. Other clubs recently added the Creative Writing Club, the Robotics Team and the Fun Club. The building also serves as a location for many activities such as Bartley's Driving School and other community education programs.
Notable alumni
Hanley Denning - Founder of Charity Safe Passage/Camino Segura
