Jesse O. Sanderson High School, more commonly called Sanderson High School, is a co-educational 9–12 public high school located in Raleigh, North Carolina, United States in the Wake County Public School System. The school was founded in 1968. It is named after a former superintendent of Raleigh public schools, Jesse O. Sanderson. Sanderson runs on a 2x4 block schedule; It was one of the first schools in the area to do so. It is known for its performing arts, athletic, and its community outreach programs.
Student publications
Student publications are:
The Sandscript – A monthly student-written newspaper.
The Lakonikos – The yearbook.
Clubs
Sanderson's student government has received recognition for their participation in the Sanderson community. It is one of the only four high schools in the state and 131 in the country to earn the National Association of Student Councils Gold Council of Excellence in 2010.
Performing arts
Sanderson Theatre Ensemble In addition to the one-act plays put on by the Advanced Theatre Class, Sanderson Theatre Ensemble puts on a fall play and a spring musical each year. In 2018, Sanderson High School performed the play “26 Pebbles” by Eric Ulloa, a play about the Sandy Hook shooting and the town of Newtown, Connecticut’s reaction, for the North Carolina Theatre Conference. Sanderson Marching Band The Sanderson marching band hosts the Capital Band Expo each year in October. This is where they invite schools from across the state and beyond to show off their skill in one of the few competitions of its kind. The marching band also competes in regional band competitions. Sanderson Sandpipers The director of the Sanderson Sandpipers, Marshall Butler Jr., has been recognized as an outstanding music educator by the North Carolina Symphony Orchestra. Marshall Butler retired at the end of the 201516 school year.
Athletics
Sanderson has won thirty-four state championships and 131 conference championships. Sanderson's sports team play under the Spartan identity. Their athletic director is Tony Lewis. He assumed this position after Bob Catapano retired in 2010. Men's Cross Country Coached by Ashley Taylor and assistant coach is Jason Bochart, Sanderson's men's cross country team won the 2009 NCHSAA 4A State Championship at Tanglewood Park. The team beat rival Needham Broughton High School by 3 points to win their first state title in cross country. Men's Soccer Sanderson's men's soccer team has won eleven 4A state soccer championships; They also once held the national record for most consecutive games without a loss at 103; This is still the state record. Since the early 1980s, they have also produced a number of Division 1 players. Cheerleading Sanderson's cheerleading squad has won multiple state championships.
Administration
Gregory Decker became principal in the fall of 2008 after his predecessor, Cathy Moore, who was promoted to assistant superintendent. Moore had been principal of the school for eight years, and was named Wake County principal of the year in 2007. Under Decker's leadership, Sanderson's graduation rate has started to grow at a slow pace. As of August 2019, Gretta Dula became principal of Sanderson, taking Decker's place as principal.
Year
Graduation Rate
+/-
2006
78.6%
N/A
2007
76.1%
-2.5
2008
77.5%
+1.4
2009
76.7%
-0.8
2010
75%
-1.7
2011
77.5%
+2.7
2012
78.6%
+1.1
2013
78.2%
-0.4
2014
82.8%
+4.6
2015
81.4%
-1.4
2016
89.1%
+7.7
Demographic & economic background
As of 2012, 28% of the students receive free lunch, 4% receive reduced-price lunch, and 68% receive no lunch benefits.
Amy Sedaris, Author, humorist and actress; Creator and star of the "Strangers with Candy" television series on Comedy Central and the 2006 major motion picture release of the same title
