SHS students ranked highly on the Connecticut Academic Performance Test, scoring at or above 97% percent proficient in all categories in 2007 and 2008. Simsbury High School was selected as having one of the top 100 outstanding music programs in the United States. In 2005, the mean SAT score was 1162. In 2014, the mean SAT score was 1709, out of 2400, which was 11th best in the state.
The Department of Performing Arts within Simsbury High School allows students to take Theatre classes during the school day in addition to participating in extracurricular productions. Each year, three productions are put on. In the fall, there is a One Act Festival that allows senior theatre students enrolled in the fourth year of Theatre to direct a One Act Play of their choosing. These plays are then performed back to back for parents, students, and the Simsbury community. Also in attendance are three guest judges - professional theatre makers who come to Simsbury for the sole purpose of the One Act Festival. On this day, the morning performance includes all the freshman and sophomore plays, while the evening show allows the upperclassmen's plays to be performed. After each performance, the judges choose one play to win the title of "Best Play" and also awards students with achievements such as "Best Actor/Actress", "Outstanding Performance", and "Honorary Achievement". There is also a private talkback with the actors, stage managers, and directors of each production for feedback from the judges. During this talkback, judges discuss moments that worked in each show and also choices that could have been improved. In the winter, the largest production is put on - the musical. Usually, auditions are in the first week of November and consist of an acting, singing, and dancing audition. After a round of callbacks, the cast list is posted and students begin rehearsals. Each musical usually has about 35-40 students in the cast. Dr. Stuart Younse, the theatre faculty at SHS, is the director of these productions and helps the students learn about the world of the play. There is also usually an Assistant Director and Choreographer, in addition to a Music Director. After three months of after school rehearsals, the musical opens the last week of January and runs for two weekends. The Spring Play is usually a smaller scale production compared to the musical, consisting of a smaller cast and budget than the large winter musical. Also, the Spring Play is usually about a social or cultural issue, instead of just a "fun" show that focuses mainly on spectacle.
Crew
The Simsbury Crew is the school's rowing team. Established in 1971, the team races in events throughout the northeastern United States and abroad. At home, it rows out of Paine Boathouse on the Farmington River. The Simsbury Crew has won several New England Championships: First Girls in 1980 and 1982; Second Girls in 1981, 1983 and 1984; Third Girls in 1978 and 1982; Third Boys in 1987. Sara Hendershot represented the United States in the 2012 Olympic Games, finishing fourth in the W2- along with her partner, Sarah Zelenka.
