Elmira High School, commonly referred to as EHS, is a high school in Elmira, New York, United States. Was one of two public high schools operated by the Elmira City School District serving Chemung County, alongside Elmira Free Academy. In 2014 Elmira City School District Elmira City School District renamed Southside High school "Elmira High School" Serving 10th, 11th and 12th Grades only. Until the 2011-2012 school year, EFA would play Southside High School in football for the Erie Bell. In 2011, it was announced that the long-standing rivalry between the schools would come to an end and they would combine. The two high schools combined their sports teams by the 2011-12 school year. A community vote was taken to determine what new mascot and colors people were interested in. On May 25, 2011, the district officially announced that the new team would be called the Elmira Express, a common nickname for Elmiran legend Ernie Davis, the first African-American to ever win the Heisman Trophy in the sport of football. The colors will be red, black, and white. The school has the honor to be recognized by the New York State Education Department as the only high performing school in the district, scoring the highest averages on state testing and curriculum exercises. Southside offers many special classes such as AP and ACE classes that could potentially count for future college credits. Aside from academics, Southside has been a strong contender in many different sports throughout the years, boasting an upgraded hall of fame in its gymnasium area. The high school is also involved in several different club opportunities, the top three being FBLA-PBL, Key Club, and National Honor Society. All three are directly involved in community service. Some of these, with the addition of student council, assist in planning events such as Southside's annual Special Olympics program, the spirit week activities for what is now known as the "Express Fest," community service involvement, school functions such as managing program box offices and the school store, amongst other positive endeavors of the many clubs.
Basic information
In its time of existence, which came shortly after EFA, Southside High has had two different buildings in use. Currently, it is using a newly renovated building on South Main Street on Elmira's southside. The school colors had been green and white since the establishment of the high school as well as its sports teams, called the Green Hornets. The sports team merged and became the Elmira express. Each year, Southside and EFA would do battle for the Erie Bell, a trophy donated to the two schools by a local railroad company. Starting in 2011, the Decker Bell will replace the 64-year Erie Bell tradition. The new Elmira Express combined team has begun somewhat of a new rivalry with the Corning Hawks from two recently combined schools in Corning, New York. Both team combinations were due to severe budget issues that are still imminent and pose a threat to combine the schools altogether. The Elmira budget problem also jeopardizes the education of the students in the district, as well as the futures of the employed staff.
Past Principals
Frank M. Edson, 1924-1932 Clifford McNaught, 1932-1952 Wallace Howell, 1952-1955 Arnold Greene, 1955-1966 Martin Harrigan, 1966-1973 Jerome O'Dell, 1973-1991 Kenneth Thomas, 1991-1996 Daile Rose, 1996-Jan. 1999 Arline Ely, Jan. 1999-2000 Lisa Kelly, 2000-2003 Theresa Armstrong, Interim 2003 James Snyder, Interim 2004 Christopher Krantz, Appointed 2004
