School History

Stroudsburg High School is a public high school located in Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania. The school is part of the Stroudsburg Area School District. The school's mascot is the Mountaineer. The first known school was built in 1800 and was erected beyond the Stroudsburg Cemetary on Keevers Hill. It was a log house without a floor, but it did have a fireplace. Because of the heating difficulties, this school closed in December and re-opened in April. 

In 1813 a group of citizens applied to the legislature for a charter to obtain a new larger and more conveniently located school which became the new Stroudsburg Academy. It provided an education in the useful arts, sciences, and literature. This stone academy was built on a lot donated by Daniel Stroud, and served as a school for forty years. In 1838 the old Stone Academy could no longer hold everyone and became the Stroudsburg French Seminary for girls. This school, founded by Miss Anna L. Fraseo, offered courses in English, French, Latin, guitar, pastel painting, monochromatic painting, and leather work. Because of the lack of money and high tuition at the beginning of the Civil War, parents were forced to send their daughters as well as sons to the Stroudsburg Academy which had moved to Thomas Street.

By 1875 there were four small elementary schools plus the academy. Since people began to realize the urgent need for school facilities, they erected an eight-room building in 1882 at the corner of Sixth and Thomas Streets. The first principal was Rev. J.W.Matern who was followed by Mr. John Shull in 1884. Mr. Ramsey served as principal from 1887 to 1914. In 1893, during Mr. Ramsey's administration, an eight-room addition was added to the school; followed by yet another in 1910.

The first high school courses offered three years of Latin, two and one half years of algebra, one years of plane geometry, two years of science, and three years of English. Around 1896 Greek was offered as an elective which could be substituted for science; music was also included around this time.In 1903 the high school course work was extended to four years. Principal Will H. Ramsey, who opened a small home economics department in 1913 under Miss G. Mildred LeBar's instruction, died in 1914. Dr. Robert Brown then served as head of the administration until 1950. On February 26, 1927 the high school located at Sixth and Thomas Streets was destroyed by fire. Although the cause of the fire was unknown it did start in the tower of the middle building. Insurance covereage of the building was estimated at $105,000.00 which was used for the new school. The grounds had already been purchased in 1926, and no state or federal aid was appropriated for the new building. However, bonds were issued to the total of $196,000.00 and school taxes were doubled.

 It was until April 2008, when members of the school board voted 5–4 in favor of renovating the existing high school on West Main Street. As of January 2012, a newly built section was opened to students. This section host the new gymnasium, which can hold about 4,000 people; library/media center; up-to-date science labs, art rooms, and workshops; and a film studio.

Stroudsburg High School District offers an extensive number of clubs, activities and a publicly funded sports program.These include such activities as student council, chess club, marching band, and yearbook committee. The school's quiz team has won the Scholastic Scrimmage three times: 1985, 2014, and 2016.

The school newspaper, The Mountaineer, is a recipient of the Pennsylvania School Press Association Gold Award for Overall Excellence. Its staff consistently receives high-ranking awards for its in-depth coverage of school and teen related topics. Its current adviser is Mr. Matthew Sobrinski. In the past, it was funded entirely through local advertisers and sold for fifty cents to the student body. However, in the 2007–2008 school year, school funding has allowed the staff to disseminate the periodical to every student in the building. Five issues are typically printed each year through the local newspaper, the Pocono Record. The front, center, and back are full color pages. The final issue of the year lists the future plans for all graduating seniors, whether they intend on continuing their education, joining a branch of the military, or obtaining a job. The Mountaineer is now a full digital version that can be found here.

Reference:

A History of Stroud Union High School. 1962.