Jesse O. Sanderson High School (commonly known as 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 community outreach programs.
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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 2018, Sanderson High School performed the play “26 Pebbles” by Eric Ulloa, a play about the Sandy Hook shooting, for the North Carolina Theatre Conference.
Sanderson Sandpipers
The director of the Sanderson Sandpipers, Allison Taylor. Former director 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 2015–16 school year.
Athletics
Cheerleading
Sanderson's cheerleading squad were the 2005 NCHSAA Super Varsity state invitational champions and 2005 Carolina Cup champions.
Men's Cross Country
Sanderson's men's cross-country team won the 2009 NCHSAA 4A state championship.
Men's Soccer
Sanderson's men's soccer team has won eleven NCHSAA soccer state championships. They also once held the national record for most consecutive games without a loss at 103, which is still the state record. Since the early 1980s, they have also produced a number of Division 1 players.
Women's Soccer
Sanderson's women's soccer team were the 1991 NCHSAA state champions.
Men's Swimming
The men's swim team has won four NCHSAA state championships.
Women's Swimming
The women's swim team has won five NCHSAA state championships.
Volleyball
Sanderson volleyball was won two NCHSAA state championships.
Wrestling
The wrestling team won the 1983 NCHSAA state tournament championship.
Administration
As of August 2019, Gretta Dula is the principal of Sanderson High School. Dula replaced Gregory Decker who served as the school's principal for over ten years, and was credited with raising the schools graduation rates while principal. Catty Moore, Decker's predecessor, served in the position for seven years between 2000 and 2008, and would later go on to become the superintendent of the Wake County Public School System in 2018.
Demographic & economic background
As of 2012, 28% of the students receive free lunch, 4% receive reduced-price lunch, and 68% receive no lunch benefits.
Notable alumni
Tom Fetzer (1973), former Mayor of Raleigh and former chair of the North Carolina Republican Party
Steve Dobrogosz (1974), pianist and composer
Steve Kenney (1974), NFL player for the Philadelphia Eagles; Offensive linesman at Clemson University
David Sedaris (1975), noted author and humorist
Jeb Bishop, American jazz trombone player
Amy Sedaris (1980), 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
Jeff Williams (1981), Chief Operating Officer of Apple Inc
Paul Friedrich (1985), cartoon artist
Clark Brisson (1987), All-American soccer player at the University of South Carolina; Played eight years in the National Professional Soccer League; Currently assistant coach at the University of New Haven
Melanie Wade Goodwin (1988), member of the North Carolina General Assembly
David Fox (1989), swimmer at North Carolina State University; 1996 Olympic gold medalist in men's 4x100 metre relay
Caleb Norkus (1997), former professional soccer player who played for such teams as The Carolina Railhawks, Richmond Kickers, and Puerto Rico Islanders; also played for the U.S men's national team in 1995
Darryl Partin (2006), former professional basketball player