Sam Barlow High School

Sam Barlow High School (SBHS, colloquially Barlow) is a public high school in Gresham, Oregon, United States. Barlow is one of two main high schools in the Gresham-Barlow School District, with its rival Gresham High School as the other school. Opened in 1968, it was named after the Oregon pioneer Sam Barlow who is the namesake for the Barlow Road along the Oregon Trail. The school has an enrollment of around 1,600, and are nicknamed the Bruins.

Sam Barlow High School
Location
Map
5105 SE 302nd Avenue

, ,
97080

45°29′08″N 122°21′11″W / 45.485536°N 122.353025°W / 45.485536; -122.353025
Information
TypePublic
Opened1968
School district
Gresham-Barlow School District
Principal
Jason Bhear[1][2]
Teaching staff
64.17 (FTE)[3]
Grades9–12[1]
Enrollment1,638[3] (2023-2024)
Student to teacher ratio
25.53[3]
ColorsBlue and gold   [2]
Athletics conference
OSAA Mt. Hood Conference 6A-4[2]
MascotBruin[2]
Team nameBarlow Bruins
RivalGresham High School
NewspaperBruin Banner
Feeder schools
Damascus Middle School
Gordon Russell Middle School
West Orient Middle School
Websitesbhs.gresham.k12.or.us

History

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Sam Barlow High School opened in September 1968 in its present location at 302nd Street and Lusted Road, east of Gresham, Oregon.[4]

Teacher Stephen Corkett received the University of Oregon's high school teacher of the year award in 2009.[5]

On November 23, 2009, two students discussed plans for a school shooting at Barlow High on Myspace.[6] They were found guilty of disorderly conduct in February 2010.[6]

On October 5, 2017, around 11AM, a 911 call was reported about a potential shooting as they saw a student with a handgun. The school was under lockdown for 2 hours before being lifted at around 1PM. The incident has since been ruled a hoax.[citation needed]

Academics

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In 2008, 75% of the school's seniors received a high school diploma. Of 419 students, 315 graduated, 74 dropped out, ten received a modified diploma, and 20 were still in high school the following year.[7][8]

In 2013, 85% of the school's seniors received a high school diploma. Of 400 students, 340 graduated, 40 dropped out, six received a modified diploma, and 13 were still in high school the following year.[9]

Barlow's students have been filling AP classes and passing AP exams at such a high rate that the College Board named the Gresham-Barlow School District to its fourth-annual Advanced Placement District Honor Roll. Just three districts in Oregon received the honor.[10]

Sports

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State championships

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  • Girls' volleyball: 1987, 1992, 1993, 1995, 1996[11]
  • Boys' track and field: 1999, 2008[12]
  • Boys' wrestling: 1980, 1981[13]
  • Girls' track and field: 1982, 2015[14]
  • Girls' water polo: 2018, 2021[15]
  • Boys water polo: 2023
  • Boys basketball: 2025

Activities

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State championships

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  • Band: 1994, 1995[16]
  • Speech: 1988, 1998, 2002, 2008, 2011[17]
  • Theatre: 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025[18]

National championships

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  • Girls' Racquetball: 2020 [19]
  • Theatre: 2016 [18]

Notable alumni

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Aerial view in 2025

References

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  1. 1 2 "Oregon School Directory 2008-09" (PDF). Oregon Department of Education. p. 139. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 26, 2011. Retrieved May 28, 2009.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "OSAA - Error". www.osaa.org.
  3. 1 2 3 "Sam Barlow High School". National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved December 18, 2024.
  4. "About Us". Sam Barlow High School.
  5. "University of Oregon to usher in 2009-2010 academic year with Convocation". Media Relations. September 21, 2009.
  6. 1 2 Green, Aimee (February 3, 2010). "MySpace conversation about shooting up Barlow High leads jury to find ex-students guilty of disorderly conduct". The Oregonian. Retrieved February 9, 2010.
  7. "State releases high school graduation rates". The Oregonian. June 30, 2009. Retrieved July 1, 2009.
  8. "Oregon dropout rates for 2008". The Oregonian. June 30, 2009. Retrieved July 1, 2009.
  9. "Your Schools". The Oregonian. 2013. Retrieved April 16, 2014.
  10. "Gresham-Barlow School District honored for promoting Advanced Placement classes for high-performing students". The Oregonian. January 20, 2014. Retrieved April 16, 2014.
  11. "OSAA - Error" (PDF). www.osaa.org.
  12. "OSAA - Error" (PDF). www.osaa.org.
  13. "OSAA - Error" (PDF). www.osaa.org.
  14. "OSAA Girls Track & Field Championships" (PDF). OSAA Records and Archives.
  15. "Four Teams Claim State Titles In Oregon High School Water Polo". USA Water Polo. November 15, 2018.
  16. "OSAA - Error" (PDF). www.osaa.org.
  17. "OSAA - Error" (PDF). www.osaa.org.
  18. 1 2 "Awards".
  19. "NATIONAL CHAMPION TEAMS". mohsra.
  20. "Brian Burres Stats, Fantasy & News". MLB.com.
  21. "Mike Ekstrom Stats, Fantasy & News". MLB.com.
  22. "Six Feet High And Rising". www.seattleweekly.org. Seattle Weekly. Retrieved March 3, 2004.
  23. "Mike Pierce". UFC. Archived from the original on August 24, 2010.
  24. Quick, Jason (December 27, 1996). "Oregon State Wrestling's madman of the mat". The Oregonian. p. E1.