Southside High School is located approximately five miles southeast of Selma, Alabama, on the historic Civil Rights Trail, U. Highway 80 East between Mile Markers 93 and 94. The original main bbuilding and auditorium/gymnasium (current resource media center) was built in 1946 to accommodate the families of returning military personnel following World War II. Many of the school's families lived on
nearby Craig Air Force Base, which was deactivated in 1978. The original school building contained 13,425 square feet of classroom and administrative space. Land for the school site was donated by the Harrison and Reeves families of Dallas county. A product of the Baby Boom generation, the school has continually expanded over the years as shown in the information that follows. The original school was located approximately one mile northwest of the present site. This old wooden structure burned down, forcing students to meet in a private home until the current brick building could be constructed. When Southside first opened its doors in 1946, it consisted of grades 1-3. Students would then travel either to Collierville (no longer exists) or Selma (Parrish High) to attend later grades. The school grew from three grades to six, and finally to twelve. Over the years, the lower grades were transferred to newer schools that were being built to support the growing population. Today, Southside is a senior high school, containing approximately 530 students in grades 9-12. The campus has also expanded over the years. A football field with concrete stadium seats and a press box, a field house, a concession stand, a baseball field, and a football practice field all now exist on the site. The football field underwent a major renovation in 2008 with new lighting and new Visitor Bleacher Stands on concrete pads. Paved parking surrounds the school, and the entire campus is bathed in light from dusk to dawn. In 2009, double-paned storm windows were added throughout the school and new doors upgraded the look of our facility. Thanks to continued capital improvement, there are no portable classrooms on campus. The original gymnasium, which was located in the current media center, had basketball goals that would retract into the ceiling for auditorium events. The basketball court moved into the new Collins Multi-Purpose Building in 1967. This gymnasium contained spacious locker rooms for both home and visiting teams for both male and female, and also boasted two classrooms. It was named in honor of B. Collins, Dallas County Schools Superintendent from 1950-1963. A new gymnasium with expanded seating and upgraded comforts was built in 1998, leaving the old gymnasium for physical education classes and special events. The original auditorium is now a state-of-the-art media center, allowing electronic checkouts and inventories. The cafeteria, located in its own building since 1975, once occupied the area behind the current media center. Today, this old cafeteria space is used as the Business Education computer classroom. Home Economics was also given a new home in 1975 with a wing that added kitchen and living space classrooms. However, when all Vocational Classes were centralized in 1995, a new occupant was found for this spaces. The Marching Band, the Choir and the Jobs for Alabama Graduates Program moved into the former Vocational Classrooms, and Air Force Junior ROTC moved in the former Home Economics wing. All four of these programs have thrived here at Southside and have garnered many honors. The Air Force officially returned to Dallas County in 1996 thanks to the determined efforts and leadership of former Superintendents George Patrick Evans and William May, and Principal Ollis Grayson III. There Community Action Committee petitioned a Congressional Authorization for Cadet Group Alabama 961 for Southside High School. This would be followed by two more authorizations for Dallas County and Keith High Schools in 2000, but only Southside's remains. Cadets have earned Distinguished Unit Status annually since 2002 as well as being recognized as best in the state by the Air Force Association. The Instructor Staff is likewise ranked in the top 20% in the nation earning Outstanding Instructor Designation since 1999. Currently, every classroom and office is wired for the Internet, and technology is a part of everyday life on campus.�� The school website has been in operation since 2002, allowing alumni and friends to contact us and stay up to date on Southside. In 2003, a campus beautification project added new shrubbery and new trees. As Southside High continues to grow and improve to meet the needs of our community, we will always hold high expectations of our students and staff. We are poised to meet the needs of the 21st century global environment with pride, dedication, and professionalism. For at Southside, we build and measure success one student at a time.
