Orleans High School (Vermont)

Olreans High School

53 School Street
Orleans, Vermont 05860

1901–1967

Village

Public

approx 150 students (1953)

9 to 12

Charles S. Rising 1928?-1945?
Rolfe Schoppe 1945?-1953
Dustin White

OHS

Red Rapiers

Red and White

Hourglass (Newspaper)

Orleans High School was a school in Orleans, Vermont. It functioned as both a high school and middle school to the village of Orleans and surrounding towns for nearly half a century. The high school was replaced by the Lake Region Union High School on September 11, 1967. Orleans alumni continue to meet annually. They fund scholarships for descendants of graduates.

The building today is used to educate elementary students from the village.

Orleans graduated its first class in 1901 from a wooden two-story building where the Federated Church now stands on School Street. While that school was differed in name and location from the eventual brick structure on School Street, its graduates were recognized as part of a continuous alumni for attendees. Forty students graduated from 1901-1910.

In 1914, 35 students were attending the high school out of a total for the system of 232. The purpose of all high schools of that time was to prepare scholars for college. To improve attendance and the overall efficiency of the system as per the High school movement, the school began to offer Agriculture, Home Economics, and Commercial.

The final structure was opened in March 1923. The old building became the elementary school, but it continued to house the Agriculture and Industrial Arts programs, as well as the Superintendent's office, for the town of Barton. When the regional high school opened in 1967, the elementary school moved to the vacated high school building. The old elementary school building was later sold and razed and the Federated Church was built on the site. The old high school did not have a regulation-sized gymnasium. This was not prejudicial to its use until the 1950s. After that time, The boys' and girls' basketball teams practiced there, but hosted home games at other locations. For many years, OHS' "home court" was at Derby High School.

In 1928, there were seven faculty members. This had increased to 13 by 1967. Until the regional high school opened, the principals were all expected to teach several classes, as well as to be the school's guidance counselor.

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