{{Short description|Public, coeducational high school in Strongsville, Ohio, United States}} {{Use American English|date=September 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}} {{Infobox school | name = Strongsville High School | native_name = | latin_name = | logo = Strongsville High School logo.png | image = Strongsville high school.jpg | image_size = 275 | caption = Home of the Mustangs | location = | address = 20025 Lunn Road | city = Strongsville | state = Ohio | county = (Cuyahoga County) | zipcode = 44149 | country = USA | coordinates = {{coord|41|18|12|N|81|50|44|W|type:edu_region:US-OH|display=inline,title}} | district = Strongsville City Schools | authority = | religious_affiliation = | oversight = | affiliation = | superintendent = Cameron M. Ryba<ref name="Ohio High School Athletic Association member directory" /> | trustee = | founder = | president = | head_of_school = | head_teacher = | headmaster = | head_label = | head = | chairperson = | principal = Bill Wingler | dean = | administrator = | rector = | chaplain = | director = | custodian = | staff = | USNWR_ranking = | faculty = | teaching_staff = 97.90 (FTE)<ref name=NCES>{{cite web|url=https://nces.ed.gov/ccd/schoolsearch/school_detail.asp?Search=1&DistrictID=3904484&ID=390448401730|title=Strongsville High School|publisher=National Center for Education Statistics|accessdate=April 5, 2025}}</ref> | enrollment = | MOE = | ceeb = | school_code = | local_authority = | ofsted = | test_average = | test_name = | national_ranking = | avg_class_size = | ratio = 18.99<ref name=NCES/> | type = Public, Coeducational high school | system = Strongsville City Schools | fees = | tuition = | endowment = | grades = 9–12 | campus = | campus_size = | campus_type = | athletics = | athletic_conference = Greater Cleveland Conference | slogan = Home of the Mustangs | song = Strongsville Alma Mater | fight_song = Onwards Strongsville | motto = | motto_translation = | accreditation = | rival = | mascot = Marty Mustang | mascot image = | sports = | patron = | team_name = Mustangs<ref name="Ohio High School Athletic Association member directory">{{cite web|url=http://www.cdab.org/members.asp?SCHOOL_ID=1498|title=Ohio High School Athletic Association member directory|accessdate=2010-02-17|author=OHSAA}}</ref> | nickname = | colors = Forest Green and White<ref name="Ohio High School Athletic Association member directory" /> {{color box|#228B22}}{{color box|white}} | yearbook = | publication = | newspaper = | opened = | established = 1968 | status = | closed = | alumni = | nobel_laureates = | gradeK = | grade1 = | grade2 = | grade3 = | grade4 = | grade5 = | grade6 = | grade7 = | grade8 = | grade9 = | grade10 = | grade11 = | grade12 = | other_grade_label = | other = | communities = | feeder_schools = | free_label = | free_text = | free_label1 = | free_text1 = | free_label2 = | free_text2 = | free_label3 = | free_text3 = | free_label4 = | free_text4 = | free_label5 = | free_text5 = | footnotes = | picture = | website = https://shs.scsmustangs.org/ }}
'''Strongsville High School''' is a public high school located in Strongsville, Ohio, United States. It is part of the Strongsville City School District, and the current principal is Bill Wingler.
The school colors are forest green and white. The mascot is the Mustang. The school was a member of the Pioneer Conference but moved to the Northeast Ohio Conference at the conclusion of the 2006–07 school year.<ref>{{cite web|title=Member Schools|url=http://www.northeastohioconference.org/page.cfm?page=member_schools.cfm|year=2009|publisher=NOC|access-date=20 September 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100416040158/http://www.northeastohioconference.org/page.cfm?page=member_schools.cfm|archive-date=16 April 2010}}</ref> The fight song is to the tune of "On Wisconsin".
==Academic standards== Strongsville High is designated an Ohio School of Excellence with Distinction.<ref>[http://schools.strongnet.org/hs_homepage.html "Strongsville High School"], Strongsville City Schools, accessed December 21, 2007</ref>
==Activities==
===UNICEF Club=== The Strongsville High School UNICEF Club upholds the values of UNICEF through educating, advocating and fundraising.
===Key Club=== The Strongsville Key Club, chartered in 1999, is a member of the Kiwanis International service-leadership program for high school students: Key Club International.
===The Marching Mustangs=== Strongsville's marching band, the "Marching Mustangs," has participated in the Hollywood Christmas Parade, the Orange Bowl Parade, the Tournament of Roses Parade, the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, and in the Inauguration Parade for President George H. W. Bush.<ref>{{cite news|title=Mustangs march off to Rose Bowl |url=http://www.sunnews.com/news/2001/part2/1220/SROSEBOW.htm |publisher=Sun Newspapers |date=2001-12-20 |access-date=2007-12-20 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041029223837/http://www.sunnews.com/news/2001/part2/1220/SROSEBOW.htm |archive-date=October 29, 2004 }}</ref><ref>{{cite press release|publisher=Macy's Inc.|title=Give Me A Beat|url=http://www.macysinc.com/pressroom/macys/macyseast/media_kits.asp?strAction=ShowItem&itemid=1773|date=November 2006|accessdate=2007-12-20}}</ref>
===Language Clubs=== * The German Club holds parties on German holidays, school-wide German trivia contests, and informs students about German culture and cultural traditions. It also supports the school's chapter of the German National Honor Society, Delta Epsilon Phi, or ''Deutsche Ehrenverbindung''. * The French club meets weekly, celebrates French holidays and informs students about French culture and cultural traditions.{{citation needed|date=September 2020}} * The Spanish club has weekly meetings and discuss the cultures of Spanish speaking countries.
==Athletics==
===Stadium=== In late 2002 the school converted a rough field behind the school to a state-of-the-art 5,200 seat football stadium in just 84 days. The $1.85 million stadium was entirely privately financed. The name of the stadium is Pat Catan Stadium. The previous location of the high school football field was at Center Middle School (demolished in 2016) .<ref>[http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-2729291_ITM "Strongsville (OH) High's new field: 83 days from ground-breaking to game"], SportsTURF, December 01, 2002</ref> The stadium was featured on national television when the Mustangs took on the Glenville Tarblooders in 2006. Returfed for games in 2016.
===Championships=== Ohio High School Athletic Association Division I State Championships: * Baseball – 2006 <ref>[http://www.strongsvillemustangs.com "Strongsville High School Baseball"], Strongsville Mustangs</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ohsaa.org/sports/bb/boys/2006/bd1rslt06.htm|title=2006 Boys Division I State Baseball Championship|publisher=Ohio High School Athletic Association|accessdate=2007-12-20|author=OHSAA}}</ref> * Boys Soccer – 1997 * Girls Soccer – 1998, 2002,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ohsaa.org/sports/so/girls/2002/gd1brkt02.pdf|title=2002 SOCCER TOURNAMENT – GIRLS DIVISION I|publisher=Ohio High School Athletic Association|accessdate=2007-12-20}}</ref> 2005,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ohsaa.org/sports/so/girls/2005/gd1reg_state05.pdf|title=2005 SOCCER TOURNAMENT – GIRLS DIVISION I|publisher=Ohio High School Athletic Association|accessdate=2007-12-20}}</ref> 2011 <ref>{{cite web|url=http://highschoolsports.cleveland.com/news/article/-803710057409334771/ohsaa-soccer-strongsville-wins-division-i-girls-soccer-state-championship/|title=OHSAA soccer: Strongsville wins Division I girls soccer state championship|accessdate=2011-11-30}}</ref>
===State records=== Tim Arthurs holds the Ohio High School Athletic Association Record for highest completion percentage among Ohio high school quarterbacks in a single season, with 72.5% in 1998.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ohsaa.org/sports/records/ftcoachingmisc.htm#MISC |title=State Records : Football – Coaching/Misc |publisher=Ohsaa.org |date= |accessdate=2018-02-21}}</ref>
== Arson == In the early morning of January 29, 1996, a fire was started in the offices at the center of the school. Police identified the propellant as gasoline and believe those responsible targeted the paper records held in the administrative offices. The investigation noted a window in a classroom that was either left open or unlocked. The investigation remains unsolved despite a $10,000 reward and hundreds of tips after the fire. Damage to the building totaled $1.4 million.<ref>{{Cite news |last=RUTTI |first=RONALD |date=May 14, 1998 |title=STRONGSVILLE POLICE OFFER REWARD IN SCHOOL ARSON TWO YEARS AGO |work=The Plain Dealer |url=https://cleveland.newsbank.com/doc/news/0F80CFF9EE29A759?search_terms |access-date=July 13, 2022}}</ref>
==Allegations of negligence== In February 2006 a former Strongsville High student sued the school district and the police department claiming that they did nothing to stop an affair he had with a female teacher, Christine Scarlett, while he was a student at the school.
Christine Scarlett was a substitute special education teacher hired by Strongsville High School. In 2002 Scarlett began a program to encourage her students to improve their grades called “raise your grade – date a teacher”. In November of that year Scarlett announced the winner of the contest was a male student with learning disabilities on the football team. A 2 year sexual relationship resulting in the birth of a child began between Scarlett then 36, and the student aged 17.<ref>{{Cite news |last=McCarty |first=James |date=January 26, 2006 |title=Lawsuit looms in ex-teacher's affair Former student seeking custody |pages=4 |work=The Plain Dealer |url=https://cleveland.newsbank.com/doc/news/10F66AD1EF53E010?search_terms=Lawsuit%2Blooms%2Bin%2Bex-teacher%22s%2Baffair%2BFormer%2Bstudent%2Bseeking%2Bcustody&text=Lawsuit%20looms%20in%20ex-teacher%E2%80%99s%20affair%20Former%20student%20seeking%20custody&content_added=&date_from=&date_to=&pub%255B0%255D=CPDB&pdate=2006-01-26 |access-date=July 7, 2022}}</ref>
In January 2006, the student now 20 years old, sued Scarlett for custody of their 3-year-old son exposing the relationship to public scrutiny.<ref>{{Cite news |last=McCarty |first=James |date=May 18, 2006 |title=Former teacher, ex-pupil settle over son |pages=2 |work=The Plain Dealer |url=https://cleveland.newsbank.com/doc/news/111B51DC5575A700?search_terms=Former%2Bteacher%2C%2Bex-pupil%2Bsettle%2Bover%2Bson&text=Former%20teacher%2C%20ex-pupil%20settle%20over%20son&content_added=&date_from=&date_to=&pub%255B0%255D=CPDB&pdate=2006-05-18 |access-date=July 7, 2022}}</ref>
In May 2007 Christine Scarlett pleaded guilty to sexual assault and battery in Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court. She received a sentence of three days in county jail, followed by 180 days’ house arrest and five years’ probation.<ref>{{Cite news |last=McCarty |first=James |date=June 13, 2007 |title=Teacher sentenced in student sex case |pages=3 |work=The Plain Dealer |url=https://cleveland.newsbank.com/doc/news/119C2FD512CDDF90?search_terms=Teacher%2Bsentenced%2Bin%2Bstudent%2Bsex%2Bcase&text=Teacher%20sentenced%20in%20student%20sex%20case&content_added=&date_from=&date_to=&pub%255B0%255D=CPDB&pdate=2007-06-13 |access-date=July 7, 2022}}</ref>
In 2023 it was discovered that a student had engaged in sexual activity during the schools annual bus trip to Washington DC. The student had previous incidents including a similar incident in middle school where the students engaged in their health class The student was promptly reported and arrested after arrival.
The lawsuit filed by the former student against Strongsville City Schools claimed the school system enabled Scarlett to conduct the “raise your grade – date a teacher” curriculum which resulted in the assault and sexual battery against the “handicapped child”. The Ohio 8th District Court of Appeals determined that the action against the school system for failing to protect the child was outside of the statute of limitations.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bradigan v. Strongsville City Schools |url=https://law.justia.com/cases/ohio/eighth-district-court-of-appeals/2007/2007-ohio-2773.html |access-date=2022-07-15 |website=Justia Law |language=en}}</ref>
In January 2008, Strongsville Police accused school officials of hindering a criminal investigation by failing to promptly report allegations that another teacher had a sexual relationship with a student. After receiving an anonymous tip in November 2007, school officials investigated and determined the allegations not credible.<ref>{{Cite news |last=McCarty |first=James |date=January 27, 2008 |title=Strongsville schools accused of delaying incident report again |work=The Plain Dealer |url=https://cleveland.newsbank.com/doc/news/11E80D93E24E0350?search_terms=Strongsville%2Bschools%2Baccused%2Bof%2Bdelaying%2Bincident%2Breport%2Bagain&text=Strongsville%20schools%20accused%20of%20delaying%20incident%20report%20again&content_added=&date_from=&date_to=&pub%255B0%255D=CPDB&pdate=2008-01-27 |access-date=July 13, 2022}}</ref>
April 29, 2008 a Cuyahoga County grand jury charged 32-year-old social studies teacher John Bacho with five counts of sexual battery and possession of a criminal tool.<ref>{{Cite news |last=McCarty |first=James |date=April 29, 2008 |title=Strongsville teacher indicted in sex case Prosecutors want to grab his pickup, too |pages=B3 |work=The Plain Dealer |url=https://cleveland.newsbank.com/doc/news/1206081E8215CC58?search_terms=Strongsville%2Bteacher%2Bindicted%2Bin%2Bsex%2Bcase%2BProsecutors%2Bwant%2Bto%2Bgrab%2Bhis%2Bpickup%2C%2Btoo&text=Strongsville%20teacher%20indicted%20in%20sex%20case%20Prosecutors%20want%20to%20grab%20his%20pickup%2C%20too&content_added=&date_from=&date_to=&pub%255B0%255D=CPDB&pdate=2008-04-29 |access-date=July 13, 2022}}</ref>
John Bacho was found guilty of two counts of sexual battery on July 16, 2009. He was sentenced to three years in prison.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Hollow Plea: Former Teacher Who Had Sex With Student Begs Judge To Avoid Prison |url=https://www.cleveland19.com/story/10844101/hollow-plea-former-teacher-who-had-sex-with-student-begs-judge-to-avoid-prison |access-date=2022-07-15 |website=cleveland19.com |date=4 August 2009 |language=en}}</ref>
== Teachers union strike == On March 4, 2013 members of the Strongsville Education Associate (SEA) picketed outside the building after contract negotiations failed regarding healthcare costs and salaries had not been increased for 7 years. The Strongsville City Schools 2013 Teacher Strike lasted for eight weeks concluding with agreed upon contracts April 27, 2013.
==Notable alumni== * Jim Goetz, venture capitalist<ref>{{cite web|title= Cleveland tech entrepreneurs are changing the world in a big way |date=17 July 2016 |url=https://www.cleveland.com/business/2016/07/cleveland_tech_entrepreneurs_a.html}}</ref> * Mark Hunter, musician, photographer<ref>{{Cite web|last=Benson|first=John|title=Metal act from Cleveland ready to rock hard with 10th Christmas show|url=https://www.news-herald.com/news/metal-act-from-cleveland-ready-to-rock-hard-with-10th-christmas-show/article_2b735457-1945-5cb7-acd9-68557b33b6f9.html|access-date=2020-09-23|website=The News-Herald|date=25 December 2009 |language=en}}</ref> *Andrea R. Lucas, acting chair of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission<ref>{{cite web |title=Andrea Lucas Acting Chair, United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) |url=https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrea-lucas-a5b27513/details/education/ |website=LinkedIn |access-date=17 September 2025}}</ref> * Marwan Maalouf, coach in the National Football League<ref>{{Cite web|title=A CONVERSATION WITH MARWAN MAALOUF – PART ONE|url=https://www.colts.com/news/a-conversation-with-marwan-maalouf-part-one-7422236|access-date=2020-09-23|website=www.colts.com|language=en-US}}</ref> * Shawn Mennenga, coach in the National Football League{{citation needed|date=February 2021}} * Blake Miller, college football offensive tackle for the Detroit Lions<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.freep.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2026/04/23/detroit-lions-pick-blake-miller-clemson-ot-at-no-17-in-2026-nfl-draft/89742636007/|newspaper=Detroit Free Press|url-access=subscription|title=Detroit Lions pick Blake Miller, Clemson OT, 17th in 2026 NFL Draft |date=April 23, 2026|author=Birkett, Dave}}</ref> * Tucker Neale, basketball player<ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.crainscleveland.com/article/20170718/blogs06/170719808/former-strongsville-colgate-standout-develops-product-aimed-poor |title=Former Strongsville, Colgate standout develops product aimed at poor jump shots |last=Kleps |first=Kevin |date=July 18, 2017 |website=CrainsCleveland.com |publisher=Crain Communications, Inc. |access-date=February 14, 2021}}</ref> * John G. Peters, president, Northern Illinois University <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://niutoday.info/2022/10/11/niu-renames-campus-life-building-in-honor-of-former-president-john-g-peters/|title=NIU renames Campus Life Building in honor of former president John G. Peters|website=niu.edu|date= October 11, 2022}}</ref> * Matt Warburton, screenwriter for The Simpsons, Community, and The Mindy Project * Aaron White, professional basketball player<ref>{{Cite web|last=Patsko|first=Scott|date=2013-01-25|title=Strongsville High School grad Aaron White shining for University of Iowa men's basketball team|url=https://www.cleveland.com/strongsville/2013/01/strongsville_high_school_grad.html|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-09-23|website=cleveland.com|language=en}}</ref> * D. J. Woods, professional football player<ref name="A">{{cite web | url=http://www.gobearcats.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/woods_d.j.01.html | title=D.J. Woods | publisher=gobearcats.com | accessdate=14 April 2014}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * [https://shs.scsmustangs.org/ Official site] * [http://strongnet.org/simb Strongsville Instrumental Music Boosters]
{{Northeast Ohio Conference}}
{{authority control}}
Category:High schools in Cuyahoga County, Ohio Category:Educational institutions established in 1968 Category:1968 establishments in Ohio Category:Public high schools in Ohio Category:Strongsville, Ohio