Sam Barlow High School


Sam Barlow High School 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.
𝕏 BarlowPride

History

Sam Barlow High School opened in September 1968 in its present location at 302nd Street and Lusted Road, east of Gresham, Oregon.
Teacher Stephen Corkett received the University of Oregon's high school teacher of the year award in 2009.
On November 23, 2009, two students discussed plans for a school shooting at Barlow High on Myspace. They were found guilty of disorderly conduct in February 2010.
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.

Academics

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

Sports

State championships

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

Activities

State championships

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

National Championships

  • Girls' Racquetball: 2020
  • Theatre: 2016

Notable alumni