Solon High School

File:Solon 9-3-22 (2).jpg

Solon High School and the entire Solon City School District consistently rank among the best schools in Ohio.{{cite web | url = http://www.solonschools.com/SolonNet/ViewArticle.aspx?ID=2869 | title = Final State Report Card Release Confirms Solon Earns Northeast Ohio's #1 Report Card grade and Excellent with Distinction rating | publisher = Solon City Schools | access-date = August 22, 2014 | date = February 28, 2013 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140826120043/http://www.solonschools.com/SolonNet/ViewArticle.aspx?ID=2869 | archive-date = August 26, 2014 }} In 2021, the Solon School District was named the best Public School District in America by the community and academic rating organization Niche.com. That same year, Solon High School was listed as #181 on Niche's list of America's Best Public High Schools and #3 Best Public High School in Ohio.{{cite web | url = https://www.niche.com/k12/solon-high-school-solon-oh/rankings/| title = America's Best High Schools| publisher = Niche | access-date = July 18, 2022|year=2013}} The school was given a Gold Ranking and listed as #211 by U.S. News & World Report and #7 in Ohio.{{cite web|title=Solon High School Overview|url=https://www.usnews.com/education/best-high-schools/ohio/districts/solon-city/solon-high-school-15481|publisher=U.S. News & World Report|year=2022|access-date=July 18, 2022}}

Solon High School is one of few schools to have received Blue Ribbon awards twice, both in 1991 and 2009.{{cite web|last=Pace|first=Pattie|url=http://www.cleveland.com/solonsun/news/index.ssf?/base/news-0/122235164751110.xml&coll=4|title=Solon High gets A Blue Ribbon|publisher=The Plain Dealer Cleveland.com|access-date=August 22, 2014|date=September 25, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140826114618/http://www.cleveland.com/solonsun/news/index.ssf?%2Fbase%2Fnews-0%2F122235164751110.xml&coll=4|archive-date=August 26, 2014}}{{cite web|title=National Blue Ribbon Schools Program Schools Recognized 1982 Through 2013|url=http://www2.ed.gov/programs/nclbbrs/list-2003.pdf|publisher=United States Department of Education|year=2013|access-date=August 23, 2014}}

Solon High School students are perennially recognized by the National Merit Scholarship Program. The class of 2021 had 19 Solon High School students named as National Merit Finalists and 14 Commended Students, while the class of 2022 had 34 Semi-Finalists and 16 Commended students.{{cite web|title=Solon High School Overview|url=https://www.solonschools.org/domain/472 |year=2022|access-date=July 18, 2022}} This was the highest number in Ohio.{{cite web|title=Solon High School's 34 National Merit semifinalists is highest number in Ohio|url=http://www.cleveland.com/community/2021/09/solon-high-schools-34-national-merit-semifinalists-highest-number-in-ohio.html#:~:text=The%2034%20seniors%20named%20as,%2C%20Andrew%20Li%2C%20Ryan%20Li%2C|publisher=Cleveland.com|date=September 29, 2021|access-date=July 18, 2022}}

In 2013, Solon High School was awarded the prestigious Red Quill Award from the ACT organization for the sixth consecutive year, and the Red Quill Legacy Award for the second consecutive year, for excellent overall student scores on the ACT (Test).{{cite web|title=Solon High School College Profile|url=http://www.solonschools.org/shs/guidance/SHS_College_Profile.pdf|publisher=Solon City Schools|year=2013|access-date=August 23, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140826133749/http://www.solonschools.org/shs/guidance/SHS_College_Profile.pdf|archive-date=August 26, 2014}} Solon was the only Ohio school to receive the award and one of 21 in the Midwest.{{cite web|last=Price|first=Kyla|title=Solon only high school in Ohio to receive Red Quill Legacy Award|url=http://www.cleveland.com/solon/index.ssf/2013/02/solon_only_high_school_in_ohio.html|publisher = The Plain Dealer Cleveland.com|date=February 7, 2013|access-date=August 22, 2014}}

Students are also often recognized for their performance on Advanced Placement Exams. Solon has over a 90% pass rate, and currently offers 27 AP courses.{{Cite web|url=https://www.solonschools.org/cms/lib/OH01814653/Centricity/Domain/772/SHS%20College%20Profile%202017.pdf|title=Solon High School Profile |website=Solon City School District |access-date=January 6, 2020}} The school has had many students recognized for number of exams taken and high average scores as AP Scholars{{cite web|title=Current and former Solon High School students honored as top AP scholars|url=http://www.cleveland.com/solon/index.ssf/2012/09/current_and_former_solon_high.html|publisher=The Plain Dealer Cleveland.com|date=September 25, 2012|access-date=August 23, 2014|first=Kyla|last=Price}} and others for being members of the less than 0.005% that have received perfect scores on their exams.{{cite web|title=Two Solon students among only 88 globally to land perfect scores on AP exams|url=http://www.cleveland.com/solon/index.ssf/2013/01/two_solon_students_among_only.html|publisher=The Plain Dealer Cleveland.com|date=January 24, 2013|access-date=August 23, 2014|first=Kyla|last=Price}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.solonschools.org/cms/lib/OH01814653/Centricity/Domain/468/Solon%20Board%20of%20Education%20Meeting%20Report%2010-24-16.pdf|title=Solon Board of Education Meeting Report – 24 October 2016 |website=Solon Schools}}

The Solon Comets' athletic programs compete in the Suburban League against other local area high schools. Solon's high school sports rivals include Twinsburg High School, Hudson High School, Mentor High School, and Mayfield High School.

Solon's mascot is the comet and its colors are blue and white. The school's fight song is "We Fight with the Might of the Blue, Gold, and White."

• Wrestling – 1990{{cite web|url=http://www.ohsaa.org/|title=Ohio High School Athletic Association Website|publisher=Ohio High School Athletic Association|access-date=December 31, 2006}}{{cite web|url=http://www.yappi.com/statechamps/wrestling.html|title=State Championship Listing|publisher=Yappi Sports Wrestling|access-date=February 12, 2007}}
• Girls track and field – 2013, 2014
• Boys cross country – 2016

Solon High School has many academic teams, including Science Olympiad, Academic Challenge, Mock Trial, Speech and Debate, Model United Nations, and Future Problem Solvers. Many of these teams have previously placed in tournaments at the state and national level.

The Solon High School Academic Challenge team has competed in the National Academic Quiz Tournaments High School National Championship for eight straight years, earning a fifth-place finish in 2015.{{cite web|title=2015 HSNCT Results|url=https://www.naqt.com/stats/tournament-teams.jsp?tournament_id=5700|publisher=National Academic Quiz Tournaments|access-date=June 9, 2015}} The team won the 2010 Ohio Academic Competition state championship as well as a 17th finish at the NAQT High School National Championship.{{cite web|title=Solon High School Tournament Results|url=http://www.naqt.com/stats/school-results.jsp?org_id=1277|publisher=National Academic Quiz Tournaments|access-date=August 24, 2014}}{{cite web|title=OAC Past State Champions|url=https://drive.google.com/a/file/d/0BwsUjFwzBTVQTk9GWDNJay1pbGc/view?pli=1|publisher=Ohio Academic Competition|access-date=June 9, 2015}}

In 1998, Solon Science Olympiad earned its first national championship and has consistently placed at the regional, state, and national levels. Solon Science Olympiad placed second in both 2003 and 2008, and then placed first at the 2011, 2012, and 2013 National Tournaments, tying them with Troy High School{{Cite web|url=https://scioly.org/|title=Science Olympiad Student Center|website=scioly.org}} from Fullerton, California for the most consecutive wins (3). They attended the White House Science Fair two times and received commendations from the Ohio State Legislature as a result of these accomplishments. At the 2019 National Tournament, Solon High School placed second at the National Tournament{{cite web|title=Solon High School Science Olympiad|url=http://scioly.org/wiki/index.php/Solon_High_School|publisher=Science Olympiad scioly.org|year=2013|access-date=November 2, 2013}} behind Troy High School.

The Solon High School Speech and Debate team is one of the largest and most successful programs of its kind in the state of Ohio. The team placed second at the Ohio Speech and Debate Association State Tournament in 2014, 2016, 2017, and 2021, and placed first in the state in 2022 for the first time in the program's history.{{Cite web|url=https://sites.google.com/site/solonspeechanddebate/Home|title=Solon Speech & Debate|website=sites.google.com|language=en-US|access-date=January 7, 2020}} It has produced 15 individual state champions since the team's inception.{{Cite web|url=https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1cHGyQF4_cQQ5Ey_zY8nSyz2JryIMCAgkPhsJj1FJo0I/edit?usp=embed_facebook|title=OSDA (OHSSL) Event Champions|website=Google Docs|language=en-US|access-date=January 7, 2020}} The team has also qualified numerous members to the National Speech and Debate Association (NSDA) National Tournament and was designated as a School of Outstanding Distinction in 2022 for ranking among the top 10 teams in the nation.{{cite web|url=https://s3.amazonaws.com/tabroom-files/tourns/23101/results/32073/2022-NationalSpeechAndDebateTournament-RESULTS.pdf|title=2022 National Tournament Results|publisher=National Speech and Debate Association|year=2022|access-date=July 2, 2022}} Solon produced national finalists in 2017{{Cite web|url=https://twitter.com/speechanddebate/status/878418261276282882|title=6th place in United States Extemp goes to Vishal Sundaram from Solon HS in OH! #Nats17|last=Debate|first=Speech &|date=June 23, 2017|website=@speechanddebate|language=en|access-date=January 7, 2020}} and 2022{{cite web |last1=Debate |first1=Speech |title=Congratulations @devsahuja for placing 5th in the nation in USX @speechanddebate #Nats22!! #OHSpeaks |url=https://twitter.com/solonspeech/status/1537985407723286529 |website=@solonspeech |publisher=Twitter |access-date=June 17, 2022}} who ultimately placed 6th and 5th in the country respectively, as well as a world champion at the 2019 NSDA National Tournament in the World Schools Debate event, representing the North Coast (OH) district.{{Cite web|url=https://patch.com/ohio/solon/solon-student-wins-world-championship-speech-debate|title=Solon Student Wins World Championship In Speech & Debate|date=July 1, 2019|website=Solon, OH Patch}}

File:Solon High School Marching Band.jpg

Solon High School has robust band, orchestral, and choral programs. Some of the funds that these programs receive come from the school-associated non-profit organization the Solon Music Parents.{{cite web|title=Solon Music Parents|url=http://www.solonmusicparents.org/|publisher=Solon City Schools|access-date=August 24, 2014}}

The school maintains a large and vibrant band program with over 300 students.{{cite web|title=About Us |url=http://www.solonband.com/about/ |publisher=Solon Band |access-date=August 24, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131207081659/http://www.solonband.com/about/ |archive-date=December 7, 2013 }}

During the summer and fall, all students enrolled in the school's band course perform with the full marching band. The group hosts a "Band Bash" every year,{{cite web|title=Solon High Hosts Band Bash Saturday|url=http://patch.com/ohio/solon/solon-high-hosts-band-bash-saturday|publisher=Patch Media|date=September 8, 2011|access-date=August 24, 2014|first=Chris|last=Mazzolini}} during which local marching bands perform. The band has performed during halftime shows for the Cleveland Cavaliers and Cleveland Browns, as well as performed the national anthem for the Cleveland Indians pregame.{{cite web|title=Solon Marching Band Performs at Cavaliers Halftime|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c5OBjAtIwpM |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/c5OBjAtIwpM |archive-date=December 21, 2021 |url-status=live|publisher=Youtube.com|date=August 9, 2008|access-date=August 24, 2014}}{{cbignore}}{{cite web|title=Solon Band Browns Halftime|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=58gksMYJfX0 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/58gksMYJfX0 |archive-date=December 21, 2021 |url-status=live|publisher=Youtube.com|date=October 11, 2010|access-date=August 24, 2014|first=Doug|last=Reichard}}{{cbignore}} There is a voluntary pep band that plays at school rallies and athletic events.

In the winter and spring, the band transitions to four concert bands, Wind Ensemble, Gold Ensemble, Blue Symphonic Band, and White Symphonic Band. All students must audition for the directors of the band. The Wind Ensemble is made up of the very top players often upperclass students, the Gold Ensemble is composed of the next most competitive players, and the rest of the students are evenly split by talent between the Blue and the White Symphonic bands. All members must participate in the Marching and Concert Band.

Solon currently has a jazz band for students to perform in, available by audition only. The Jazz band has traveled to New Orleans twice to learn about Jazz and the history of Jazz, and performed with jazz stars including Wayne Bergeron and Eddie Daniels.{{cite web|title=Solon Parent Teacher Association Newsletter|url=http://www.solonschools.org/Accounts/newsletters/1276_SHS%20News.pdf|publisher=Solon City Schools|date=January 1, 2013|access-date=August 24, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140826114913/http://www.solonschools.org/Accounts/newsletters/1276_SHS%20News.pdf|archive-date=August 26, 2014}}{{cite web|title=Wayne Bergeron Concert Information|url=http://www.solonschools.org/accounts/AChongris/WayneBergeronConcertInformation.doc|publisher=Solon Music Parents|year=2008|access-date=August 24, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140826133738/http://www.solonschools.org/accounts/AChongris/WayneBergeronConcertInformation.doc|archive-date=August 26, 2014}}{{cite web|title=Meeting Minutes 2009|url=http://solonband.com/SMP/October%206,%202009%20minutes.doc|publisher=Solon Music Parents|year=2009|access-date=August 24, 2014}}

The orchestra has approximately 180 students and is split into two orchestras: Sinfonia and Concert Orchestra. Students interested in playing in Sinfonia must audition. Often, a handful of band members will play with the Sinfonia at concerts. Concert Orchestra is the larger orchestra.

There are five main choruses that comprise the Choral Program including: 9th Grade Women's (SSAA), 9th grade Men's Chorus (TTBB), Concert Choir (SATB), a cappella Choir (SATB), and Music in Motion (SATB). There are also extra-curricular ensembles such as "The Madrigals", and various female and male barbershop quartets formed by students.{{cite web|title=Solon High School Choral Activities|url=http://www.solonschools.org/accounts/glewis/827200942457_ChoirStartLetter09.pdf|publisher=Solon City Schools|date=August 27, 2009|access-date=August 24, 2014|first=Gary|last=Lewis|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140826115519/http://www.solonschools.org/accounts/glewis/827200942457_ChoirStartLetter09.pdf|archive-date=August 26, 2014}}

Music in Motion is the Solon High School show choir. The group has won numerous Grand Championships in several Midwest competitions and had an undefeated season in 2012,and 2025.{{cite web|title=Music in Motion 2012|url=http://www.showchoir.com/choirs/choir.php?id=4323&x=12&y=3|publisher=ShowChoir.com|access-date=August 24, 2014}}{{cite web|title=Solon High School's Music in Motion choir tops in nation|url=http://www.cleveland.com/solon/index.ssf/2013/01/solon_high_schools_music_in_mo.html|publisher=The Plain Dealer Cleveland.com|date=January 31, 2013|access-date=August 24, 2014|first=Kyla|last=Price}} Solon transitioned in recent years from hosting a non-competition Festival to a full Show Choir Invitational.{{cite web|title=Solon Show Choir Festival Transforms into Competition Next Year|url=http://patch.com/ohio/solon/solon-show-choir-festival-transforms-into-competition-next-year|publisher=Patch Media|date=March 14, 2011|access-date=August 24, 2014|first=Maggie|last=Deininger}}

The SHS Courier is the school newspaper which is written and edited by students.{{cite web|title=The SHS Courier|url=https://theshscourier.com/ |publisher=Solon City School District |access-date=November 17, 2023}}

Solon Education Television (SETV) is a local public access television station that is broadcast from the school. The Solon High School Club, Comet Productions, staffs all the events aired. The station currently airs original programming such as SHS graduation, sports, Solon Board meetings, band, choir, and orchestra concerts, the annual Honor Society talent show, and drama club productions.

Comet Productions is open to all students with an interest in video production, for sports, concerts, and musicals.{{cite web|title=City committee learns education TV details|url=http://www.chagrinvalleytoday.com/schools/solon/article_048edb2e-e3ff-11e2-bfcd-0019bb30f31a.html|publisher=Chagrin Valley Today|date=July 4, 2013|access-date=August 24, 2014|first=Sue|last=Reid}}

Solon Community Television was a local public-access television station that aired original programming and was broadcast from Solon High School SCTV Studio 1. Now, SCTV Studio 1 has been converted into a classroom for a communications course; the last broadcast from Studio 1 was in 2009.{{cite web|title=Solon Community Television|url=http://my.en.com/~solontv/|publisher=Solon City Schools|year=1998|access-date=August 24, 2014|archive-url=http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20011127024707/http://my.en.com/~solontv/|archive-date=November 27, 2001}}

• Chris Bando, MLB catcher
• Drew Carter, NFL wide receiver
• Roger Davis, NFL lineman
• Kim Herring, NFL safety
• Reginald Jagers III, Olympic discus thrower in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics
• Dallas Lauderdale, NCAA basketball player
• Jim Mandich, NFL tight end, sports radio talk show host
• Dave Meggyesy, NFL player, author, teacher, union organizer
• Cam Miller, NFL player
• Mark Minor, NBA player
• Jeff Passan, MLB insider, ESPN, author

• Michael Cartellone, current drummer for Lynyrd Skynyrd, former drummer for the Damn Yankees
• Dominick Farinacci, jazz trumpeter, composer, and big band leader
• Scott Mescudi (known by the stage name Kid Cudi), rapper, singer, record producer, and actor

• Abigail Hing Wen, author, film producer and director
• Jay Shendure, Professor of Genome Sciences at the University of Washington
• Marc Sumerak, freelance comic book writer, former writer and editor with Marvel Comics
• Jack Van Antwerp, Director of Photography with The Wall Street Journal

In 2014, Solon High School experienced allegations of sexting amongst students.{{Cite web |last=Ridel |first=Kaitlyn |date=2014-03-08 |title=Solon consumed by sexting allegations |url=https://www.cleveland.com/solon/2014/03/solon_consumed_by_sexting_alle.html |access-date=2025-02-17 |website=cleveland |language=en}} School administrators said they found no evidence that these allegations were true.{{Cite web |last=Johnston |first=Laura |date=2014-03-07 |title=Solon High School principal said school found no evidence of inappropriate photos, in wake of sexting rumors |url=https://www.cleveland.com/solon/2014/03/solon_high_school_principal_sa.html |access-date=2025-02-17 |website=cleveland |language=en}}

In March 2021, allegations surfaced of sexual relations between principal Erin Short and a former female student who graduated in 2005{{Cite web |title=Solon Principal Did Have Affair With Former Student |url=https://wtam.iheart.com/content/2021-03-22-solon-principal-did-have-affair-with-former-student/ |access-date=2025-02-17 |website=Newsradio WTAM 1100 |language=en}} The student, in a statement written to the Solon Police Department, claimed that Short began a "calculated cultivation of [an] inappropriate relationship" with her while she was still a student at Solon High School, detailing various acts of grooming directly by the principal. The statement went on to claim that Short pursued an intimate relationship that turned sexual after the young woman graduated. Short stated that the two had a relationship only after the former student was 19 years old and in college.{{Cite web |last=Cory |first=Shaffer |date=2021-03-19 |title=Solon principal had prior affair with ex-student behind recent allegation of inappropriate conduct, records say |url=https://www.cleveland.com/court-justice/2021/03/solon-principal-had-prior-affair-with-ex-student-behind-recent-allegation-of-inappropriate-conduct-records-say.html |access-date=2025-02-17 |website=cleveland |language=en}} Short was cleared of legal wrongdoing, and school administrators reinstated her employment after a period of paid administrative leave.{{Cite web |last=Kaufman|first=Jane |date=2025-02-15 |title=Short to be reinstated as Solon High School principal |url=https://www.clevelandjewishnews.com/news/local_news/short-to-be-reinstated-as-solon-high-school-principal/article_e1c84c54-81d2-11eb-a869-c3f610996e7c.html |access-date=2025-02-17 |website=Cleveland Jewish News |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Wittenberg |first=Ed |date=2021-03-30 |title=Parents defend reinstatement of Solon High School principal |url=https://www.cleveland.com/community/2021/03/parents-defend-reinstatement-of-solon-high-school-principal.html |access-date=2025-02-17 |website=cleveland |language=en}}

{{update section |date=May 2025}}

As of August 2021, former district band director Ed Kline has been charged with 19 counts of gross sexual imposition, allegedly having sexually abused students as young as 12 for years.{{Cite web |last=Kaufman |first=Jane |date=2025-02-15 |title=Former Solon band director arraigned on more charges |url=https://www.clevelandjewishnews.com/news/local_news/former-solon-band-director-arraigned-on-more-charges/article_69c63394-0510-11ec-90ce-eb67c630abe3.html |access-date=2025-02-17 |website=Cleveland Jewish News |language=en}} Kline had resigned in June 2018 and pled not guilty to the charges at his arraignment.{{Cite web |last=Anderson |first=Chris |last2=Forward |first2=Kendall |date=2020-09-23 |title=Victim in court says former Solon Middle School band teacher inappropriately touched her when she was 12 |url=https://www.cleveland19.com/2020/09/23/former-solon-schools-band-director-charged-with-sex-crimes-involving-year-old-victim/ |access-date=2025-02-17 |website=cleveland19 |language=en}}

According to the indictment, the offenses took place from August 2003 until June 2014, describing Kline having "touched the breasts or buttocks of some victims" and "compelled others to touch his genitals". The grand jury referred to Kline as "a sexually violent predator" in the indictment statement.{{Cite web |last=Kaufman |first=Jane |date=2025-02-15 |title=Former Solon band director indicted on 18 counts of sexual offenses |url=https://www.clevelandjewishnews.com/news/local_news/former-solon-band-director-indicted-on-18-counts-of-sexual-offenses/article_d005f388-0331-11eb-a166-1fa280e8ef38.html |access-date=2025-02-17 |website=Cleveland Jewish News |language=en}}

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Category:High schools in Cuyahoga County, Ohio

Category:Educational institutions established in 1898

Category:Public high schools in Ohio

Category:1898 establishments in Ohio