History of Seoul American High School

Seoul is a city of approximately sixteen million people located 35 miles from the North Korean border. The country is about the size of Great Britain, 525 miles from north to south and about 100 to 150 miles wide. The climate is temperate with four distinct seasons and can be compared to that of our New England States.

Seoul American High School is located on Yongsan Army Base in the center of Seoul, Korea. The school complex is comprised of eight buildings containing over 60 classrooms and special purpose rooms. The school has two well equipped combination faculty lounges and work areas. A library/media center houses 12,000 books and a full complement of audio visual materials. The educator staff of 70 is comprised of the usual range of education specialists in addition to classroom teachers.

SAHS opened in 1959 with approximately 150 students. The first class graduated in 1960. The classrooms at that time were quonset huts located across from the main Army Community Service building. Taegu, Pusan, and Chinhae students boarded at SAHS as there were no high schools in those areas until 1967. In the fall of 1967, Taegu opened its high school which alleviated the long drive for students. Construction began on the new high school in 1981 and was completed in the fall of 1982.

In addition to the main, arts, and gymnasium buildings a new structure which includes a JROTC section was opened in 1987. The JROTC facilities have two classrooms, three offices, supply room, arms room, four point indoor rifle range, and a hard top area u8sed for inspections and drills. Additionally, JROTC formal inspections are held on the Falcon Fields, the school's full-sized astroturfed football and soccer field.

School year, 1995-96 Seoul American High School had 550 students. This year enrollment is 630. SAHS is one of the larger schools in DoDDS Pacific and also has a reputation for being one of the leading academic schools. Every year SAHS ranks in the top 15% of high schools academics, providing students an exceptional education. Most of the students that graduate from SAHS are highly successful in life. We are proud of SAHS. We're the best!