History of HSE story

Hamilton Southeastern High School has been around since the 1960’s. It was the main high school serving the Fishers community. At the time, Fishers was a small rural town, with a small population. Over time it has grown to be one of the largest high schools in the state and Fishers is one of the fastest growing cities in the nation , and now serves over 3000 students.

But how did we get here, the building of HSE hasn’t been the same since the 1960’s there has been a lot of changes throughout the decades.

During the 80’s and 90’s the Fishers population exploded and HSE experienced extreme overcrowding. They needed to expand.

Assistant Principal, Steve Guenin states , “I’m not sure today’s students realize how fast HSE grew” Guenin stated. “From being a small 1A school to one of the largest in the state.”

The first major expansion wasn’t a new wing of the school, rather it was a rearrangement of the current structure of the school.

History teacher, Chad Janney states, “My classroom and this block of rooms [A and B hallway near Varsity gym] was the kitchen and entire cafeteria”, Janney Said. “Baseball field was along Olio Road.”

To make extra space for new students and classrooms HSE decided to rearranged certain rooms to provide more classrooms. They did this originally to prevent having to add a completely new wing onto the school.

However, HSE didn’t just need room for new classes but needed to expand their facilities for students.

Janney continues, “[the] Library was the gym.”

To be able to provide the needed resources for students,  HSE had to repurpose areas of the school to better provide. Another one of these changes was the current LGI, was the old swimming pool.

Throughout the years however, HSE didn’t just face structural changes but also operational changes as well

Both Guenin and Janney stated, “Biggest change has been going from 7 period day to a Block schedule”, Janney said. “When I started we were on a 7 period schedule”, Guenin states.

To help provide more detailed instruction HSE decided to switch from a 7 period schedule onto a block schedule. This divided the 7 period day into two 4 period days. This helped teachers better pace lessons and allowed for more flexibility within student schedules.

Traditions at HSE have also changed a lot since the opening of the high school.

Guenin states, “We had drive your tractor to school day.”

Janney states, “Homecoming traditions have changed.  Once had powder puff football, pep sessions, bonfire, floats”

Throughout the history of HSE a lot has changed and there has been a lot of secrets and hidden features about HSE that have gone unnoticed.

“What students don’t know about, there is a tunnel that leads from the maintenance closet across the hall from my room to the maintenance building by the greenhouse”, Janney said

The history of HSE is long and there are a lot of things that we will never know about it. Looking forward however we can see how HSE will be reshaped in the future.

Fall of 2026 will mark the start of renovations happening to HSE.

The HSE district Director of Facilities and Maintenance, Matthew Rapp,  states , “This summer, we will be starting construction on a new bus lot. It will move the buses from the front of the building on Olio Rd. to what is currently the band practice lot.”

These renovations to the bus lot are intended to accomplish two things. Better safety of HSE students and staff. And the freeing up of space on the west Side of the building for future expansion.

“The anticipated budget for this project is about $5 million dollars. We expect the construction to last 3-4 months, depending on the weather” Rapp stated. “This project will address the campus’s future growth and stormwater drainage in accordance with city/state regulations.”

As far as further expansion of the school after the bus lot renovation, it is unsure what expansions will take place.

“We are still deciding if, and how large a project we need to build for our students’ success,” Rapp stated .  “So, the construction, budget, and timeline have not been set. We have not settled on the programs nor the classes that will occupy the new addition.”

Whether its the history of HSE or the future, HSE has experienced a lot of growth and its expansion and history is still being written.