Our History

Snider High School is named for R. Nelson Snider, who was principal at South Side High School for 37 years. He began his teaching career at the age of 17 after completing a 12-week course in instruction at Muncie Normal Institute. His first job was in a one-room schoolhouse in Delaware County. He later went on to study at Indiana Teachers’ College, Ball State Teachers’ College and Columbia University, where he earned his Master’s Degree. Ball State awarded him an honorary doctorate degree in 1963. Dr. Snider came to Fort Wayne in 1923 as principal of Smart School, and he became principal of South Side in 1926 where he stayed until he retired in 1963. Snider High School was built in 1965 as the city began to grow into St. Joseph Township and was considered a suburban school. Maurice N. Davis was the school’s first principal. Today, Snider offers dual-credit classes in chemistry, pre-calculus, calculus, statistics and Biomedical courses, as well as a host of Advanced Placement and foreign language courses. The school has a strong marching band program, frequently competing in the state competition. Snider’s Program of Study is Project Lead the Way-Biomedical Sciences. PLTW is a national program that uses hands-on, real world problems to engage and challenge students. It develops research, critical thinking and self-directed learning skills. Students who think they may pursue a career in medicine may be interested in this program. Specialized health-related classes, in addition to rigorous core classes, give students the opportunity to explore health careers and prepare for rigorous science coursework at the college level. Students have the opportunity to participate in internships in various medical, therapeutic and diagnostic fields, giving them a strong foundation in biomedical science. Students can also pursue their Emergency Medical Technician or Certified Nursing Assistant Certification at Anthis Career Center during their junior and senior years giving them a head start on a career in medicine. More information on PLTW can be found at https://www.pltw.org/our-programs/pltw-biomedical-science. Students attending Snider come primarily from Blackhawk and Lane middle schools. The school is located in the Board of School Trustees District 3. Mascot: Panthers School Colors: Gold/Black Mission: The mission of R. Nelson Snider High School is to promote academic and intellectual growth, to facilitate the acquisition of life skills and to encourage positive social interaction so that students and the community may thrive in an ever-changing environment.