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Laurel High School (Laurel, Maryland)
Encyclopedia
Laurel High School is a public high school
located in Laurel, Maryland
, and is the oldest school in the Prince George's County Public Schools
system. Founded in 1899 with an enrollment of 59 students and four teachers, the original school building is now the Phelps Community Center in Laurel. The cupola on top was used during WWII as a Civil Defense Aircraft Spotting Station for identifying enemy aircraft. The original building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
in 1979. In 1965, the school moved to a larger building at 8000 Cherry Lane in Laurel, and annex
ed an adjacent elementary school
in the early 1990s. Today, Laurel High School enrolls roughly 1,990 students in grades 9 through 12. The school mascot is the Spartan
, and the school colors are blue
and gold
.
Fulfilling an objective of the Prince George’s County Capital Improvement Program since 1989, construction on a new 800-seat auditorium
for the school is expected to begin in February 2009. The addition was completed in early 2010 school year.
Laurel is distinguished from several other schools in the area through its Technical Academy program, which offers students courses in Computer Networking, Automotive Mechanics
, Cosmetology
, and Nursing
/Medical Careers
.
Laurel High's student newspaper, The Shield, established in the 1995–1996 school year, has won awards from the American Scholastic Press Association and the Columbia Scholastic Press Association
. Prior to 1995–96 school year, the school paper operated under the name "The Tattler".
Principal Dwayne Jones is a former Laurel High student and was a member of the last Laurel High Basketball Team to win a state title.
In 2004 Sheryl Cashin said in The Failures of Integration: How Race and Class are Undermining the American Dream that Laurel High was one of several mostly black, mostly middle class PG County public high schools that was "decidedly underachieving: fewer than half of the seniors at these schools went on to attend four-year colleges in recent years."
Since August 2007, school policy requires students to wear uniforms.
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
located in Laurel, Maryland
Laurel, Maryland
Laurel is a city in northern Prince George's County, Anne Arundel County, and Howard County, Maryland, United States, located midway between Washington, D.C. and Baltimore. Incorporated in 1870, the city maintains a historic district including its Main Street...
, and is the oldest school in the Prince George's County Public Schools
Prince George's County Public Schools
The Prince George's County Public Schools system is a large school district administered by the government of Prince George's County, Maryland, United States and is overseen by the Maryland State Department of Education...
system. Founded in 1899 with an enrollment of 59 students and four teachers, the original school building is now the Phelps Community Center in Laurel. The cupola on top was used during WWII as a Civil Defense Aircraft Spotting Station for identifying enemy aircraft. The original building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1979. In 1965, the school moved to a larger building at 8000 Cherry Lane in Laurel, and annex
Annexation
Annexation is the de jure incorporation of some territory into another geo-political entity . Usually, it is implied that the territory and population being annexed is the smaller, more peripheral, and weaker of the two merging entities, barring physical size...
ed an adjacent elementary school
Elementary school
An elementary school or primary school is an institution where children receive the first stage of compulsory education known as elementary or primary education. Elementary school is the preferred term in some countries, particularly those in North America, where the terms grade school and grammar...
in the early 1990s. Today, Laurel High School enrolls roughly 1,990 students in grades 9 through 12. The school mascot is the Spartan
Spartan Army
The Spartan army was the military force of Sparta, one of the leading city-states of ancient Greece. The army stood at the centre of the Spartan state, whose citizens' primary obligation was to be good soldiers. Subject to military drill from infancy, the Spartans were one of the most feared...
, and the school colors are blue
Blue
Blue is a colour, the perception of which is evoked by light having a spectrum dominated by energy with a wavelength of roughly 440–490 nm. It is considered one of the additive primary colours. On the HSV Colour Wheel, the complement of blue is yellow; that is, a colour corresponding to an equal...
and gold
Gold (color)
Gold, also called golden, is one of a variety of orange-yellow color blends used to give the impression of the color of the element gold....
.
Fulfilling an objective of the Prince George’s County Capital Improvement Program since 1989, construction on a new 800-seat auditorium
Auditorium
An auditorium is a room built to enable an audience to hear and watch performances at venues such as theatres. For movie theaters, the number of auditoriums is expressed as the number of screens.- Etymology :...
for the school is expected to begin in February 2009. The addition was completed in early 2010 school year.
Laurel is distinguished from several other schools in the area through its Technical Academy program, which offers students courses in Computer Networking, Automotive Mechanics
Auto mechanic
An auto mechanic is a mechanic with a variety of car makes or either in a specific area or in a specific make of car. In repairing cars, their main role is to diagnose the problem accurately and quickly...
, Cosmetology
Cosmetology
Cosmetology is the study and application of beauty treatment. Branches of specialty including hairstyling, skin care, cosmetics, manicures/pedicures, and electrology....
, and Nursing
Nursing
Nursing is a healthcare profession focused on the care of individuals, families, and communities so they may attain, maintain, or recover optimal health and quality of life from conception to death....
/Medical Careers
Medicine
Medicine is the science and art of healing. It encompasses a variety of health care practices evolved to maintain and restore health by the prevention and treatment of illness....
.
Laurel High's student newspaper, The Shield, established in the 1995–1996 school year, has won awards from the American Scholastic Press Association and the Columbia Scholastic Press Association
Columbia Scholastic Press Association
The Columbia Scholastic Press Association is an international student press association, founded in 1925, whose goal is to unite student journalists and faculty advisers at schools and colleges through educational conferences, idea exchanges, textbooks, critiques and award programs...
. Prior to 1995–96 school year, the school paper operated under the name "The Tattler".
Principal Dwayne Jones is a former Laurel High student and was a member of the last Laurel High Basketball Team to win a state title.
In 2004 Sheryl Cashin said in The Failures of Integration: How Race and Class are Undermining the American Dream that Laurel High was one of several mostly black, mostly middle class PG County public high schools that was "decidedly underachieving: fewer than half of the seniors at these schools went on to attend four-year colleges in recent years."
Since August 2007, school policy requires students to wear uniforms.
Notable alumni
- AmeliaMickey and AmeliaMickey, Amelia & Spiegel is a local radio show that broadcasts out of Baltimore, Maryland, on WIYY, 98Rock . The morning show runs Monday through Friday from 5:30AM-10AM, starring Mickey Cucchiella, Amelia Ryerse and Josh Spiegel with their producer Scott Reardon.-Personalities:*Mickey Cucchiella:...
, WIYYWIYYWIYY is a radio station in Baltimore, Maryland, USA, owned by the Hearst Corporation. WIYY broadcasts an Mainstream Rock format that mixes music popular in the modern rock, heavy metal and classic rock genres...
radio personality - Marty FriedmanMarty Friedman (guitarist)Marty Friedman is a guitarist, well known for his tenure as the lead/rhythm guitarist for thrash metal band Megadeth, which lasted almost a decade...
, Guitarist (former lead of MegadethMegadethMegadeth is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California which was formed in 1983 by guitarist/vocalist Dave Mustaine, bassist Dave Ellefson and guitarist Greg Handevidt, following Mustaine's expulsion from Metallica. The band has since released 13 studio albums, three live albums, two...
) - Kirk FraserKirk FraserKirk Fraser is a film director, screenwriter, and film producer. His production company May 3 Films, is named after his son's date of birth.Kirk Fraser's first documentary film, The Life of Rayful Edmond: The Rise and Fall, Vol...
, Motion Picture Director and Producer - Tico WellsTico WellsTico Wells is an African-American actor, best known for his role as Choirboy in the 1991 film, The Five Heartbeats.. He has also appeared on The Cosby Show, 227, Hallmark movies and Beverly Hills, 90210. He was Tim in the movie, The Wishlist, and played Dexter Williams, the younger brother of...
, Motion Picture and Television Actor - Shari EllikerShari EllikerShari Elliker is an American radio personality who has worked on a number of radio stations, primarily in the Washington/Baltimore metropolitan area....
, Radio Personality, Voice Artist, Television Actor