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Wakefield High School (Arlington County, Virginia)
Encyclopedia
Wakefield High School is one of three public high schools located in Arlington, Virginia
, and is just one block away from Alexandria
. There are 140 teachers and 1364 students as of March 2008. It is a fully accredited high school based on Virginia's Standards of Learning
examinations. There has been a push for students to take Advanced Placement Program
(AP) courses, which has become stronger in recent years since the inception of the AP Network.
Wakefield is the only high school in Arlington requiring all seniors to participate in a Senior Project
prior to graduation. Wakefield also offers the Spanish Immersion Program, the only high school in Arlington to do so.
Wakefield encourages students to participate in artistic activities. Instrumental, choral, theatrical, and visual arts are prominent in the school's atmosphere.
Wakefield's athletes are nicknamed the Warriors and wear the colors kelly green, white, and black. The school participates in the Virginia High School League
. The Warriors are represented by an image of a knight holding a sword, which was preceded by an Indian head until 2003.
and accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
. In 2002, Wakefield became a fully accredited school based on the Virginia SOL
examinations.
As of 2005–2006 the school has 1488 students and 140 teachers (of which 101 have Master's degrees and five have doctorate
s), covering grades 9-12.
Major Nidal Malik Hasan
, the sole suspect in the November 5, 2009 Fort Hood shootings, attended the high school.
began. Additional inductions are made in odd numbered years.
The school was built as a two-floored square building including two gyms, a cafeteria, and band
room situated in different corners. The library is located in the center of the square, with an entrance available only from the first floor hallway between the two gymnasiums. The Main Office is connected to the library via a small hallway and has an entrance located between the music department and cafeteria. Directly across from the Main Office is another hallway connecting to the drama department and auditorium, which can also be accessed from outside the building. The second floor is purely academic, and the basement is used for physical education purposes and has various fine arts studios.
In 2005, the school repainted the halls so that each hall was a different color. North is red, south is yellow, east is green, and west is blue. This was done to facilitate rapid evacuation.
In 2007, the county's school board began the planning process for modernization or replacement of the Wakefield building. If that process continues to completion, Wakefield will be the third of the county's three high schools to receive a new building, following Washington-Lee (new academic wing completed January 2008, full completion expected late 2009) and Yorktown (construction contemplated following a bond referendum in November 2008). The order of construction of the three schools corresponds to the age of the three existing buildings.
As of 2006–2007, 222 students receive ESL
support.
Most Wakefield students reside in "South Arlington," the portion of the county below Arlington Boulevard (US 50). This part of the county is home to many recent immigrants to the United States, and the residential areas are some of the most culturally diverse in the nation.The high school attendance boundaries are not fixed and change about once every decade. Historically, the attendance area for Wakefield has extended as far north as the Williamsburg area of Arlington near Mclean, and has at times included other parts of North Arlington near Ballston and Clarendon.
In 2003, Washingtonian Magazine
did a survey of all public and private high schools of the DC Metropolitan Area. They ranked Wakefield as the 17th most diverse high school out of 128.
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There are two 10-minute long breaks during the school day, the first being after the first class of the day, and the second being before the last class of the day. Vending machines are turned on in the morning, so students are only able buy snacks prior to third period but not again until the end of the day. As of October 2005, vending machines have been replaced with those of a healthier kind. Milk has replaced carbonated beverages and snacks have been replaced with sugarless alternatives. Even with a healthier variety, vending machines are still turned off during lunch time to curb the purchase of unregulated food and drink and are turned back on after school.
Homecoming
is an honored tradition at Wakefield. "Spirit Week" is also practiced. Each of the five days has a different theme, and the students and faculty dress accordingly.Another tradition is the Lobby Decorating Contest in which each class is assigned one of the four lobbies on the main floor and is to decorate it according to the homecoming theme. The winner of the contest receives a cash award. The week then concludes with a pep rally, parade, football game, and formal dance.
Diversity Week is an important week at Wakefield. This week is just like homecoming, in which each day has a different theme. Students are to dress up in cultural attire and bring in cultural foods on the assigned days. Students are also allowed to bring in cultural music that is played during the school day. During the week, each third period is to design their classroom door to represent the cultural diversity within the classroom and within the school. Similar to the Lobby Decorating Contest, the most well decorated door on each floor wins a Donut Party hosted by Leadership students. At the end of the week, a dance is hosted by Leadership students and cultural music is played during the night.
After graduation, graduates and guests are to participate in the Boat Party and Breakfast. Students are bussed to the Potomac Wharf and board the Spirit of the Potomac and take a three-hour boat ride. Usually, the main floor is for dancing and dining, the second floor is designed as a mock casino, and the upper deck is for outdoor lounging. At the end of the trip, the students are bussed back to Wakefield and are provided breakfast by parents of other students and participate in other activities.
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until 2003 (the 50th anniversary). Since then, the yearbook is retitled each year.
titles.
In the spring, the team hosts a tournament similar to the Saturday morning program for the other students and faculty of the school. They are to devise teams of 3 students and 1 faculty member of choice. Faculty most known to participate include Mr. Alfred Reid, Mr. Alan Beitler, Ms. Wendy Singer, and Mr. Thomas Cruger. It's Academic alumni are also known to come back and take part by reading questions or keeping scores. On the day of the tournament, teams are divided into two brackets, and play through an elimination tournament. The final two teams then play head-to-head in a closed-circuit televised event broadcast to the whole school. The winning team usually goes home with small trophies, as do selected players of superlative awards.
Games are usually played in four rounds: toss-up round, individual team round, faculty only round, and students only round. Questions include standard academic trivia, mathematic stumps, pop culture, and running jokes involving school faculty.
For the freshman of the school, there is a smaller tournament—also headed by the It's Academic team—known as the "Baby Brawl" with three teams representing each House.
The "Advanced Placement Program
(AP)" -- sponsored by the College Board
-- offers high school students the opportunity to take college-level courses and possibly receive credits when they enter college. Currently, AP exams are offered in 38 subjects. In 2005, approximately 1.2 million students took more than 2.1 million exams, and over 2,000 universities worldwide use the AP Program to some extent.
Today, it is universally acknowledged that the greatest predictor of college graduation is participation in rigorous, college-level (AP) courses in high school. As such, Wakefield encourages all students who are willing and interested to take these courses—as we believe that such courses are designed for the prepared and not simply the "gifted" student. The AP Network, which began as an Exemplary Project approved by the Arlington County School Board
in the spring of 2004, is rooted in this belief.
Since the Network's inception, the faculty and staff of Wakefield have been "networking" and creating numerous academic programs to introduce pre-AP and AP courses. Among these programs are the Foundations Pre-AP Program, the Pre-AP Bridge Program, the AP Summer Bridge Program for upperclassmen, and the AP Study Seminar.
In the spring of 2006, Wakefield was granted the Inspiration Award by the College Board
, reflecting the inception of the AP Network and as one of the country's Most Improved High Schools. Only three high schools are granted this honor every year. Along with Wakefield in 2006 was John Tyler High School
of Tyler, Texas
and Hobbs High School
of Hobbs, New Mexico
.
as a requirement for graduation. As a junior, each student is to select a topic of interest in which he/she is to have approved. Students may begin research during the summer before senior year. However, all papers must be written and verified during the academic year. At the start of the seniors' academic year, students select a date in which they are to present his/her project giving them a time-frame in which papers are to be submitted. During the year, the student then decides on a panel (composed of one pre-determined faculty member, one expert in the field, one person from the community, and another fellow senior) who will grade the project. Those who do not receive a "pass" or higher will report to Summer Institute to complete the missing requirements.
tests for the state of Virginia.
Source: GreatSchools.com http://www.greatschools.net/modperl/achievement/va/132
Wakefield offers the PSAT free for students in grades 10 and 11. For students wishing to take the SAT
, a preparatory course is offered at the school, as well as the actual examination. In 2007, the average SAT score was a 959 (471 in Reading; 488 in Math). However, Wakefield does not offer the ACT
.
Wakefield has always committed itself to making the AP exam affordable for its students. Now that the fee is paid by the school system, it takes the burden off of Wakefield's local budget and allows all AP students to test for free.
program allows students to continue taking challenging courses involving the Spanish language. In the past, students have had part of the entire curriculum in Spanish, however, the high school level of Spanish Immersion allows students to develop their ability to both read, speak, and think in courses including Spanish Literature and AP Spanish. Starting in 2006, immersion students are privileged to study abroad in universities of various Spanish speaking countries.
Wakefield also offers French, German, Latin, Arabic, Chinese, and Italian
. It is headed by Ms. Noel Deskins and Mr. Bob Strauss. The teams wear the colors kelly green, white, and black.
Starting in 2002, Arlington County spent well over $700,000 on the implant and maintenance of new Astroturf
in various athletic fields and stadiums. In 2004, Wakefield's outdoor stadium was the first of the three Arlington high schools with this change. Washington-Lee High School
and Yorktown High School had their fields implanted in 2005 and 2006, respectively.
In 2004, Wakefield completed the construction of the girls' softball field. This was the first time the two sports, softball and baseball, were segregated in the history of Warrior athletics.
for you we'll fight and spread your glory through.
FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT!
Come, let us sing out the Wakefield battle cry!
With thunderclubs and tomahawks,
we'll make your name and spread your fame.
Wakefield, we're all for you!
after pitching for Montgomery College
. He split the 2005 season between Rookie-level Mesa (Arizona League) and Salt Lake (AAA-acific Coast League]). In 2006, Beck split the season between two Class-A levels in the Midwest League
Cedar Rapids Kernels
and Rancho Cucamonga Quakes
of the California League
. He went a combined 1-2 with a 2.45 ERA and a save. After starting the 2007 season with the Arkansas Travelers
, appearing in four games, he wound up back in Rancho Cucamonga where his ERA ballooned to 5.55. As of the 2008 season, he was a free agent.
On September 8, 2009 (the first day of school), Wakefield hosted President Barack Obama
who addressed the students in what is known as the "Back to School Speech". This speech was broadcast live in schools across the United States. On March 7, 2011, President Barack Obama revisited the school, this time with the Australia
n Prime Minister Julia Gillard
and the United States Secretary of Education
Arne Duncan
. The president and prime minister talked to a class of juniors in an AP US History class.
On a high school tour early in their career, the boy band, Backstreet Boys
, once performed in an assembly.
School Athletics]
Arlington County, Virginia
Arlington County is a county in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The land that became Arlington was originally donated by Virginia to the United States government to form part of the new federal capital district. On February 27, 1801, the United States Congress organized the area as a subdivision of...
, and is just one block away from Alexandria
Alexandria, Virginia
Alexandria is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of 2009, the city had a total population of 139,966. Located along the Western bank of the Potomac River, Alexandria is approximately six miles south of downtown Washington, D.C.Like the rest of northern Virginia, as well as...
. There are 140 teachers and 1364 students as of March 2008. It is a fully accredited high school based on Virginia's Standards of Learning
Standards of Learning
Standards of Learning ' is a public school standardized testing program in the Commonwealth of Virginia. It sets forth learning and achievement expectations for core subjects for grades K-12 in Virginia's Public Schools...
examinations. There has been a push for students to take Advanced Placement Program
Advanced Placement Program
The Advanced Placement program is a curriculum in the United States and Canada sponsored by the College Board which offers standardized courses to high school students that are generally recognized to be equivalent to undergraduate courses in college...
(AP) courses, which has become stronger in recent years since the inception of the AP Network.
Wakefield is the only high school in Arlington requiring all seniors to participate in a Senior Project
Senior Project
Senior ProjectStudents, usually in their senior year of high school, choose a topic of interest to them and create a senior project that consists of the four P's:* Paper* Project* Portfolio* Presentation-How it works:...
prior to graduation. Wakefield also offers the Spanish Immersion Program, the only high school in Arlington to do so.
Wakefield encourages students to participate in artistic activities. Instrumental, choral, theatrical, and visual arts are prominent in the school's atmosphere.
Wakefield's athletes are nicknamed the Warriors and wear the colors kelly green, white, and black. The school participates in the Virginia High School League
Virginia High School League
The Virginia High School League is the arbiter of interscholastic competition among public high schools in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Unlike similar organizations in many other states, private or religious schools are prohibited from joining. Non-public schools belong to other organizations,...
. The Warriors are represented by an image of a knight holding a sword, which was preceded by an Indian head until 2003.
History
The school opened for the first time for the 1952–1953 school year. Under its current principal Christian Willmore, it is administered by the Arlington Public SchoolsArlington Public Schools
Arlington Public Schools is a public school division in Arlington County, Virginia. In 2010, there were 19,903 students, up from 18,715 a year earlier. In 2010, the students had come from more than 120 countries. There were 2,166 teachers....
and accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools is one of the six regional accreditation organizations recognized by the United States Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation...
. In 2002, Wakefield became a fully accredited school based on the Virginia SOL
Standards of Learning
Standards of Learning ' is a public school standardized testing program in the Commonwealth of Virginia. It sets forth learning and achievement expectations for core subjects for grades K-12 in Virginia's Public Schools...
examinations.
As of 2005–2006 the school has 1488 students and 140 teachers (of which 101 have Master's degrees and five have doctorate
Doctorate
A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder to teach in a specific field, A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder...
s), covering grades 9-12.
Major Nidal Malik Hasan
Nidal Malik Hasan
Nidal Malik Hasan, USA is a United States Army officer and sole suspect in the November 5, 2009, Fort Hood shooting, which occurred less than a month before he would have deployed to Afghanistan....
, the sole suspect in the November 5, 2009 Fort Hood shootings, attended the high school.
Alumni Hall of Fame
During the celebration of the school's 50th anniversary in 2003, induction to the school's Hall of FameHall of Fame
A hall of fame, wall of fame, walk of fame, walk of stars or avenue of stars is a type of attraction established for any field of endeavor to honor individuals of noteworthy achievement in that field...
began. Additional inductions are made in odd numbered years.
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Building structure and location
School band
A school band is a group of student musicians who rehearse and perform instrumental music together. A concert band is usually under the direction of one or more conductors...
room situated in different corners. The library is located in the center of the square, with an entrance available only from the first floor hallway between the two gymnasiums. The Main Office is connected to the library via a small hallway and has an entrance located between the music department and cafeteria. Directly across from the Main Office is another hallway connecting to the drama department and auditorium, which can also be accessed from outside the building. The second floor is purely academic, and the basement is used for physical education purposes and has various fine arts studios.
In 2005, the school repainted the halls so that each hall was a different color. North is red, south is yellow, east is green, and west is blue. This was done to facilitate rapid evacuation.
In 2007, the county's school board began the planning process for modernization or replacement of the Wakefield building. If that process continues to completion, Wakefield will be the third of the county's three high schools to receive a new building, following Washington-Lee (new academic wing completed January 2008, full completion expected late 2009) and Yorktown (construction contemplated following a bond referendum in November 2008). The order of construction of the three schools corresponds to the age of the three existing buildings.
Demographics
The demographic breakdown of the 2007–2008 school year is as follows:- 44.2% HispanicHispanicHispanic is a term that originally denoted a relationship to Hispania, which is to say the Iberian Peninsula: Andorra, Gibraltar, Portugal and Spain. During the Modern Era, Hispanic sometimes takes on a more limited meaning, particularly in the United States, where the term means a person of ...
- 28.9% Black
- 15.3% White
- 11.1% AsianAsian peopleAsian people or Asiatic people is a term with multiple meanings that refers to people who descend from a portion of Asia's population.- Central Asia :...
/Pacific IslanderPacific IslanderPacific Islander , is a geographic term to describe the indigenous inhabitants of any of the three major sub-regions of Oceania: Polynesia, Melanesia and Micronesia.According to the Encyclopædia Britannica, these three regions, together with their islands consist of:Polynesia:...
As of 2006–2007, 222 students receive ESL
English language learning and teaching
English as a second language , English for speakers of other languages and English as a foreign language all refer to the use or study of English by speakers with different native languages. The precise usage, including the different use of the terms ESL and ESOL in different countries, is...
support.
Most Wakefield students reside in "South Arlington," the portion of the county below Arlington Boulevard (US 50). This part of the county is home to many recent immigrants to the United States, and the residential areas are some of the most culturally diverse in the nation.The high school attendance boundaries are not fixed and change about once every decade. Historically, the attendance area for Wakefield has extended as far north as the Williamsburg area of Arlington near Mclean, and has at times included other parts of North Arlington near Ballston and Clarendon.
In 2003, Washingtonian Magazine
Washingtonian (magazine)
Washingtonian is a monthly magazine distributed in the Washington, DC area since 1965. The magazine describes itself as "the magazine Washington lives by." The magazine's core focuses are local feature journalism, guide book-style articles, and real estate advice.-Editorial Content:Washingtonian...
did a survey of all public and private high schools of the DC Metropolitan Area. They ranked Wakefield as the 17th most diverse high school out of 128.
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The schedule
Wakefield's school day revolves around a blocked schedule. There are seven periods reflected on a student's schedule. Periods 1, 5, and 7 are taken on Day 1, whereas periods 2, 4, and 6 are taken on day 2. Period 3 is taken every day and is considered "homeroom" for all students. Video announcements are shown during homeroom since it is the only class in which all Wakefield students are present in the building. All other class times may be filled with courses taken via the Arlington Career Center. Lunch is coordinated with periods 4 and 5. If a student's class is on the main floor or basement, they are to take first lunch and then attend class. Those with classes on the second floor or at the Career Center are to attend class before taking second lunch. Seniors are privileged to take lunch off campus. After school, students are entitled to take part in various academic and athletic activities. An "activity bus" is provided for students who need a ride home. If athletic activities succumb to long hours, a "sports bus" is provided later in the day.There are two 10-minute long breaks during the school day, the first being after the first class of the day, and the second being before the last class of the day. Vending machines are turned on in the morning, so students are only able buy snacks prior to third period but not again until the end of the day. As of October 2005, vending machines have been replaced with those of a healthier kind. Milk has replaced carbonated beverages and snacks have been replaced with sugarless alternatives. Even with a healthier variety, vending machines are still turned off during lunch time to curb the purchase of unregulated food and drink and are turned back on after school.
Homecoming
Homecoming
Homecoming
Homecoming is the tradition of welcoming back alumni of a school. It most commonly refers to a tradition in many universities, colleges and high schools in North America...
is an honored tradition at Wakefield. "Spirit Week" is also practiced. Each of the five days has a different theme, and the students and faculty dress accordingly.Another tradition is the Lobby Decorating Contest in which each class is assigned one of the four lobbies on the main floor and is to decorate it according to the homecoming theme. The winner of the contest receives a cash award. The week then concludes with a pep rally, parade, football game, and formal dance.
Diversity Week
Diversity Week is an important week at Wakefield. This week is just like homecoming, in which each day has a different theme. Students are to dress up in cultural attire and bring in cultural foods on the assigned days. Students are also allowed to bring in cultural music that is played during the school day. During the week, each third period is to design their classroom door to represent the cultural diversity within the classroom and within the school. Similar to the Lobby Decorating Contest, the most well decorated door on each floor wins a Donut Party hosted by Leadership students. At the end of the week, a dance is hosted by Leadership students and cultural music is played during the night.
All Night Grad Party
After graduation, graduates and guests are to participate in the Boat Party and Breakfast. Students are bussed to the Potomac Wharf and board the Spirit of the Potomac and take a three-hour boat ride. Usually, the main floor is for dancing and dining, the second floor is designed as a mock casino, and the upper deck is for outdoor lounging. At the end of the trip, the students are bussed back to Wakefield and are provided breakfast by parents of other students and participate in other activities.
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Clubs and activities
Wakefield offers many opportunities for students to participate in various clubs and activities to support their academics and challenge them to learn and grow outside the classroom. Such activities include: Nationally Recognized:
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Scholastic Activities:
Students' union A students' union, student government, student senate, students' association, guild of students or government of student body is a student organization present in many colleges and universities, and has started appearing in some high schools... It's Academic It's Academic is a televised academic quiz competition for high school students, currently airing on two NBC affiliates in Washington, D.C. and Central Virginia and one CBS affiliate Baltimore, Maryland . The show has been on the air since October 7, 1961, making it the longest... Math League Math League is a mathematics competition for elementary, middle, and high school students in the United States. The Math League was founded in 1977 by two high school mathematics teachers, Steven R. Conrad and Daniel Flegler. Math Leagues, Inc... School band A school band is a group of student musicians who rehearse and perform instrumental music together. A concert band is usually under the direction of one or more conductors... Choir A choir, chorale or chorus is a musical ensemble of singers. Choral music, in turn, is the music written specifically for such an ensemble to perform.A body of singers who perform together as a group is called a choir or chorus... Drama Drama is the specific mode of fiction represented in performance. The term comes from a Greek word meaning "action" , which is derived from "to do","to act" . The enactment of drama in theatre, performed by actors on a stage before an audience, presupposes collaborative modes of production and a... |
The Chieftain
Wakefield's school-wide newspaper is known as The Chieftain. It is a course in journalism offered by the school and is produced solely by students. Stories covered include local and international news, school events, performing arts, athletic development, and the ever popular "Kiss-O-Gram"(student-to-student messages regarding Valentine's Day).Starstone
Starstone was the title of the Wakefield yearbookYearbook
A yearbook, also known as an annual, is a book to record, highlight, and commemorate the past year of a school or a book published annually. Virtually all American, Australian and Canadian high schools, most colleges and many elementary and middle schools publish yearbooks...
until 2003 (the 50th anniversary). Since then, the yearbook is retitled each year.
Wakefield and It's Academic
Wakefield sponsors a team of students to participate in the locally televised quiz show, It's Academic. The team's faculty advisor is Scott McKeown. The Warriors have been sending the team to Scholastic Bowl tournaments (in addition to It's Academic) and have come home with multiple National DistrictAAA National District
The AAA National District is a high school conference in the state of Virginia that includes schools from eastern Fairfax County and all of the public high schools in Arlington County....
titles.
In the spring, the team hosts a tournament similar to the Saturday morning program for the other students and faculty of the school. They are to devise teams of 3 students and 1 faculty member of choice. Faculty most known to participate include Mr. Alfred Reid, Mr. Alan Beitler, Ms. Wendy Singer, and Mr. Thomas Cruger. It's Academic alumni are also known to come back and take part by reading questions or keeping scores. On the day of the tournament, teams are divided into two brackets, and play through an elimination tournament. The final two teams then play head-to-head in a closed-circuit televised event broadcast to the whole school. The winning team usually goes home with small trophies, as do selected players of superlative awards.
Games are usually played in four rounds: toss-up round, individual team round, faculty only round, and students only round. Questions include standard academic trivia, mathematic stumps, pop culture, and running jokes involving school faculty.
For the freshman of the school, there is a smaller tournament—also headed by the It's Academic team—known as the "Baby Brawl" with three teams representing each House.
Special programs
- The Freshman Foundations Program divides all freshman into four "houses" known as House I, House II, House III, and House IV. Each "house" has a team of teachers with one teacher to a subject or rather "foundation": English, math, world history, biology, and technology. Each house has its own schedule when it comes to classes, electives, and lunch. Freshman do not attend Career Center courses. There is also one "team" (known as Team-1) devised of its own team of teachers.
- Wakefield's Academic Cohort Program identifies African American and Hispanic males in 9th grade who are capable of taking a more demanding course load. These students are supported through graduation. They meet weekly with our gifted Coordinator, a school counselor, and social worker to lend support to each other as they tackle the demanding coursework.
- Lunch Labs are provided to the students in all subject areas and offered only during lunch. Students are to go to these labs in an effort to develop their academic lack in the content area (i.e. make up tests, get homework assistance, study, etc.). Some labs are also offered throughout the day and after school.
- The Arlington Career Center offers technical courses served under: Business & Communication, Industry & Engineering, and Health & Human Services.
AP Network
Wakefield's Instructional Leadership Team can take credit for changing the way teachers think about just who the AP student is. Formerly, the Advanced Placement students were viewed to be those at the top of the class with the highest GPAs. These students typically took 2 or more Advanced Placement classes and were highly self-motivated. Currently, more students are enrolling in AP courses as result of staff initiatives.The "Advanced Placement Program
Advanced Placement Program
The Advanced Placement program is a curriculum in the United States and Canada sponsored by the College Board which offers standardized courses to high school students that are generally recognized to be equivalent to undergraduate courses in college...
(AP)" -- sponsored by the College Board
College Board
The College Board is a membership association in the United States that was formed in 1900 as the College Entrance Examination Board . It is composed of more than 5,900 schools, colleges, universities and other educational organizations. It sells standardized tests used by academically oriented...
-- offers high school students the opportunity to take college-level courses and possibly receive credits when they enter college. Currently, AP exams are offered in 38 subjects. In 2005, approximately 1.2 million students took more than 2.1 million exams, and over 2,000 universities worldwide use the AP Program to some extent.
Today, it is universally acknowledged that the greatest predictor of college graduation is participation in rigorous, college-level (AP) courses in high school. As such, Wakefield encourages all students who are willing and interested to take these courses—as we believe that such courses are designed for the prepared and not simply the "gifted" student. The AP Network, which began as an Exemplary Project approved by the Arlington County School Board
Arlington Public Schools
Arlington Public Schools is a public school division in Arlington County, Virginia. In 2010, there were 19,903 students, up from 18,715 a year earlier. In 2010, the students had come from more than 120 countries. There were 2,166 teachers....
in the spring of 2004, is rooted in this belief.
Since the Network's inception, the faculty and staff of Wakefield have been "networking" and creating numerous academic programs to introduce pre-AP and AP courses. Among these programs are the Foundations Pre-AP Program, the Pre-AP Bridge Program, the AP Summer Bridge Program for upperclassmen, and the AP Study Seminar.
In the spring of 2006, Wakefield was granted the Inspiration Award by the College Board
College Board
The College Board is a membership association in the United States that was formed in 1900 as the College Entrance Examination Board . It is composed of more than 5,900 schools, colleges, universities and other educational organizations. It sells standardized tests used by academically oriented...
, reflecting the inception of the AP Network and as one of the country's Most Improved High Schools. Only three high schools are granted this honor every year. Along with Wakefield in 2006 was John Tyler High School
John Tyler High School
John Tyler High School is a public, co-educational secondary school in Tyler, Texas. It is part of the Tyler Independent School District and serves 9th through 12th grade...
of Tyler, Texas
Tyler, Texas
Tyler is a city in and the county seat of Smith County, Texas, in the United States. It takes its name from President John Tyler . The city had a population of 109,000 in 2010, according to the United States Census Bureau...
and Hobbs High School
Hobbs High School
Hobbs High School is located in Hobbs, New Mexico, and has a student population of about 1500 students as of 2009. Ralph Tasker coached basketball at HHS for 49 years, from 1949 to 1998.-Campus:...
of Hobbs, New Mexico
Hobbs, New Mexico
Hobbs is a city in Lea County, New Mexico, United States. The population was 28,657 at the 2000 census.Hobbs is the principal city of the Hobbs, New Mexico Micropolitan Statistical Area, which includes all of Lea County.-Geography:...
.
Senior Project
Wakefield is the only school in Arlington that requires students to complete a Senior ProjectSenior Project
Senior ProjectStudents, usually in their senior year of high school, choose a topic of interest to them and create a senior project that consists of the four P's:* Paper* Project* Portfolio* Presentation-How it works:...
as a requirement for graduation. As a junior, each student is to select a topic of interest in which he/she is to have approved. Students may begin research during the summer before senior year. However, all papers must be written and verified during the academic year. At the start of the seniors' academic year, students select a date in which they are to present his/her project giving them a time-frame in which papers are to be submitted. During the year, the student then decides on a panel (composed of one pre-determined faculty member, one expert in the field, one person from the community, and another fellow senior) who will grade the project. Those who do not receive a "pass" or higher will report to Summer Institute to complete the missing requirements.
Testing
Wakefield administers the SOLStandards of Learning
Standards of Learning ' is a public school standardized testing program in the Commonwealth of Virginia. It sets forth learning and achievement expectations for core subjects for grades K-12 in Virginia's Public Schools...
tests for the state of Virginia.
| Average SOL Scores | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Subject | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | ||||
| Reading | 93% | 89% | 81% | 86% | 95% | ||||
| Writing | 89% | 84% | 84% | 83% | 93% | ||||
| Math | 69% | 72% | 72% | 75% | |||||
| Science | 67% | ||||||||
Source: GreatSchools.com http://www.greatschools.net/modperl/achievement/va/132
Wakefield offers the PSAT free for students in grades 10 and 11. For students wishing to take the SAT
SAT
The SAT Reasoning Test is a standardized test for college admissions in the United States. The SAT is owned, published, and developed by the College Board, a nonprofit organization in the United States. It was formerly developed, published, and scored by the Educational Testing Service which still...
, a preparatory course is offered at the school, as well as the actual examination. In 2007, the average SAT score was a 959 (471 in Reading; 488 in Math). However, Wakefield does not offer the ACT
ACT (examination)
The ACT is a standardized test for high school achievement and college admissions in the United States produced by ACT, Inc. It was first administered in November 1959 by Everett Franklin Lindquist as a competitor to the College Board's Scholastic Aptitude Test, now the SAT Reasoning Test...
.
Wakefield has always committed itself to making the AP exam affordable for its students. Now that the fee is paid by the school system, it takes the burden off of Wakefield's local budget and allows all AP students to test for free.
Foreign languages
The Spanish ImmersionLanguage immersion
Language immersion is a method of teaching a second language in which the target language is used as the means of instruction. Unlike more traditional language courses, where the target language is simply the subject material, language immersion uses the target language as a teaching tool,...
program allows students to continue taking challenging courses involving the Spanish language. In the past, students have had part of the entire curriculum in Spanish, however, the high school level of Spanish Immersion allows students to develop their ability to both read, speak, and think in courses including Spanish Literature and AP Spanish. Starting in 2006, immersion students are privileged to study abroad in universities of various Spanish speaking countries.
Wakefield also offers French, German, Latin, Arabic, Chinese, and Italian
Visual arts
Jina Davidson heads the school's Fine Arts Department and teaches photography and art history. Margot Dunn joined the Fine Arts faculty in 2008 and teaches drawing, painting, ceramics, crafts, and AP art. Davidson and Dunn encourage students to participate in visual art competitions, and many have come back with high honors and awards.Performing arts
Wakefield has also spawned a generation of students in the performing arts. In the winter of 2004, Wakefield introduced its newly renovated auditorium, now called the "Center of Performing Arts". This houses all performing arts including instrumental, choral, and theatrical.- The Marching Warriors compete 3-4 times a season and have received multiple grade III honors, including with VBODAVirginia Band and Orchestra Directors AssociationThe Virginia Band and Orchestra Directors Association is an organization of high school, middle school, and elementary school band and orchestra directors within the Commonwealth of Virginia, whose mission is to help promote opportunities of music education to K-12 students...
. During their season, they also play in several parades including Arlington's Neighborhood Day Parades and Randolph Elementary School's annual Halloween Parade. In 2002, the Marching Warriors traveled out of state to participate in a competitive parade.
- All the instrumental and choral groups—including the String Orchestra, Band, and Choir—compete twice annually amongst other schools both at the District 12 level in the fall and on an out-of-state trip in the spring. Respectively, the groups come home with grade I, grade II, and grade II honors. Other competitive musical groups include Jazz Band and the MadrigalMadrigal (music)A madrigal is a secular vocal music composition, usually a partsong, of the Renaissance and early Baroque eras. Traditionally, polyphonic madrigals are unaccompanied; the number of voices varies from two to eight, and most frequently from three to six....
s. Symphonette and Blues Band are non-competitive but are offered to play in community functions.
- Wakefield's Drama Club performs in three different performances per year, including a fall drama production, a competitive One-Act production in the winter, and its more popular spring musical, all of which spawn award-winning performances. The spring musical competes annually amongst DC Metropolitan high schools in a formal ceremony for Cappies, awards similar to the TonysTony AwardThe Antoinette Perry Award for Excellence in Theatre, more commonly known as a Tony Award, recognizes achievement in live Broadway theatre. The awards are presented by the American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League at an annual ceremony in New York City. The awards are given for Broadway...
. They also have a partnership with Arlington's Signature Theater.
Athletics
Wakefield's athletic department competes through the Virginia High School LeagueVirginia High School League
The Virginia High School League is the arbiter of interscholastic competition among public high schools in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Unlike similar organizations in many other states, private or religious schools are prohibited from joining. Non-public schools belong to other organizations,...
. It is headed by Ms. Noel Deskins and Mr. Bob Strauss. The teams wear the colors kelly green, white, and black.
List of Teams
Boys Athletics:
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Girls Athletics:
Color guard (flag twirling) Modern colorguard has evolved over the years into a form of entertainment that's a form of dance theater. It uses props, along with movement, to express dynamic passages in the music accompanying the show. A colorguard is traditionally the visual representation of the music... Cheerleading Cheerleading is a physical activity, sometimes a competitive sport, based on organized routines, usually ranging from one to three minutes, which contain the components of tumbling, dance, jumps, cheers, and stunting to direct spectators of events to cheer on sports teams at games or to participate... Volleyball Volleyball is a team sport in which two teams of six players are separated by a net. Each team tries to score points by grounding a ball on the other team's court under organized rules.The complete rules are extensive... Field hockey Field Hockey, or Hockey, is a team sport in which a team of players attempts to score goals by hitting, pushing or flicking a ball into an opposing team's goal using sticks... Gymnastics Gymnastics is a sport involving performance of exercises requiring physical strength, flexibility, agility, coordination, and balance. Internationally, all of the gymnastic sports are governed by the Fédération Internationale de Gymnastique with each country having its own national governing body... Softball Softball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of 10 to 14 players. It is a direct descendant of baseball although there are some key differences: softballs are larger than baseballs, and the pitches are thrown underhand rather than overhand... |
Interscholastic:
(Scholastic)
(performing arts)
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Pool and stadiums
Wakefield High School owns and manages its own swimming pool. During the week, it is used for physical education for the students of Wakefield and for students of neighboring middle and elementary schools. Other times, it is used publicly for the community at large. The community does not have a team to represent the public pool, but is represented by the Warriors' swim and dive team.Starting in 2002, Arlington County spent well over $700,000 on the implant and maintenance of new Astroturf
AstroTurf
AstroTurf is a brand of artificial turf. Although the term is a registered trademark, it is sometimes used as a generic description of any kind of artificial turf. The original AstroTurf product was a short pile synthetic turf while the current products incorporate modern features such as...
in various athletic fields and stadiums. In 2004, Wakefield's outdoor stadium was the first of the three Arlington high schools with this change. Washington-Lee High School
Washington-Lee High School
Washington-Lee High School is one of three traditional public high schools in the Arlington Public Schools district in Arlington, Virginia, covering grades 9-12. As of 2009-2010, the school had over 1,800 students and 120 teachers...
and Yorktown High School had their fields implanted in 2005 and 2006, respectively.
In 2004, Wakefield completed the construction of the girls' softball field. This was the first time the two sports, softball and baseball, were segregated in the history of Warrior athletics.
Warrior fight song
Wakefield, your Warriors will always be truefor you we'll fight and spread your glory through.
FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT!
Come, let us sing out the Wakefield battle cry!
With thunderclubs and tomahawks,
we'll make your name and spread your fame.
Wakefield, we're all for you!
Notable alumni and visitors
In 2004, alumnus Brad Beck (class of 2003) signed with the Los Angeles Angels of AnaheimLos Angeles Angels of Anaheim
The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are a professional baseball team based in Anaheim, California, United States. The Angels are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The "Angels" name originates from the city in which the team started, Los Angeles...
after pitching for Montgomery College
Montgomery College
Montgomery College is a public, open access community college located in Montgomery County, Maryland, just outside Washington, D.C. in the United States. The college has three campuses, the largest of which is in Rockville; the other campuses are in Takoma Park/Silver Spring and Germantown...
. He split the 2005 season between Rookie-level Mesa (Arizona League) and Salt Lake (AAA-acific Coast League]). In 2006, Beck split the season between two Class-A levels in the Midwest League
Midwest League
The Midwest League is a Class-A minor league baseball league which operates in the Midwestern United States.-History:Six teams – the Belleville Stags, the Centralia Cubs, the Marion Indians, the Mattoon Indians or East Frankfort White Sox, the Mount Vernon Braves, and the West Frankfort...
Cedar Rapids Kernels
Cedar Rapids Kernels
The Cedar Rapids Kernels are a Class A minor league baseball team based in Iowa. It is affiliated with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim and plays in the Midwest League.-Franchise history:...
and Rancho Cucamonga Quakes
Rancho Cucamonga Quakes
The Rancho Cucamonga Quakes are a minor league baseball team in Rancho Cucamonga, California, USA. They are a Class A – Advanced team in the California League and a farm team of the Los Angeles Dodgers, their third major league affiliate in team history....
of the California League
California League
The California League is a Class A Advanced minor league baseball league which operates throughout the state of California. Before 2002, it was classified as a "High-A" league, indicating its status as a Class A league with the highest level of competition within that classification, and the fifth...
. He went a combined 1-2 with a 2.45 ERA and a save. After starting the 2007 season with the Arkansas Travelers
Arkansas Travelers
The Arkansas Travelers, also known informally as The Travs, are a Minor League Baseball team based in Little Rock, Arkansas. The team, which plays in the Texas League, is the Double-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim Major League club....
, appearing in four games, he wound up back in Rancho Cucamonga where his ERA ballooned to 5.55. As of the 2008 season, he was a free agent.
On September 8, 2009 (the first day of school), Wakefield hosted President Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
who addressed the students in what is known as the "Back to School Speech". This speech was broadcast live in schools across the United States. On March 7, 2011, President Barack Obama revisited the school, this time with the Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n Prime Minister Julia Gillard
Julia Gillard
Julia Eileen Gillard is the 27th and current Prime Minister of Australia, in office since June 2010.Gillard was born in Barry, Vale of Glamorgan, Wales and migrated with her family to Adelaide, Australia in 1966, attending Mitcham Demonstration School and Unley High School. In 1982 Gillard moved...
and the United States Secretary of Education
United States Secretary of Education
The United States Secretary of Education is the head of the Department of Education. The Secretary is a member of the President's Cabinet, and 16th in line of United States presidential line of succession...
Arne Duncan
Arne Duncan
Arne Duncan is an American education administrator and currently United States Secretary of Education. Duncan previously served as CEO of the Chicago Public Schools.-Early years and personal:...
. The president and prime minister talked to a class of juniors in an AP US History class.
On a high school tour early in their career, the boy band, Backstreet Boys
Backstreet Boys
The Backstreet Boys are an American vocal group, formed in Orlando, Florida in 1993. The band originally consisted of A. J. McLean, Howie Dorough, Brian Littrell, Nick Carter and Kevin Richardson. They rose to fame with their debut international album, Backstreet Boys...
, once performed in an assembly.
External links
- Wakefield High School Homepage
- Arlington Career Center
- Wakefield High
- World Leaders Make Surprise Visit to Wakefield High
School Athletics]