Wilbert Tucker Woodson High School Explained

W.T. Woodson High School
Pushpin Map:USA Virginia Northern#USA Virginia#USA
Streetaddress:9525 Main Street
Zipcode:22031
Principal:Kevin Greata
Teaching Staff:167.75 (FTE) (2021–22)
Campus:Suburban
Usnwr Ranking:
  1. 337 (2022)[1]

| nickname = Cavaliers | colors = Navy blue
Red
White | established = | founded = | enrollment = 2,452 (2021–22) | ratio = 14.79 (2021–22) | newspaper = The Cavalcade | yearbook = The Cavalier | rivals = | conference = Patriot District
Northern Region | footnotes = | lastupdate = }}

Wilbert Tucker Woodson High School, commonly known as W.T. Woodson High School or simply Woodson, (in the process of renaming to Carter G. Woodson High School[2] ) is a high school located in Fairfax County, Virginia, just outside the east end of the city of Fairfax limits, opposite the shopping center on Main Street.

It is consistently ranked in the top 10 schools in Virginia by U.S. News and World Report and is one of the top schools in the United States.[3]

The school opened in 1962 and was once the largest school in the state. It is named for W. T. Woodson, who served as Fairfax County School Superintendent from 1929 to 1961.[4] As of 2022-2023, the student population was 2,220.[5] Woodson has the largest campus in Fairfax County in size of area, and also houses Woodson Adult High School, a separate education facility run by FCPS that allows adults to earn their GEDs and HS diplomas. Woodson has appeared multiple times on Newsweek magazine's lists of top or best high schools, including #23 (2003),[6] #34 (2005),[7] [8] #90 (2006),[9] and #74 (2008).[10] Woodson has also appeared on the top high schools lists from U.S. News & World Report: #90 (2008),[11] #116 (2013),[12] #200 (2016),[13] #365 (2019),[14] and #280 (2020).

Demographics

For the 2021–22 school year, Woodson High School's student body was 48.68% white non-Hispanic, 25.23% Asian, 13.37% Hispanic, 5.18% black, and 7.54% Other.[15] During 2024, the school was renamed after Carter G. Woodson, who is often called the founder of black history week.

Renovation

Woodson began the process of renovating all of its facilities in 2005 and adding several classrooms. The project was paid for in bonds that were established in 2003 by a voter referendum. The issue of whether to renovate had been debated for several years before the plan was approved. Woodson was one of the oldest schools in Fairfax County Public Schools, as the main facilities (plumbing, heating/cooling, floors, electrical) were still fundamentally the same as they were when the structure was built. The renovations nearly doubled the square footage of the school.

The project was completed in 2009. The renovation consisted of complete renovation to all existing interior spaces, as well as adding to the performing arts and athletic wings, creating a new administration wing with a new front entrance, highlighted by a large tower and the addition of a new science classroom wing and two student drop off areas.

Activities, groups, and programs

Woodson's mascot is a Cavalier and the sports teams play in the AAA Patriot District and the Northern Region. In 1976, the Washington Diplomats of the North American Soccer League used the school's stadium as their home field. In a Diplomats game on June 27, 1976, soccer legend Pelé, playing for the New York Cosmos, scored a goal in a game held at Woodson.[16]

Publications

The Cavalcade is the school newspaper. The Cavalier, Woodson's yearbook, is a AAA publication.[17]

Communities served by Woodson

Several unincorporated areas, such as Mantua,[18] Olde Creek, Canterbury Woods, Truro, Rutherford,[19] Long Branch, and Wakefield Forest are served by Woodson.

Woodson in the news

  • On April 1, 1973, a strong tornado struck Woodson High School and ripped off the roof.[20] [21] It was hit on a Sunday and no injuries were reported among the 65-75 people playing basketball in the school gymnasium.[22] The students did a split shift with Oakton High School to finish out the school year.[23] Graduation ceremonies were held on their home football field.
  • A second tornado spawned by the remains of Hurricane David severely damaged the school's stadium on September 5, 1979, causing an estimated $45,000 in damage.[24] [25]
  • On October 30, 2015, five students and a teacher were injured in an accidental fire caused by a chemistry experiment. Two of the injured students were airlifted to a local hospital, one of whom was left in critical condition.[26] The incident received coverage from the Washington Post, and New York Times. The event also prompted a statement from the U.S. Chemical Safety Board, who considered launching an investigation into the incident, but eventually opted against doing so.[27]
  • On January 30, 2022, a fire broke out in one of the school's administrative buildings adjacent to the main school building.[28] Investigators did not determine a reason for the fire, which was reported to have caused $8.8 million in damages. The remains of the building would eventually be scheduled for demolition.[29]

Suicide and mental health crisis

Between 2011 and 2014, six Woodson students died by suicide.[30] Woodson continues to be considered among the top high schools in Virginia, and some parents pointed to the school's competitive environment as a possible cause for the poor mental health of its students.[31] Following the suicides of 2014, the Virginia officials requested assistance from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the primary public health agency of the US federal government. CDC officials were sent to Northern Virginia to conduct focus group activities that attempted to identify possible causes of the suicides. Woodson itself also received $50,000 in federal aid for use in implementing mental health resources for its students.[32] Another suicide of a Woodson student was reported in 2017.[33]

Notable alumni

External links

]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: W.T. Woodson High School in Fairfax, VA . US News Best High Schools . 20 February 2023 . 24 July 2023.
  2. Web site: Woodson High School Renaming Fairfax County Public Schools . 2023-09-18 . www.fcps.edu . en.
  3. Web site: W.T. Woodson High School in Fairfax, VA .
  4. News: W.T. Woodson, Fairfax Schools Ex-Chief, Dies. J. Y.. Smith. 14 July 1983. 2 February 2018. Washington Post.
  5. Web site: Woodson HS. Student Membership Demographics and Supplemental Programs. Fairfax County Public Schools.
  6. News: The Top High Schools . May 23, 2003 . . Newsweek Staff . May 3, 2019.
  7. News: The 100 Best High Schools in America . May 15, 2005 . . Barbara . Kantrowitz . May 3, 2019.
  8. News: The Complete List of the 1,000 Top U.S. Schools . May 5, 2005 . . Newsweek Staff.
  9. News: . 13 in Region Among Top 100 High Schools . Nick . Anderson . May 18, 2006 . May 3, 2019.
  10. News: Newsweek's Top 1000 U.S. High Schools. https://web.archive.org/web/20050510000827/http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/7723397/site/newsweek . dead . 2005-05-10 . MSN.com .
  11. News: Jefferson Is No. 1; Others in Area Make List . . December 6, 2008 . May 4, 2019.
  12. News: Local high schools ranked best in country . . April 23, 2013 . wtopstaff . May 3, 2019.
  13. News: Top 10 High Schools in Virginia: US News . April 20, 2016 . Fairfax City, VA Patch . Mary Ann . Barton . May 3, 2019.
  14. News: W.T. Woodson High School in Fairfax, VA - US News Best High Schools . 2019 . . May 3, 2019 . W.T. Woodson High School is ranked #365 in the National Rankings..
  15. Web site: Woodson HS. Student Membership Demographics and Supplemental Programs. Fairfax County Public Schools.
  16. News: Cosmos Lose to Diplomats, 3-2. The New York Times. June 28, 1976 .
  17. Web site: Yearbook. vhsl.org. 4 July 2015.
  18. "Web site: About Mantua: Schools . Mantua Citizens' Association . https://web.archive.org/web/20130731000043/http://www.mantua.org/about/schools.htm . dead . July 31, 2013 . www.mantua.org .
  19. Web site: Description – Rutherford CA Home . May 3, 2019 . Rutherford Civic Association . rutherfordcommunity.com.
  20. News: Ambrose . Kevin . Washington D.C. area's worst five tornado events . January 7, 2019 . . April 27, 2011 . The twister then hopped aloft again, next coming down about two miles to the northeast, near Little River Turnpike, where it did serious damage to the Pickett Shopping Center and Woodson High School..
  21. News: Tornadoes Rip Fairfax Apartments, Shops; 32 Hurt. 2 April 1973. The Washington Post. .
  22. News: Victims Escape Falling Roofs, Breaking Glass. 2 April 1973. The Washington Post. .
  23. News: Tornado Still Keeping Woodson Team in Spin. DuPree. David. 12 April 1973. The Washington Post. .
  24. News: Tornado Rakes Fairfax. Harden. Blaine. 7 September 1979. The Washington Post. .
  25. News: Woodson Football Team Seeks Home Away From Home: Stadium Repairs Could Cost $45,000. Dougherty. Kerry. 20 September 1979. The Washington Post. .
  26. Web site: 2015-10-30 . Fire at Woodson H.S. injures 6 . 2023-01-25 . WTOP News . en.
  27. Web site: MacFarlane . Scott . Reporter • • . News4 I.-Team . Federal Investigators Looking Into Chemistry Class Fire at Woodson High School . 2023-01-25 . NBC4 Washington . November 3, 2015 . en-US.
  28. Web site: 2022-01-30 . Fairfax Co. crews contain flames on Woodson High School campus . 2023-01-25 . WTOP News . en.
  29. Web site: 2022-04-27 . Crews to demolish Woodson High School building damaged by fire FFXnow . 2023-01-25 . FFXnow Fairfax County, Va. breaking news and local happenings . en.
  30. News: Jouvenal . Justin . Shapiro . T. Rees . 2014-04-11 . After six Woodson High suicides, Fairfax County school community searches for solace and answers . en-US . Washington Post . 2023-01-31 . 0190-8286.
  31. Web site: Virginia high school searching for answers after 6 suicides in 3 years . 2023-02-01 . New York Daily News. April 13, 2014 .
  32. Web site: Associated Press . 2014-11-20 . Feds look into possible Fairfax County suicide clusters . 2023-02-01 . WJLA . en.
  33. Web site: Times . Angela Woolsey/Fairfax County . Youth suicide forum coincides with death of Woodson student . 2023-02-01 . Fairfax County Times . May 11, 2017 . en.
  34. Web site: The W. T. Woodson High School: 38 Years of History . 2009-02-13.