Winston Churchill High School (Maryland) Explained

Winston Churchill High School
Former Name:Potomac High School
Address:11300 Gainsborough Road
Zipcode:20854
Country:United States
Principal:John Taylor[1]
Teaching Staff:120.90 FTE (2022-23)
Grades:9–12
Enrollment:2,234 (2022-23)
Ratio:18.48 (2022-23)
Campus Type:Suburban
Colors:Kelly green and royal blue
Conference:MPSSAA 4A
Mascot:Bulldog
Newspaper:The Churchill Observer
Yearbook:Finest Hours
Feeders:Herbert Hoover Middle School, Cabin John Middle School

Winston Churchill High School, often referred to as WCHS, Churchill High School, CHS or Churchill, is a public high school in Potomac, Maryland, United States, an unincorporated section of Montgomery County. It is the only public high school in Potomac.

The school is named after Winston Churchill, a British statesman and politician who was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom during World War II. Founded in 1964 as Potomac High School, the school's name was changed to "Winston Churchill High School" a year later.[2]

Churchill belongs to the Montgomery County Public Schools system. Most of its students live in Potomac with a small portion in Bethesda.

History

Winston Churchill High School was established in 1964 as Potomac High School. The school was renamed to honor Sir Winston Churchill the following year.

From 1999 to 2002, Churchill underwent renovations to modernize and revitalize the facilities. There was a formal rededication ceremony on April 21, 2002. Along with the opening of the new facility, the school's auditorium was renamed to the Dr. Gertrude G. Bish Auditorium, to honor the first principal of Churchill High School when it opened in 1964. She was the first woman high school principal in Montgomery County.[3]

In January 2010, a criminal investigation exposed a grade-changing scandal at Churchill. 46 students' grades were modified after 8 students hacked the school's grade system. The incident was treated by the police as a criminal investigation.[4] [5]

In 2016, controversy spiked in Montgomery County around racial incidents at Churchill. In November, two students put a sign reading "whites only" on a bathroom door, later telling authorities that they found the sign and wanted to see people's reaction. A month later, a few students allegedly entered a meeting of the school's Republican club, called the members racist, and wrote "Black Lives Matter" on the classroom whiteboard. In response, a club member supposedly said "White Lives Matter" directed to the non-club members. A Montgomery County Republican leader was hurt by this and told school district leaders after being informed by a parent. Chair of the education committee of the Montgomery County Republican Central Committee, Richard Jurgena was worried for the state of the club and called for a "complete, rapid and nonpartisan" investigation.[6]

In 2017, after a basketball game between Winston Churchill High School and Walter Johnson High School, Walter Johnson High School students defaced Winston Churchill High School property with vulgar graffiti. This caused $100,000 in damage.[7]

On October 13, 2021, a female Churchill student was assaulted by a 17-year old student from Walt Whitman High School. This incident occurred at the Churchill bus loop in the morning where the assailant brandished a knife and attacked the victim. The assailant subsequently fled the scene only to be later identified and taken into custody. The victim sustained minor injuries and "enhanced monitoring" was supposedly implemented during future dismissals.[8] [9]

In May 2022, a student made threats of violence against the school on social media. These included mentions of bringing guns and explosives on school property and murder threats in retaliation for being mistreated at the school.[10] The student was out of state at the time, however, and was prohibited from returning to Churchill for the remainder of the school year.[11]

On February 13th, 2023, Principal John Taylor sent out a message regarding a recent incident that occurred at the school. Racist graffiti in a boys bathroom at the school was noticed by a student and reported to school official, which prompted the removal of the graffiti and an investigation which has since gone unresolved. [12]

Areas Served

Churchill students come from two feeder middle schools and five elementary schools:[13]

School awards and academics

Churchill has been ranked in the top 100 high schools in the United States for years, climbing to 42 in 2007 and 75 in 2017.[14] [15] Churchill earned the 2007 Maryland Blue Ribbon Award[16] and was selected by the U.S. Department of Education as a 2007 National No Child Left Behind Blue Ribbon School.[17] In 2012, Churchill was rated the best high school in Maryland and fifth among non-magnet schools nationally according to U.S. News & World Report.[18] In 2016, the same report ranked Winston Churchill High School 94th in national ranking, 2nd in Maryland High Schools and 146th in STEM High Schools with 83.9 (out of 100) College Readiness Index.[19] In 2017, Churchill was ranked the best high school in Maryland and 75th in the nation by U.S. News.[20] As of 2024, Churchill has fallen to the 5th-ranked high school in Maryland and the 295th-ranked nationally, according to U.S News and World Report.[21]

Churchill students average a score of 1299 on the SAT, with 640 on verbal and 659 on math.[22]

Departments and programs

Churchill has nine academic departments: Art, Computer Science, English, Foreign Language, Mathematics, Performing Arts, Physical Education, Science, and Social Studies.

Autism Program

The Autism Program provides a program for students with low-functioning autism. These students learn how to improve their skills at undertaking certain tasks and also learn speech.

Signature Program

The Signature Program allows students to follow one of several course paths to specialize in a particular career field. The program comprises three academies: the Academy of Math, Science, & Technology; the Academy of International Studies; and the Academy of Creative and Performing Arts.[23]

Bridge Program

The Bridge Program provides a program for adolescents and young adults with learning/emotional disabilities. The program intends to foster academic skill development and alter behaviors that interfere with academic learning.[24] It is supervised by an interdisciplinary team intended to meet the needs of socially vulnerable middle and high school students who may be challenged by problem-solving abstract thinking, organizing and planning, interpreting social cues, establishing relationships with peers, coping with anxiety, changes in routine, and transitioning.

Performing arts

Many theater productions are put on regularly, including a night of one act plays. The One Acts Festival is student-produced, directed, and funded by the drama club. Churchill also has a choir program. Showstoppers is a mixed-gender show choir group, while Jazz Ambassadors is a mixed-gender choir. Both groups regularly compete within Montgomery County, regionally, and nationally. Churchill also hosts an annual show choir competition.

Churchill's choral music groups are Voice of a Generation (VOAG), Jazz Ambassadors, and Showstoppers.[25]

Voice of a Generation is a non-audition group for students who like to sing and learn about the study of music. Students learn to sight-read, read music, and improve their performance skills.

Jazz Ambassadors is a coed ensemble selected through auditions, focusing on developing vocal technique. Most songs are challenging jazz music, but this is often stretched to arrangements of different kinds of music like pop or classical.

Showstoppers is an honors show choir group of students selected through auditions who previously held choir positions at Churchill. This group features musically challenging music. Most music is popular, but any musical style, including sacred and secular works, is rehearsed and performed.

In 2007, Churchill's fall production of Singin' in the Rain was nominated for six Cappies High School Theater Awards,[26] winning Best Orchestra (for the third consecutive year), Best Cameo Actor, and Best Cameo Actress. Only one other school received more awards.[27] [28]

In 2009, Churchill's fall production of Rent: School Edition was nominated for four Cappies High School Theater Awards: Best Male Vocalist, Best Female Vocalist, Best Orchestra, and Best Song. Churchill won awards for Best Female Vocalist as well as Best Orchestra.[29]

Many students form bands, typically of a rock variety, and the school occasionally facilitates this by sponsoring a battle of the bands or band performance. The school has sponsored day-long concerts on school grounds; the Merritthon, a fundraising event for Leukemia research, occurred annually from 2002 to 2004.[30]

In 2009, the instrumental music program won four awards at the Windy City Classic, including Best Symphonic Band, Best Orchestra, Best Classical Soloist, and Best Overall Program. The jazz band received second place in that category. All three groups received a gold rating.

Publications

Churchill produces three publications, all of which have won awards: its newspaper, The Churchill Observer; its yearbook, Finest Hours; and its literary magazine, Erehwon.[31] [32] [33]

Athletics

Winston Churchill High School offers the following sports:

Fall

Winter

Spring

State championships

Team State championships
Season Sport Number of championships Year
Fall[34] 4 1968, 1975, 1977, 1978
2 1979, 1991
2 1976, 1977
2 1978, 1983
15 1976, 1987, 1988, 1995, 1998, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2014, 2015, 2019
7 1980, 1985, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1999, 2002, 2009
Winter[35] 2 2002, 2003
Basketball, boys' 1 1978
Ice hockey[36] 8 2006, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2022
2 1976, 2011
Swimming and diving, girls'[37] 3 2009, 2012, 2015
2 2018, 2019, 2022
Spring[38] Baseball 1 1979
1 1976
Wiffleball 5 1969, 1978, 1980, 2011, 2012
Ultimate frisbee 1 2013
Lacrosse, boys' 1 2022
Total 47

Notable alumni

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: July 16, 2021 . New Churchill, Richard Montgomery and Northwest principals appointed . June 16, 2022 . Bethesda Magazine.
  2. News: Rathner . Janet . Churchill's past, present come together in auditorium . September 24, 2018 . The Gazette . February 7, 2001.
  3. Web site: Churchill High School Celebrates Building Rededication. Montgomery County Public Schools. April 16, 2002. March 6, 2024.
  4. News: Birnbaum . Michael . Morse . Dan . Johnson . Jenna . Criminal investigation opened in grade-changing scandal at Churchill High . The Washington Post . A01 . March 4, 2010 . May 16, 2010.
  5. News: Francis . Elliot . Montgomery County High School Cheating Scandal . March 9, 2010 .
  6. News: Donna . George . 'Black Lives Matter' debate in Maryland school stirs allegations of racism. March 14, 2016 .
  7. News: High School Basketball Rivalry Causes $100,000 in Damage By Vandals . . Stabley . Matthew . January 31, 2017.
  8. News: Student Assaulted at Winston Churchill High School by Student From Walt Whitman High School . The MoCo Show . Herron . Patrick . October 13, 2021.
  9. News: UPDATED: Whitman student in custody after police say he assaulted female student at Churchill High . MoCo360 . Schere . Dan . October 13, 2021.
  10. News: 'Serious and disturbing threats' posted online against Montgomery County high school . . Watts . Lindsay . May 30, 2022.
  11. News: Student who made alleged threat won't return to Churchill High, police say . MoCo360 . Schere . Dan . May 31, 2022.
  12. News: Racist graffiti found at Potomac, Maryland high school . wusa9 . Pope . Troy . Feb 13, 2023.
  13. Division of Capital Planning, Montgomery County Public Schools. Superintendent's Recommended FY 2025 Capital Budget and the FY 2025–2030 Capital Improvements Program - Chapter 4: Winston Churchill Cluster. Accessed 6 June 2024
  14. News: Gold Medal Schools . November 29, 2007 . U.S. News & World Report . https://web.archive.org/web/20071201101144/http://www.usnews.com/articles/education/high-schools/2007/11/29/gold-medal-schools.html . December 1, 2007.
  15. News: Winston Churchill High School . June 7, 2017 . U.S. News & World Report . https://web.archive.org/web/20170607050344/https://www.usnews.com/education/best-high-schools/maryland/districts/montgomery-county-public-schools/winston-churchill-high-9153 . June 7, 2017.
  16. News: Jacobson . Erica . Two local schools awarded Md. Blue Ribbon designation . Washington Examiner . December 13, 2006 .
  17. Web site: Winston Churchill HS Named National Blue Ribbon School . October 2, 2007 . May 15, 2010.
  18. News: Best High Schools . May 8, 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120508202801/http://www.usnews.com/education/best-high-schools/maryland/rankings . May 8, 2012.
  19. News: Best High Schools . September 25, 2016 .
  20. Web site: U.S. News 2017 rankings.
  21. Web site: Winston Churchill High School . 6 June 2024 . U.S. News and World Report.
  22. Montgomery County Public Schools. Schools at a Glance - Winston Churchill High School. Accessed 6 June 2024.
  23. News: Signature Program faces more hurdles at Churchill . Erin . Donaghue . Potomac Gazette . November 4, 2009.
  24. Web site: Silverman . Speri . School Based Services . March 20, 2010 .
  25. Web site: WCHS Choral Music Department. www.wchsarts.com. September 26, 2016.
  26. News: Mack . Jean . And the Nominees Are... . The Washington Post . May 17, 2007 . February 5, 2009.
  27. News: Wootton, Churchill students bring home some Cappies . Peggy. Vaughn . Potomac Gazette . June 13, 2007.
  28. Web site: Winston Churchill High School Drama :: Production History. wchsdrama.org . https://web.archive.org/web/20100825021905/http://wchsdrama.org/production_history/production_history.html . August 25, 2010.
  29. Web site: 2009 National Capital Area Nominees.
  30. Cetron, Ari (June 18, 2003). "Rock for the Cure". Potomac Almanac. Retrieved May 23, 2010
  31. Web site: MSPA 2003 Publications Contest Results . Maryland-District of Columbia Scholastic Press Association . University of Maryland . 2003 . February 5, 2009 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090424050944/http://www.journalism.umd.edu/mspa/contests/pubcontest03.html . April 24, 2009 .
  32. Web site: Publication Awards Recognize Best in Area . Maryland-District of Columbia Scholastic Press Association . University of Maryland . Winter 2002 . February 5, 2009 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090424050936/http://www.journalism.umd.edu/mspa/adviser/winter02/pubawards.html . April 24, 2009 .
  33. Web site: MSPA 2002 Publications Contest Results . Maryland-District of Columbia Scholastic Press Association . University of Maryland . 2002 . February 5, 2009 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090424050941/http://www.journalism.umd.edu/mspa/contests/pubcontest02.html . April 24, 2009 .
  34. Web site: Fall Record Book . May 15, 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20101121173808/http://www.mpssaa.org/assets/publications/Fall%20record%20book08_Record%20Book.pdf . November 21, 2010 . dead .
  35. Web site: Winter Record Book . May 15, 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100331022851/http://www.mpssaa.org/assets/publications/Winter%20Record%20Book%2008.pdf . March 31, 2010 . dead .
  36. Web site: Winston Churchill. Washington Capitals High School League . March 4, 2019.
  37. Web site: Licensed to Potomac Valley Swimming. October 9, 2023.
  38. Web site: Spring Record Book . May 15, 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100601060644/http://www.mpssaa.org/assets/publications/Spring%20record%20book_Record%20Book.pdf . June 1, 2010 . dead .
  39. News: Profitt . Ashley . Women's History Month: MCM Spotlights Senator Susan C. Lee . Montgomery Community Media . March 25, 2019.
  40. Web site: MSU names medical doctor, current Stony Brook University president as new president. Jesse. David. Detroit Free Press. en. February 11, 2020.
  41. News: Corrigan . Ned . NFL Awaits Holloway: He's No Longer Too Big, Too Heavy . The Washington Post . April 26, 1981 . D5.
  42. Zimmerman . Paul . The Last in a Long Line . Sports Illustrated . October 22, 1984.
  43. Web site: Cheryl C. Kagan . Maryland Manual Online . Maryland State Archives .
  44. News: Kenny Kramm, creator of flavorings to make the medicine go down for kids, dies at 55 . Langer . Emily . The Washington Post . July 13, 2016.
  45. News: Brennan . Patricia . Signals From the Fast Lane . The Washington Post . December 23, 1990 . N10.
  46. Web site: Leimbach, Marti 1963- (Martha Leimbach). October 9, 2023 .
  47. News: Ledecky Among First Inductees in Montgomery County Sports Hall of Fame . Bethesda Magazine . September 11, 2019.
  48. News: Simms . Brandy L. . Boo-Boo Palmer to be enshrined in college football's Hall of Fame . Montgomery County Sentinel . January 11, 2018.
  49. News: Bing . Jonathan . The Write Stuff: 'Shutterbabe' zooms in . Variety . July 31, 2001.
  50. News: Shahzad . Maryam . Churchill Alum Named Rutgers' First Black President . Montgomery Community Media . January 23, 2020.
  51. News: Four from D.C. Area Make the Rhodes Scholarship Grade . Jenice . Armstrong . December 16, 1989 . The Washington Post . April 15, 2022.
  52. News: Belford . Susan . Dissecting Comedy . Potomac Almanac . July 24, 2014.
  53. News: Kaufman. Sarah L.. ABT star Julie Kent is Washington Ballet's new artistic director. March 8, 2016. Washington Post. March 7, 2016.
  54. News: Anderson. Bruce. On Top of the World. August 14, 1989.
  55. News: Media Statement from Rochelle P. Walensky, MD, MPH, CDC Director and ATSDR Administrator. January 20, 2021.
  56. News: Richman . Michael . Kemp runs with his options . The Washington Post . July 28, 1998 . D7.
  57. News: A Sine of a True Genius; Md. Youth Wins Major Math Competition: Jordan Ellenberg . The Washington Post . June 7, 1989 . Amy. Goldstein.
  58. News: Tsironis . Alex . Potomac Native And Churchill Graduate Is Responsible For Fortnite . Moco Show . June 15, 2018.
  59. News: Frank . Noah . Express lane to Bristol: Why so many D.C. sports personalities end up at ESPN . WTOP News . November 18, 2016.
  60. News: Bowen . Fred . A Hometown Hero . The Washington Post . March 9, 2001 . C11.
  61. News: People Notes . Potomac Almanac . LII . 49 . December 3, 2008 . 14.
  62. News: Shapiro . Leonard . Jones Is Too Fast To Keep Up With . The Washington Post . January 1, 2000 . D4.
  63. News: 'Game of Thrones' Writer Credits Churchill High With His Success. Tisha. Thompson. July 16, 2015. WRC-TV. April 22, 2018.
  64. News: Heil . Emily . D.C. native Ben Feldman on visits home, his new sitcom, and that nipple in a box . The Washington Post . October 2, 2014.
  65. News: Maske . Mark . A Challenge Getting Here . The Washington Post . May 2, 2003.
  66. News: Faguy . Ana . CHS alumna Kelen Coleman catches up with 'Observer' . Churchill Observer . May 28, 2014.
  67. News: Connecticut's Jerome Dyson is proud to be from Scotland. Giannotto. Mark. January 9, 2010. The Washington Post.
  68. News: Potomac, North Potomac residents crowned in state pageants. Erin. Donoghue. November 18, 2009. Gazette. https://web.archive.org/web/20100803181029/http://www.gazette.net/stories/11182009/potonew194842_32530.shtml. August 3, 2010.
  69. Web site: Smith . Shaun . High School Nationals: The Biggest Tie Ever and Hunter on Top . US Chess Federation . April 19, 2010.
  70. News: Milk. Leslie. Rising Stars. Washingtonian. October 1, 2008.
  71. Web site: Blonska. Joanna. The Young and the 'Reckless'. Bethesda Magazine. March 28, 2011. February 4, 2013.
  72. News: Parker . Brandon . Resilient Bulldogs win region title . The Washington Post . May 17, 2013 . D7.
  73. News: Noah Bratschi Wins first American Speed Championship Medal in 30 years: Highs and Lows in Moscow. Gym Climber. September 19, 2021. September 19, 2021. John. Burgman.
  74. https://www.teamusa.com/news/2022/may/21/noah-bratschi-earns-first-climbing-world-cup-podium-in-salt-lake-city Noah Bratschi Earns First Climbing World Cup Podium In Salt Lake City

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Winston Churchill High School (Maryland)".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2024, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.