Westford Academy

Westford Academy is the academic public high school (grades 9–12) for the town of Westford, Massachusetts, United States. It was incorporated in 1792[4] and is one of the oldest public high schools in the United States. Westford Academy was originally established as a private school, but was changed to a public school in 1928. Westford maintained the name "Academy" as it maintained the board of trustees to allow students to continue being eligible to receive scholarships established by Westford Academy trustees.[5]

Westford Academy
Westford Academy
Location
30 Patten Road,
Westford, Massachusetts

United States
Information
TypePublic
Secondary
Open enrollment[1]
Established1792 (1792)[2]
School districtWestford Public Schools
DeanDan Twomey
Robert Ware
Betsy Murphy
PrincipalJames Antonelli
Faculty120
Grades9–12
Enrollment1717 (2020)
Campus typeSuburban
Color(s)Maroon and grey   
AthleticsAlpine Skiing, Baseball, Basketball, Cheerleading, Crew, Cross Country, Cross-Country Skiing Field Hockey, Football, Golf, Gymnastics, Ice Hockey, Indoor Track, Lacrosse, Soccer, Softball, Swimming, Tennis, Track and Field, Volleyball, Wrestling
MascotGrey Ghosts
RivalsActon-Boxborough, Lincoln-Sudbury
AccreditationNEASC
USNWR rankingRanked #47 Best High Schools in U.S and #2 in Massachusetts by Newsweek 2016
NewspaperWA Ghostwriter
MCAS % proficient and advancedELA: 97 Math: 97 Science: 94 (Spring 2011)[3]
WebsiteWestford Academy

Curriculum

Students must complete the following requirements for graduation:

  • English 20 credits
  • Math 20 credits
  • Science 15 credits
  • Social Studies 15 credits (10 U.S.)
  • PE 10 credits
  • Computer Literacy 2.5 credits
  • Electives 37.5 credits
  • Foreign Language 10 credits (Class of 2020)

No class rank is officially calculated, however a valedictorian and a salutatorian are named every year at graduation. Westford Academy provides several honors and advanced placement courses.

Advanced Placement courses include AP Calculus (AB & BC), AP Statistics, AP Computer Science, AP Biology, AP Chemistry, AP Physics B, AP Environmental Science, AP United States History, AP European History, AP English Literature and Composition, AP French Language, AP German Language, AP Spanish Language, AP Latin Literature, AP Psychology, AP Studio Art Drawing, and AP Music Theory. Often if a particular AP course is not offered as a class, teachers will work with students to study above the normal class curriculum and prepare for the Advanced Placement Exams.

Westford Academy Post High School Placement (2012)

  • 4 year college – 88%
  • 2 year college – 10%
  • Employment – 1%
  • Military/other – 1%[6]

There are 130 classroom teachers – 95% Master's degrees – and an average class size of 1:23 teacher:students.

Awards/Recognition

Newsweek Magazine (2016): #47 U.S. High Schools (National) #2 Massachusetts High Schools (State)

The 2008 Blue Ribbon Schools were announced on September 9. 329 public and private schools were honored at a ceremony in Washington, D.C., October 20–21. Westford Academy was named a NCLB-Blue Ribbon School. The No Child Left Behind-Blue Ribbon Schools Program honors public and private K–12 schools that are either academically superior in their state or that demonstrate dramatic gains in student achievement. Westford Academy has been accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges.

Extracurricular activities

Athletics

Westford Academy participates in the DCL (Dual County League). Sports teams include Cheerleading, Soccer, Golf, Field Hockey, Football, Swimming & Diving, Basketball, Ice Hockey, Gymnastics, Alpine Skiing, Indoor Track, Wrestling, Cross-Country Skiing, Women's Ice Hockey, Track and Field, Lacrosse, Tennis, Softball, Baseball, Crew, and Volleyball.

Westford Academy's football rival is Acton-Boxborough Regional High School. WA scored its first victory over AB in the Fall of 2005, snapping a 13-year losing streak. Ayer High School had been Westford Academy's Thanksgiving rival from 1969 until Westford Academy moved into the DCL. ABRHS had been Littleton's Thanksgiving Day rival from 1965 to 1969.

Westford Academy's Girls' Swimming and Diving team has also won 8 MIAA Division I State championships (2012–14, 2016–20) in additional to numerous Sectionals championship wins, Dual County League dual meet record championships and championship wins.

The Westford Academy Girls Varsity Ice Hockey team also allows girls from the Littleton High School to join the team because of the lack of women who play ice hockey between the two high schools.

Theatre Arts

The Westford Academy Theater Arts program (WATA) puts on four main stage and four black box productions each year. Guest directors have included Dr. Luke Jorgensen, a professor at Boston College, and Larry Sousa, an acclaimed director and choreographer. WATA has won eight state championships (2008, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2019) in the Massachusetts Educational Theater Guild's annual play festival.

Special interests

Other extracurricular activities include Beyond Words (literary magazine), the WA Ghostwriter (school newspaper), the Yearbook Club, Marching Band, After School Chorus, Mock Trial, DECA, French, Spanish, German, Mandarin and Latin Clubs, International Club, unicycle club, Gender Sexuality Alliance, Best Buddies, WA Pride, Community service club, Student Council, Speech and Debate, Junior State of America, Math Team, Science Team, HOSA, Forensics Club, Museum Club, WABC, Book Club, Photography Club, Chess Club, Peer Counseling, Cirrus, Future Educators of America, Amnesty International, Environmental Club, Quiz Bowl, Economics Club and many others.[7]

Incidents

In 2004, Westford Academy math teacher Rosemarie Pumo pleaded guilty to providing heroin to her students.[8] The school was later criticized by parents for not being forthcoming about the events and the school's role in it.[9]

In January 2020, a student executing the Outlet challenge, a viral internet challenge which emerged over the TikTok social media platform, led to a building evacuation after smoke was noticed leaving power outlets.[10]

Notable alumni

References
  1. http://www.doe.mass.edu/finance/schoolchoice/choice-status.pdf
  2. "Archives of Westford Academy". Westford Academy. Archived from the original on 2016-08-14. Retrieved 25 July 2016.
  3. "Westford Academy: MCAS Tests of Spring 2011 Percent of Students at Each Performance Level for Westford Academy". Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. 2011-09-15. Retrieved 2011-09-20.
  4. George Adams (1853). "Education in Massachusetts: Incorporated Academies". Massachusetts Register. Boston: Printed by Damrell and Moore.
  5. http://www.wickedlocal.com/westford/town_info/history/x2136193253
  6. http://wa.westfordk12.us/pages/westfordwa_guidance/Profile.pdf
  7. http://wa.westfordk12.us/pages/WestfordWA_Activities/index
  8. http://www.lowellsun.com/local/ci_2636227
  9. http://www.lowellsun.com/ci_3149921
  10. Corbett, Kelly (29 January 2020). "The Viral 'Outlet Challenge' Has Already Caused a Fire at a Massachusetts School, So Let's Stop This Now". House Beautiful. Retrieved 5 November 2020.
  11. http://www.westfordma.gov/pages/government/towndepartments/boardsandcommittees/westfordma_historic/index?textPage=1

Further reading

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