Wilbert Tucker Woodson High School

Wilbert Tucker Woodson High School, commonly known as W.T. Woodson High School or simply Woodson, is a high school located in Fairfax County, Virginia, in the east end of the city of Fairfax, opposite the shopping center on Main Street.

W.T. Woodson High School
Address
9525 Main Street

Fairfax
,
Virginia
22031

United States
Coordinates38°50′25″N 77°16′31″W
Information
School typePublic, high school
FoundedAugust 4, 1962 (1962-08-04)
School districtFCPS
PrincipalCarlyn Floyd
Teaching staff167.67 (FTE) (2016–17)[1]
Grades9–12[1]
Enrollment2,477 (2017–18)[1]
Student to teacher ratio14.77 (2017–18)[1]
CampusSuburban[1]
Color(s)  Navy blue
  Red
  White
Athletics conferencePatriot District
Northern Region
NicknameCavaliers
USNWR ranking#365 (2019)[2]
NewspaperThe Cavalcade
YearbookThe Cavalier
Feeder schoolsFrost Middle School
Websitewoodsonhs.fcps.edu
Last updated: May 12, 2019 (2019-05-12)

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.[3] As of 2016, the student population was roughly 2,400. 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),[4] #34 (2005),[5][6] #90 (2006),[7] and #74 (2008).[8] Woodson has also appeared on the top high schools lists from U.S. News & World Report: #90 (2008),[9] #116 (2013),[10] #200 (2016),[11] and #365 (2019).[2]

Following the retirement of Jeff Yost, Dan Meier, the former principal of Robinson Secondary School, took over as interim principal for most of the 2014–15 school year.[12] The current principal as of October, 2017 is Dr. Carlyn Floyd.

Demographics

For the 2018–19 school year, Woodson High School's student body was 51.84% white non-Hispanic, 25.03% Asian, 12.62% Hispanic, 4.60% black, and 5.91% "Other."[13]

Renovation
Front entrance of Woodson High School

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.

Publications

The Cavalcade is the school newspaper. The Cavalier, Woodson's yearbook, is a AAA publication.[14]

Communities served by Woodson

Several unincorporated areas, such as Mantua,[15] Olde Creek, Canterbury Woods, Truro, Rutherford,[16] 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.[17][18] It was hit on a Sunday and no injuries were reported among the 65-75 people playing basketball in the school gymnasium.[19] The students did a split shift with Oakton High School to finish out the school year.[20] 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.[21][22]

Notable alumni

References
  1. "Search for Public Schools - W. T. Woodson High School (510126000600)". National Center for Education Statistics. Institute of Education Sciences. Retrieved December 26, 2019.
  2. "W.T. Woodson High School in Fairfax, VA - US News Best High Schools". U.S. News & World Report. 2019. Retrieved May 3, 2019. W.T. Woodson High School is ranked #365 in the National Rankings.
  3. Smith, J. Y. (July 14, 1983). "W.T. Woodson, Fairfax Schools Ex-Chief, Dies". Washington Post. Retrieved February 2, 2018.
  4. Newsweek Staff (May 23, 2003). "The Top High Schools". Newsweek. Retrieved May 3, 2019.
  5. Kantrowitz, Barbara (May 15, 2005). "The 100 Best High Schools in America". Newsweek. Retrieved May 3, 2019.
  6. Newsweek Staff (May 5, 2005). "The Complete List of the 1,000 Top U.S. Schools". Newsweek.
  7. Anderson, Nick (May 18, 2006). "13 in Region Among Top 100 High Schools". Washington Post. Retrieved May 3, 2019.
  8. "Newsweek's Top 1000 U.S. High Schools". MSN.com. Archived from the original on May 10, 2005.
  9. "Jefferson Is No. 1; Others in Area Make List". Washington Post. December 6, 2008. Retrieved May 4, 2019.
  10. wtopstaff (April 23, 2013). "Local high schools ranked best in country". WTOP. Retrieved May 3, 2019.
  11. Barton, Mary Ann (April 20, 2016). "Top 10 High Schools in Virginia: US News". Fairfax City, VA Patch. Retrieved May 3, 2019.
  12. Shapiro, T. Rees (August 18, 2014). "Woodson principal announces retirement". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved October 31, 2015.
  13. "Woodson HS". Student Membership Demographics and Supplemental Programs. Fairfax County Public Schools.
  14. "Yearbook". vhsl.org. Retrieved July 4, 2015.
  15. ""About Mantua: Schools". www.mantua.org. Mantua Citizens' Association. Archived from the original on July 31, 2013.
  16. "Description – Rutherford CA Home". rutherfordcommunity.com. Rutherford Civic Association. Retrieved May 3, 2019.
  17. Ambrose, Kevin (April 27, 2011). "Washington D.C. area's worst five tornado events". The Washington Post. Retrieved January 7, 2019. 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.
  18. "Tornadoes Rip Fairfax Apartments, Shops; 32 Hurt". The Washington Post. April 2, 1973. ProQuest 148443130.
  19. "Victims Escape Falling Roofs, Breaking Glass". The Washington Post. April 2, 1973. ProQuest 148479523.
  20. DuPree, David (April 12, 1973). "Tornado Still Keeping Woodson Team in Spin". The Washington Post. ProQuest 148498818.
  21. Harden, Blaine (September 7, 1979). "Tornado Rakes Fairfax". The Washington Post. ProQuest 147013753.
  22. Dougherty, Kerry (September 20, 1979). "Woodson Football Team Seeks Home Away From Home: Stadium Repairs Could Cost $45,000". The Washington Post. ProQuest 147029674.
  23. "The W. T. Woodson High School: 38 Years of History". Retrieved February 13, 2009.
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