Woodbury High School (Minnesota)

Woodbury High School, formerly Woodbury Senior High, is a high school serving grades 9–12 in Woodbury, Minnesota, United States. It is part of the South Washington County Schools. The school's mascot is 'Roar the Lion' and the school colors are blue and white. The school opened in 1975.

Woodbury High School
Address
2665 Woodlane Drive

Woodbury
,
MN
55125

United States
Coordinates44.90903°N 92.9608°W / 44.90903; -92.9608
Information
TypePublic High School
MottoExcellence in Arts, Athletics and Academics
Opened1975
School districtSouth Washington County Schools
SuperintendentKeith Jacobus
CEEB code242-343
PrincipalSarah Sorenson-Wagner
Staff90.12 (FTE)[1]
Grades9 to 12
Enrollment1,972 (2018–19)[1]
Student to teacher ratio21.88[1]
Classes offeredCollege in the Schools (CIS), Advanced Placement (AP), Project Lead The Way (PLTW)
Color(s)   Royal Blue and White
MascotRoyals
NewspaperThe Uproar
Feeder schoolsWoodbury Middle School, Lake Middle School
Websitewhs.sowashco.org

Overview

Enrollment for the school is about 1,933 students. This is one of the three public high schools in the district. WHS follows a three-trimester, six-period schedule with about 54 minutes in each class.[2] Woodbury High School is rated 9 out of 10 by Great Schools.

Academics

All schools in Minnesota are required by law to administer the Minnesota Comprehensive Assessment test, better known as the MCA, a standardized test used to measure student and school performance. In 2017 Woodbury High School scored 66.9% proficient in Mathematics, 74.4% proficient in Reading, and 77.9% proficient in Science.[3] Compared to statewide results, Woodbury scored 8.3, 14.2, and 23.7 percentage points higher in proficiency respectively.

The school average composite ACT score is 23.6.[4]

Woodbury High School is the 16th highest ranked high school in Minnesota by U.S. News & World Report, earning its Silver award.[5] GreatSchools.org gave Woodbury a 10 out of 10 GreatSchools rating.[6] In 2014 Newsweek magazine ranked Woodbury High School as the 45th best high school in the United States, placing it as 2nd best in Minnesota.[7] Niche (company) gave Woodbury High School the title of fourth best high school in Minnesota.[8]

Athletics

Basketball

The boys basketball team won the AA Minnesota State Championship in 1983. The team went undefeated (24-0), culminating in a 56-50 overtime victory over Coon Rapids (featuring future NBA player Tom Copa) in the state final.[9]

Shirt incident

In 2001 the school created homophobia-free areas called "safe zones" designated by an inverted pink triangle and intended for gay students.[10] Student Elliot Chambers reacted by wearing a makeshift sweatshirt with the slogan "Straight Pride" and the image of male and female stick figures holding hands. In light of previous anti-gay incidents, the school's principal ordered Chambers to remove the shirt, and a court case ensued.[11] A court upheld Chambers' complaint that his First Amendment rights had been violated, and that the principal's decision was unjustified.[11] Although praising the principal's intentions, the judge explained that views of both sides of the debate should be allowed and that such issues should be resolved within the school's community, not within the court system.[11] Under the Tinker case, the court stated that the substantial disruptions claimed by the school must be shown to have some connection to Chambers' sweatshirt message of "Straight Pride".[12]

Music department

The Woodbury Music Department supports a very comprehensive music program. The program includes 3 concert bands, 2 jazz ensembles, a marching band, a pep band, 3 orchestras, and 2 chamber orchestras

School Bands

Woodbury High School hosts a varsity band, a symphony band, a concert band, and a marching band.

Varsity Band

The Varsity Band is composed to mostly high school freshmen, but may include older students who are restarting their band process.

Symphony Band

The intermediate level band is made up of students grades 9-12. Each student has their own role in this band, it is designed to make students better and be able to move up to the concert band.

Concert Band

The Concert Band is the advanced level band and is the band program's premier and award-winning performing ensemble. Students in all grade levels may audition into the Concert Band, audition materials are released each spring, or at the director's discretion.[13] In the year 2016, the Concert band traveled to Denver, Colorado.

Jazz Ensembles

The Woodbury HS Jazz Ensembles perform jazz music of many styles when they appear in community events and concert performances. Jazz events begin in late November as the Marching Band season comes to an end.[14]

Marching Royals

The Marching Royals are made up of an all-volunteer group of students from grades 9-12 who are a part of the Woodbury High School Band Program. The Woodbury Royals marching band performs at every home football game under the lights.[15]

The Marching Royals have performed across the nation; including the 2013 Saint Patrick's Day Parade in New York City,[16] halftime at a Minnesota Vikings game at Mall of America Field in the fall of 2013,[17] and in front of 30,000 spectators in the Disney Festival of Fantasy parade at Disney World in Orlando, FL.[18] During the Fall of 2016 the Marching Royals played at the 75th anniversary of the Pearl Harbor attack in Hawai'i.

Pep Band

The Woodbury High School Pep Band is composed of all the members of the band program. As a part of regular band class, students perform for select athletic events throughout the school year.[19] The Pep Band also accompanies select Woodbury sports teams to state.

Orchestras

Woodbury High School has three orchestras along with two chambers. The three orchestras are; Varsity, Symphonia, and Concert.

Notable alumni

Woodbury High School has been attended by several persons of note, including:

  • Louis Ayeni, former NFL player[20]
  • Michelle Fischbach, US Representative and former Minnesota Lieutenant Governor
  • Kate Hughes, former LPGA tour golfer[21]
  • Chip Lohmiller, former NFL player
  • Max Meyer, 1st round pick (3rd overall) MLB Draft, 2020, Miami Marlins
  • Eric C. Tostrud, United States District Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota.

References
  1. "Woodbury High School". National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved May 4, 2020.
  2. Woodbury Senior High School website
  3. http://rc.education.state.mn.us/#mySchool/orgId--10833029000__p--1
  4. http://whs.sowashco.k12.mn.us/about-us/about-whs
  5. https://www.usnews.com/education/best-high-schools/minnesota/districts/south-washington-county-school-dist/woodbury-senior-high-11100
  6. http://www.greatschools.org/minnesota/woodbury/1972-Woodbury-Senior-High-School/
  7. http://www.newsweek.com/high-schools/americas-top-schools-2014
  8. "Woodbury Senior High School - MN - Rankings - Niche". K-12 School Rankings and Reviews at Niche.com. Retrieved 2016-06-05.
  9. "MN Boys' Basketball Hub | History". www.mnbasketballhub.com. Retrieved 2020-12-22.
  10. Fenton, Ben (18 January 2002). "Student wins right to show 'straight pride'". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 23 March 2012.
  11. Ayres, Ian; Brown, Jennifer Gerarda (2005). Straightforward: how to mobilize heterosexual support for gay rights (Google eBook). Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press. pp. 41–43. ISBN 978-0-691-12134-5.
  12. "Chambers v. Babbitt, 145 F. Supp. 2d 1068 (District of Minn. 2001)". First Amendment Schools: Speech. First Amendment Center. Retrieved 2012-03-27.
  13. http://whsbb.org/web/index.php?option=com_content&view=section&layout=blog&id=9&Itemid=34
  14. Woodbury High School Jazz Ensembles
  15. http://whsbb.org/web/index.php?option=com_content&view=section&layout=blog&id=12&Itemid=44
  16. http://www.twincities.com/ci_22772277/woodbury-marching-band-nyc-st-pats-parade
  17. http://www.vikings.com/news/blog/article-1/Woodbury-High-School-Marching-Royals-to-Perform-at-Halftime-of-Vikings-Browns-Game/429d9d87-e738-4290-9c74-3793082416ef
  18. http://www.startribune.com/local/east/281133912.html#Gm3DKRKV47ltf0T4.01
  19. http://whsbb.org/web/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=57&Itemid=45
  20. Louis Ayeni
  21. Kate Hughes
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