- Thomas Sprigg Wootton High School or Wootton High School (WHS) is a high school in Rockville, Maryland. Its namesake is Thomas Sprigg Wootton, the founder of Montgomery County. The school was founded in 1970 and is part of the Montgomery County Public Schools system. The majority of the students come from Robert Frost Middle School or Cabin John Middle School. The principal since July 2003 has been Dr. Michael Doran.
- Academics
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In 2005, Wootton was named the 17th best high school in the United States by Newsweek. The only school from Montgomery County to beat it was Richard Montgomery High School, which placed 11th. The rankings have come into question however because of the controversial method used to evaluate schools. "Public schools are ranked according to a ratio devised by Jay Mathews: the number of Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate tests taken by all students at a school in 2004 divided by the number of graduating seniors." This method completely disregards the scores on the test, i.e., the school ranked number one could have the lowest scores on tests in the country as long as that school takes the most tests.,In addition to the usual selection of Advanced Placement and Honors-level classes and the unique College Institute program, which allows senior students to take classes through Montgomery College, Wootton also offers two signature programs: the Humanities and Arts Program, and the STARS Program.
- The Humanities and Arts Program (or "H&A") students typically have an affinity for some or all of the following: Social Studies, English, Foreign Language, and Fine Arts. Humanities students are enrolled in separate classes in the subjects of English and Social Studies for their freshman, sophomore, and junior years. These classes count for the same credits and cover the same materials as their regular counterparts, but allow for more creativity and intellectual discussion in the classroom. Five additional credits are added to the MCPS graduation requisites, but that is only part of the program's requirements. The other requirements are the off-campus experience and the "Senior Independent Project". The off-campus experience encourages Humanities students to step outside their comfort zone and learn outside the classroom. The off-campus requirement can be fulfilled by a trip studying abroad, attending a pre-college program on a university/ college campus, or an internship working in a humanities or arts subject. The final requirement is the "Senior Independent Project"- more commonly known as the "SIP"- is the focus of the Humanities Program from Junior year onward. The SIP may take two possible forms; that of the Extended Essay or Creative Project. The Extended Essay is an argumentative research paper of 18-20 pages; The Creative Project involves a shorter argumentative or expository essay of 8-10 pages and a creative project. The SIP was introduced to the program a year after the Humanities Program was formed in 2001; and has been a defining part of the senior-year experience for six years. Humanities students have traditionally been closely involved in Wootton's musical and theatrical productions.
- The Wootton class of 2009 is the largest class ever to graduate the school, with 664 students (62 of which are currently enrolled in the program).The class of 2010 contains 629 students, 75 of which are enrolled in the program.The class of 2011 contains 600 students, 85 of which are enrolled in the program.The class of 2012 contains 588 students, 85 of which are enrolled in the program.Students participating in the STARS ("Science, Technology, And Research Scholars) Program choose to focus on one of the following during their high school years: Global Science, Computer Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, or Molecular Biology. With the change of leadership in the STARS program in 2008, several major changes were made in the program's requirements. A "Capstone Project", similar to the Humanities SIP, became a requirement with the class of 2011.
- Extracurricular activities
- Clubs
- In 2007, Wootton students, Timothy Hwang '10 and Minsoo Han '10, founded the international service organization, Operation Fly, Inc. [1][2] later taking their organization to Chicago, New York, Baltimore, Boston, Toronto, Los Angeles, and abroad.
- On April 28, 2007, Wootton won first place for the second-year-team at the University of Maryland's 23nd Annual Chemathon. Twenty-four high schools from Maryland, Virginia, and DC participated. This is the third year in a row Wootton has placed first in the Level II division. The first-year-team placed 8th in this event.
- In March 2006, the Wootton Model United Nations Club attended the Johns Hopkins Model United Nations Conference in Baltimore, Maryland. The club members acted as delegates representing Ukraine and Iceland on various UN Committees. In 2008, the club once again attended the conference, representing Japan and Moldova.
- On February 26, 2005 and on February 25, 2006, the Wootton Science Bowl team won the Maryland/Delaware Regional Science Bowl.
- At the National Science Bowl on April 30 through May 2, 2005, the Wootton Science Bowl team won fifth place out of sixty-three schools nationwide, all of which had won their respective regional event.
- On February 25, 2006, a team of eight Wootton students placed fourth in the B division of the Harvard-MIT Math Tournament.
- In March 2005, the Wootton Programming Team got third place out of the thirty-two schools competing in the University of Maryland Computer Science Competition. In October 2005, the programming team earned second place at the Hood College Competition, and in March 2006, the team placed fifth at the University of Maryland Computer Science Competition, winning $400.
- The Wootton High School Debate Team placed third in the 2007-2008 regional tournament.
- The Wootton High School Cancer Awareness Club raises awareness of the deadly disease in the school's community. They were recently invited to WHIT Washington FM 99.5 to talk about their club with show host Julian.
- The Wootton TV / Film Club submitted a film to the Montgomery County Schools Media Festival held on April 28, 2006 at the AFI Silver Theater in Silver Spring, Maryland. The film, titled "The S.G.A.", was directed by Eric Fleischman, a member of the TV / Film Club of 2006, and starred English teacher Mr. Lightsey and Wootton Principal Dr. Doran. The film won second place in the live action video category. Blake High School claimed first place in that category.
- The Wootton ice hockey team in 2009 became the first Maryland public school to win back-to-back state championships (2008, 2009).
- The Foundation Chicos Por Atyra raised over $600 for impoverished children in Paraguay.
- A team, Steven Zhang (attending Cornell)and Christine Sun (attending Rice), from Wootton's Research, Design, and Experimentation Club won first place at the Montgomery Science Fair, exploring the validity of hormesis.
- Wootton's Equestrian Club was ranked second in Maryland as of November 1, 2008.
- Performing Arts
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Wootton is known throughout Maryland for its theater department, once described by Principal Michael Doran as "the closest thing to Broadway for miles around." In 2003, their production of "Les Miserables" was lauded by critics and leads in that show went on to attend music or theater programs at the Cincinnati Conservatory, Tisch @ NYU, the Penn State School of Music, and Musical Theatre at Emerson College among others. Other difficult shows they have recently tackled with great critical success include "Seussical," "Flowers for Algernon," "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown," "On the Town," and both the male and female versions of "The Odd Couple." In recent years, Wootton has staged "Revenge of the Space Pandas," "Children of Eden," "Sweeney Todd," "Honk!," "Macbeth Did It," and "My Favorite Year." Wootton's December 2005 production of Jason Robert Brown's "Songs for a New World" was selected to be the full-length featured show at the Maryland State High School Theaterfest on February 11, 2005. In fall 2008, the musical "Grease" (revised student version) was a huge hit, selling out every show. The play "Horror High" was very successful too. The 2009 Spring musical was "Beauty and the Beast". [3][4][5][6][7]The spring musical Beauty and The Beast brought home 3 CAPPIES Awards received by: Mattia D'Affuso (Featured Actor in a Musical- Lumiere), Jessica Futran (Lead Actress in a Musical- Belle) and Be Our Guest (Best Song).
- In addition to the yearly play and musical productions, the year 2009 included a very special performing arts event that made Wootton's theater program even more unique. Under the direction of senior Salah Czapary, Wootton students were able to put together an outstanding and successful production of the first ever stage adaptation of the Academy Award Winning short film, West Bank Story co-written by Ari Sandel and Kim Ray with music by Yuval Ron. The performances were very well attended by students and community members as well as several local prestigious guests. [8] [9] [10]
- Demographics
- Notable recent events
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In 2001 the band Of A Revolution (O.A.R.), which includes four alumni, performed at the James A. Coles Field before they reached the Billboard charts.
- In November 2001, President George W. Bush visited Wootton HS and signed the congressional bill officially recognizing "Veterans Awareness Week" which takes place the week before Veteran's Day.
- In early 2005, the Wootton cheerleading squad was caught in a scandal when pictures of cheerleaders in uniform in provocative poses made their way to pornographic sites. The story made the national media, including The Washington Post.
- The Graduation ceremony for the class of 2005 featured a speech from former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright. For the graduation of the class of 2006, former Congresswoman Connie Morella was the speaker.
- In April 2008, the bands Gym Class Heroes and Pat McGee Band performed in a "Rock the Vote" concert. The concert's goal was to generate political activism throughout the school.
- On August 25 2008, former English teacher Theresa Duarte was arrested and charged with two counts of distribution of a controlled dangerous substance and two counts of contributing to conditions of a child. Duarte told detectives that she kept cocaine in the bathroom at her home and gave two Wootton High School students cocaine while still employed by Montgomery County Public Schools. She had resigned for personal reasons prior to her arrest.
- During the summer of 2008 and part of the beginning of the 2008-2009 school year, MCPS rebuilt Wootton's football stadium bleachers, and they now are able fit the rapidly growing number of students at Wootton. No longer will students have to sit on the track during pep rallies.
- On October 17, 2008, Wootton quarterback, Mike Mooney set a state record for most passing yards in a game. After a miserable first quarter, Mooney total 451 yards by completing twenty-six of his forty-three passes. The game, which was against Blair High School resulted in a win for the Patriots in what would be one of the most prolific seasons in almost two-decades. The Patriots made it to the playoffs for the first time in seventeen years, finishing with a 7-3 record.
- On November 14, 2008, CNN's chief national correspondent, John King, spoke to students and teachers during all three lunch periods. His son currently attends Wootton.
- Notable alumni and students
- Four of the members of the American rock group Of A Revolution or O.A.R. (Richard On, Benj Gershman, Marc Roberge, and Chris Culos) before attending Ohio State University.
- Flounder DJ from DC101/Elliot in the morning/Flounders Mashups
- Richard Scanlan, Tony-nominated lyricist of the Broadway Musical "Thoroughly Modern Millie", class of 1977.
- Zac Cohen, competitor on the reality game show Fear Factor and first place winner.
- Scratch DJ Kid Koala (Eric San), class of 1992.
- Actor Thomas Jane of "The Punisher. HBO Series Hung"
- Steve Coll, two-time Pulitzer Prize winning reporter and former managing editor of The Washington Post, class of 1976.
- Tom Friend, writer for ESPN.
- Adam Dantus, General Manager of the Maryland Nighthawks, class of 2005.
- Dominique Paul, author of The Possibility of Fireflies and director of the namesake production.
- Phil Galfond, professional poker player who won the 2008 World Series of Poker $5,000 buy-in Pot-Limit Omaha with Rebuys event.
- Rear Admiral David M. Thomas , a Class of 1976 graduate and current director of Joint Operations (N3JOD). Thomas was dedicated for his bravery at the Pentagon on 9/11, and was named "Commander of Guantanamo Bay Naval Base" of Cuba in May 2008.
- Chris Lu, executive director of the Obama-Biden Transition Project and White House Cabinet Secretary.
- Antwan Odom, Defensive end for the Cincinnati Bengals.
- Notes
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- http://www.chem.umd.edu/chemathon/teams06.html
- Science Bowl#Results of the National Competition
- http://www.cs.umd.edu/Outreach/hsContest05/scores.html
- http://msnbc.msn.com/id/7723397/site/newsweek/
- Best High Schools in America
- http://db.etree.org/shninfo_detail.php?shnid=10449
- http://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2001/10/images/20011030-7.html
- http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A1945-2005Jan11.html
- http://gazette.net/stories/121405/gaitnew191618_31909.shtml
- http://www.bosskillers.com/cgi-bin/bbguild/index.cgi?&action=guildpage&sid=YUhGhdhKk8&guildid=1339
- http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/26/AR2008082603099.html
- http://www.gazette.net/stories/08272008/potonew93756_32479.shtml
- http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/10/16/AR2008101604405.html
- External links
- Wootton High School website
- [11] MCPS: Wootton High School at a Glance (Information & Data Page)
- Thomas Sprigg Wootton High School aerial at Microsoft Terraserver
- [12] Stars Program Page
- [13] Humanities & Arts Program Page
- Source: Wikipedia; it is used under the GNU Free Documentation License. You may redistribute it, verbatim or modified, providing that you comply with the terms of the GFDL.
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