- Broad Run High School is a public secondary school in Ashburn, an unincorporated area in Loudoun County, Virginia, United States, and is part of the Loudoun County Public Schools system .
- Of the county's ten public high schools, Broad Run (BRHS) has experienced the most change in both its physical and demographic environments during its nearly four decades of existence. Originally a rural school serving all of eastern Loudoun County, the explosive growth of the county's population beginning in the mid-1990s has resulted in systematic reduction of Broad Run's attendance area as it spun off six of the district's high schools from within its original boundaries. Initial surroundings of farm fields have been replaced by housing tracts and the school now possesses one of the most culturally diverse student populations in the region.
- Nicknamed “Cornfield High” when it opened, Broad Run’s facilities, academic and extracurricular environments have always been challenged by its location in one of the fastest growing counties in the United States. In 1969 Loudoun County opened its third public high school amidst corn fields in Ashburn to accommodate the growing student populations resulting from new housing developments in the unincorporated communities in the eastern half of the county. Since then the county population has increased nearly seven-fold (most of it in the east), straining education budgets, infrastructure and local politics. For Ashburn, this has resulted in constantly shifting attendance boundaries as new school after new school is opened every year, at all levels, elementary, middle and high. The area’s student demographics have significantly changed as well: Loudoun County’s residents are now the country’s most affluent and its ethnic composition continues to diversify as foreign immigration into Northern Virginia increases.
- No longer able to justify the sobriquet “Cornfield High”, Broad Run High School today is surrounded by tens of square miles of high density housing developments. However, in this dynamic environment the school continues to achieve academic and extracurricular excellence and recognition, leading regional and state schools in Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) and No Child Left Behind AYB performance, as well as in such activities as forensics and sports.
- History
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Public education in Ashburn predates Broad Run's debut in 1969. In 1892 a school for African-Americans was built in Old Ashburn. At a cost of US$6,000 a separate school, known as Ashburn High School, was built for both elementary and high school white students in 1911. It was a four-room wood frame schoolhouse; additions to the original structure were made in 1922, 1930, and 1934. The school served white Ashburn students until February 14, 1944, when the entire building was destroyed by fire. Its replacement, an elementary-only brick structure, was constructed in 1945 and is still in use; known as the Ashburn Annex, it is a training center for the LCPS district and has also been used for Broad Run High School population overflow.
- In the 1960s high school age children from eastern Loudoun County attended Loudoun County High School. As Dulles Airport and residential developments, such as Sterling Park, opened close to the Fairfax County border, Loudoun County High School's population began to outgrow the facility. The decision to construct a high school in rural eastern Loudoun County was made. The strain on Loudoun County High, however, was so severe that its eastern Loudoun students were temporarily schooled in the then-recently closed Douglass High School in Leesburg. Thus, the first Broad Run High School class was actually formed in 1968, a full year before the Broad Run Ashburn campus construction was completed. 1968 had been the first year that the county schools were completely racially integrated, making the previously all-black Douglass High School available as it closed and its population moved to other county schools.
- The campus of the district's third high school (Loudoun County High opened in 1954 and Loudoun Valley High School opened in 1962), opened its doors in 1969 to grades 8–12, for students from all of Ashburn, Arcola, western Chantilly (now known as South Riding), and Sterling. Named for the nearby Potomac River tributary, Broad Run was dedicated on October 13, 1969. The ceremony's keynote address was delivered by then-Governor of Virginia, Mills E. Godwin Jr. At the time, Loudoun's three high schools were not limited to 9th through 12th grades since there were no middle schools. Broad Run, therefore, had a "Thetamen" class for two years, its name for eighth graders (similar to calling ninth graders "Freshmen"). By 1973 the Thetamen were shifted to newly opened middle schools and in 1976 a portion of the Sterling student body was moved to Park View High School. As the Ashburn area grew considerably, additional students shifted to Potomac Falls High School in 1997. Stone Bridge High School opened in 2000, which split the Ashburn student body into two different high schools. Broad Run gave the remainder of its Sterling student population to Potomac Falls after Dominion High School opened in 2003 and shifted students in Brambleton to Stone Bridge. In 2005, Broad Run split off its South Riding students to Freedom High School.
- Enrollment history
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Broad Run's student population averaged 1,486 students during the period 1995–2006. The county's steady population increases during this time resulted in accompanying student body expansions, periodically relieved as other high schools opened in eastern Loudoun County (note the population drops in the table below as these schools opened– Potomac Falls in 1997, Stone Bridge in 2000, Dominion in 2003 and Freedom in 2005).|-! 1995–1996| align="center"| 1,543|-! 1996–1997| align="center"| 1,751|-! 1997–1998| align="center"| 1,284|-! 1998–1999| align="center"|1,315|-! 1999–2000| align="center"| 1,670|-! 2000–2001| align="center"| 1,343|-! 2001–2002| align="center"| 1,376|-! 2002–2003| align="center"| 1,520|-! 2003–2004| align="center"| 1,483|-! 2004–2005| align="center"| 1,687|-! 2005–2006| align="center"| 1,448|-! 2006–2007| align="center"| 1,415|}
*includes an eighth grade class of 244 students
- Campus
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The campus sits on along Ashburn Road, across from the Ashbriar community. The main building houses 75–80 classrooms, two computer labs, a media center (library), auditorium, cafeteria, school store, weight room and two gymnasiums. The grounds include a sports stadium for football, track and field, lacrosse, and soccer. two baseball/softball diamonds, six tennis courts, a concession stand and a pre-school playground.
- Students
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The Broad Run attendance boundaries encompass the Ashburn communities of Ashburn Village, Farmwell Hunt, and University Center, as well as the Ridges at Ashburn and Ashbrook residential subdivisions.
- Administration and faculty
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The school's administrative team is headed by the principal and includes three assistant principals, the director of guidance, and the athletic director. The principal and school, as part of LCPS, are under the direction of the Superintendent, who operates under the authority of the Loudoun County Board of Education.
- Broad Run has had only three principals since it opened. Its current principal, Edgar T. Markley, Ed.D., a 2003 recipient of a The Washington Post's Annual Distinguished Educational Leadership Award, has served since 1997.
- There are 117 teachers, yielding a teacher/student ratio of 1:14.
- Curriculum
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Students mainly attend classes on the Broad Run campus, but have opportunities to take additional, specialized courses at LCPS's magnet and alternative schools, such as science and math at Loudoun Academy of Science and vocational education classes at C.S. Monroe Technology Center.
- The school's instructional curriculum is set primarily by the LCPS district office based on Virginia Department of Education requirements. Broad Run's curriculum is typical of Virginia and United States secondary schools. Broad Run is one of only three LCPS schools teaching Mandarin Chinese (initiated in 2006–2007).
- Students attending the Loudoun Academy of Science at Dominion High School in Sterling and C.S. Monroe Technology Center in Leesburg do so every other class day, taking their non-magnet classes (typically core courses, such as English, social sciences and electives) at Broad Run on the alternate days.
- In the fall 2007–spring 2008 school year, AP physics students, Michael Le, Minjin Choe, Robby Buckman, Sady Ashkar, Emily Spencer, Ilia Drougov, Emil Yanakiev and Steve Hansen at Broad Run were credited with the discovery of Asteroid 2007 TW04, which they have officially begun calling "Sparta" in honor of the Broad Run Spartans. The team was lead by AP Physics teacher, Janet Bosch. Bosch also led a sub-division as well, with Physics students David Hockenbury, Tariqul Islam, and Jane Kone; although, they failed to discover anything, they along with the other AP physics students were each awarded by NASA.
- Instruction schedule
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Like the other nine Loudoun County high schools, Broad Run's regular instruction schedule begins at 9:00 AM and ends at 3:48 PM on all school days. Loudoun County high schools begin the school day much later than neighboring districts, such as Fairfax County and Prince William County, where most schools open at around 7:30 AM and close between 2:00 and 2:30 PM.
- Broad Run operates on an 8-period block schedule, alternating each day. Periods 1–4 meet in order on A days (also known as Maroon days, after the school's colors); and periods 5–8 are on B (Gold) days. Periods are 90 minutes in length. Some students, usually seniors with enough credits toward graduation, may have an "Early Release" from school to participate in school approved activities or work.
- Flex and Spartan Read
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Since students generally have only seven courses, period 6 is designated as the Flex period. Flex consists of two half-periods during which normal classes are not held (taking place on B/Gold day). Instead, students report to two 41-minute subject-specific study halls or review sessions.
- Academic performance and achievement
- Accreditation
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Broad Run is a fully accredited high school
- Broad Run's "Fully Accredited" status extends back a number of years:
- SAT scores
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The average Scholastic Aptitude Test score in 2006 for Broad Run was 1,568 (535 in Math; 525 in Verbal; 508 in Writing).| 535 || 525 || 508 || 1,568
(1,060 M & CR)|- style="text-align:center;"! 2004–2005| 532 || 522 ||align="center"| — || 1,054|- style="text-align:center;"! 2003–2004| 530 || 532 ||align="center"| — || 1,062|- style="text-align:center;"! 2002–2003| 530 || 527 ||align="center"| — || 1,057|- style="text-align:center;"! 2001–2002| 528 || 532 ||align="center"| — || 1,060|- style="text-align:center;"! 2000–2001| 515 || 522 ||align="center"| — || 1,037|}- NCLB and Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP)
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To meet the requirements of the federal No Child Left Behind Act , the state of Virginia utilizes its Standards of Learning examinations as its progress measurement tool. NCLB requires states to set annual measurable objectives of proficiency in reading and mathematics, participation in testing, and graduation and attendance. These objectives are in addition to the high standards for learning and achievement required under Virginia’s SOL program. Schools and school divisions that meet the annual objectives required by the federal education law are considered to have made adequately yearly progress (AYP) toward the goal of 100 percent proficiency of all students in reading and mathematics by 2014.
- Extracurricular activities
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Broad Run High School offers a number of extracurricular activities to its students and staff outside the regular instructional curriculum. All school sponsored clubs and activities are supervised by a faculty or staff member, although much of the organizational responsibilities are often handled by students. In addition to the fine arts, athletic and other programs detailed below, the extracurricular activities sponsored by the school range from service organizations (Environmental Club and Key Club) to academic (National Honor Society and Academic Team & Signet) to professional (DECA and FBLA) to cultural (Muslim Student Association, German Club, Gay-Straight Alliance and Spanish Club) to special interests (Chess Club and Dance Team).
- Drama
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In addition to its drama instruction, Broad Run students and staff produce and stage at least three major theatrical performances each year. These productions include a full-length play in the fall, a one-act play festival in the winter, and a musical in the spring. Participation in shows is open to all students, regardless of enrollment in a drama class. 2005 and 2006 productions included The Government Inspector, The Secret Garden and Noises Off.
- Band
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Broad Run's band program includes over 100 students, with two concert bands (symphonic band and wind ensemble), a marching band, jazz, percussion and chamber ensembles, a jazz lab, and music theory classes. The program has won many awards and competitions over a three-decade history, both locally and at national competitions held in Orlando, Florida, Virginia Beach, Virginia, Walt Disney World, Atlanta, Georgia and Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Broad Run has twice been named a Virginia Honor Band, the top award for bands in Virginia (1996–1997 and 2003–2004). Broad Run students regularly win positions in the All Virginia Band and Orchestra, which consists of the top high school musicians in the Commonwealth.
- Subsequent to Loudoun County Public Schools' initiating middle school string programs in 2002 to 6th graders, Broad Run and the other nine Loudoun high schools also began string ensembles in the 2005–2006 school year. Since Loudoun does not offer a full orchestra program at the high school level, students from upper level bands occasionally perform concerts with the combined strings classes.
- Color Guard
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Broad Run's color guard program competes in both the fall and winter athletic seasons. In the same season, the combined Broad Run/Heritage Winter Guard won the Gold Medal in their division (Independent Regional A Class) at the Atlantic Indoor Association Championships in Raleigh, North Carolina.Their 2007 Winterguard, Airplane, received 4th at championships. Last year, the 2007 winterguard season, they performed "Ready, Set, Don't Go" and received the bronze medal at championships now at the Scholastic A1 class.
- Debate
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The school has a successful debate team under the direction of Ron Richards, having won the inaugural AA State Championship in 2004, coming within two points of the title in 2005 (losing to cross-town rival Stone Bridge), and winning its tenth Group AA debate title since 1991 at the 2006 Virginia High School League Debate Tournament. More recently, in 2009 the debate team took the state title for the 12th time in 19 years. A display case in the school is dedicated solely to trophies won by the debate teams (see image).
- There are five types of debate that have active participation at Broad Run: Policy, Lincoln-Douglas, Student Congress, Public Forum and Speech.
- Publications
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Students have a number of publishing education and experience opportunities, including The Shield (yearbook), The Spartan (newspaper) and a literary/visual arts publication titled Unbound.
- Athletics
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- Broad Run is a member of the AA Dulles District of the Region II of the Virginia High School League, and sponsors girls and boys athletic teams in the following sports: baseball, boys and girls basketball, cheerleading, cross-country, football, golf, gymnastics, boys and girls lacrosse, boys and girls soccer, softball, boys and girls tennis, track, swimming, volleyball, and wrestling. The mascot is a Spartan.
- State championships
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Broad Run sports have achieved statewide recognition, winning ten state titles at the AA level:
- Boys Cross-Country (1972 and 1974, runner-up in 1993)
- Girls Gymnastics (1991, runner-up in 1976, 1988, and 1990)
(note: A and AA were categorized for the purposes of gymnastics as one "unclassified" level)
- Baseball (1991 with starting pitcher Scott Schultz winning Gatorade player of the year awards),runner-up in 1990)
- Softball (2009, 2008, 2007, 2000, runner-up in 1994 and 2002 and Nationally ranked in 2008 as number one in the country)
- Girls Soccer (2009, 2008, 2001, runner-up in 2004 with a 20-3-1 record; additionally, Coach Claire Collins earned state co-Coach of the Year honors, the Region 2 and Dulles District Coach of the Year, and also won The Washington Post’s All Metropolitan Coach of the Year Award)
- Football (2008)
- Broad Run has also had state champions on an individual level in Wrestling, including a handful of ALL Americans1993- Chad Burns1994- Jason Grant1995- Jessie Street1995- Matt Fry
- Marlow Tally 1992 was also a decorated basketball player in EuropeJason Lansdowne 1993 set a State records for PPG at the AA levelNumerous student athletes from the school have advanced to Division I and II sports programs across the nation.
- Softball and football
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Like the school's band and debate team, Spartan softball has achieved a notable degree of success. The teams of 2000 and 2002 set new state records for various team categories, such as total runs scored in a season, consecutive shutout innings, total strikeouts in a season, and total strikeouts in one game. On the other hand, the football program has experienced limited degrees of success since 2000, fielding only two teams with winning records (2003 and 2004 / 6-4 records) between 2000 and 2006. Losing seasons in 2002 and 2005 led to the replacement of Ken Belchik as head coach with Michael Burnett in 2006. The team's record was 5-5 in 2006. In 2007, the Spartans had a perfect 10-0 regular season, winning the district championship, but lost to rival Park View High School in the first playoff round. In 2008, the Spartan football team won the AA Division 4 state championship, with a 14–0 record.
- Spring 2007 was a particularly good season for most of that season's teams. The girls soccer, girls lacrosse, girls softball, boys baseball, boys lacrosse, and boys track teams all won their respective district titles. The highlight of season was winning the girls fast-pitch softball state championship (Group AA), Broad Run's second in the past decade (won in 2000 and played in the championship 2002). Ranked fifth in the nation by USA Today with a 29–0 record, the Lady Spartans defeated New Kent County High School for the championship behind Caitlyn Delahaba's pitching (no-hitter, 12 strikeouts). Delahaba attained 400 strikeouts in 2007, third place in Virginia High School League history for strikeouts in a season.
- Again, Spring 2008 proved to be another successful season for Broad Run's sports, including boys and girls track, lacrosse, baseball, and most notably, girl's soccer and softball. This year, the girls claimed victory in soccer's state championship, and for the second year in a row, the Lady Spartans under the leadership of Caitlin Delahaba completed a perfect, undefeated record in softball, winning the state championship and becoming the nation's best high school softball team according to USA today. In addition, Broad Run's softball team has become history's fourth greatest high school softball team with 57 straight game victories.
- Rivalries
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Broad Run enjoys rivalries with Park View High School in softball, Loudoun County High School in girls' basketball and girls' soccer, and Potomac Falls High School in boy's swimming and in boys' soccer. The rivalry with Park View in particular has intensified since Stone Bridge's district change, as Park View was once a close rival when it opened in 1976, becoming– at the time– Broad Run's closest neighbor in eastern Loudoun County.
- Notable alumni
- Patton Oswalt, actor, writer, voiceover artist and comedian: graduated in 1987; attended the College of William and Mary
- Larry Izzo, football player for the New England Patriots, attended and played football during the 1988–89 and 1989–90 school years before moving to Texas; attended Rice University.
- Footnotes and citations
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- Sources
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- External links
- Official Website
- Loudoun County Public Schools website
- Official Broad Run Athletics Page Powered By GamedayMagazine.com
- 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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