Charles W. Woodward High School

Charles W. Woodward High School
Address
11211 Old Georgetown Road 39°2′18″N77°7′19″W / 39.03833°N 77.12194°W / 39.03833; -77.12194 Rockville , Maryland 20852 United States
Information
Type	Public
Established	1966;58 years ago (1966)
Status	Closed
Closed	1987;37 years ago (1987)
School district	Montgomery County Public Schools
Grades	9–12
Campus type	Suburban

Charles W. Woodward High School is a former high school in North Bethesda, Maryland, near Rockville. ^[1]

History

The school in May 1973

Charles W. Woodward High School opened in 1966. The school was named by the Montgomery County Board of Education for Judge Charles W. Woodward, Sr. (1895–1969), who served as Associate Judge and later as Chief Judge of the Sixth Judicial Circuit of Maryland from 1932 to 1955. ^[2]

In 1987, Woodward and Walter Johnson High School ^[2] were seeing reduced enrollment, so the county merged them into Walter Johnson, a larger building. Woodward's PTA supported closing the school.

The Woodward building was briefly used as swing space while Springbrook High School was being renovated.

The building was used to house Tilden Middle School during its renovation, starting in summer 2020. ^{[2] [3]}

Planned reopening

The demolition of Woodward High School / Tilden Middle School in April 2021

MCPS Superintendent Jack Smith's 2020 Capital Budget includes money to reopen Woodward High School in 2022. The budget has options for Woodward to function for two school years, starting in September 2023, as a holding school while Northwood High School is expanded, or instead implement a phased construction for Northwood, allowing Woodward to reopen as its own school. ^{[4] [5]} Demolition of the old building began in February 2021. ^[3] Northwood students are expected to remain at Woodward until August 2027, which is the new recommended completion date for the construction at Northwood. ^[6]

In 2018, then-County Council President Hans Riemer and then-Montgomery County first lady Catherine Leggett led an effort to rename Charles W. Woodward High School after Rev. Josiah Henson, who inspired the anti-slavery novel Uncle Tom's Cabin , when the school reopens in 2025 [11]. ^[2] About 0.33 miles (0.53 km) north from the Woodward site is a county park and museum named for Henson.

Full Reopening

With overcrowding at many schools in the downcounty area, especially Walter Johnson, Woodward will be fully reopening with the goal of alleviating overcrowding at nearby schools. To address these concerns, MCPS has begun a boundary study that will affect up to eight high school service areas: Bethesda-Chevy Chase, Walter Johnson, Walt Whitman, and the five high schools within the Downcounty Consortium. ^[7] The boundary changes are expected to take place at the start of the 2027-28 school year, when Northwood high school students will return to their expanded facility. ^[6]

Notable alumni

• Scott Cook, former professional soccer player ^[8]
• Michael Davis, producer, director, and writer
• Michael Mayer, director ^[9]
• Lisa Nowak, astronaut ^[10]
• Steve Sands, Golf Channel broadcaster
• Daniel Snyder, former owner of the Washington Commanders ^[11]
• Brian Transeau, electronic musician ^[12]

References

1. "2010 CENSUS - CENSUS BLOCK MAP: North Bethesda CDP, MD" (Archive). U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved on April 30, 2014. Compare to the postal address.
2. Rodgers, Bethany (2018-09-04). "Judge Woodward Makes Case for Keeping Woodward High's Current Name — County Council president, Catherine Leggett say the Rockville school should be renamed after the Rev. Josiah Henson, one of the county's "unsung heroes"". Bethesda Magazine . Bethesda, Maryland: Kohanza Media Ventures. Retrieved 2018-12-13.
3. "TILDEN MIDDLE SCHOOL BUILDING DEMOLISHED TO MAKE WAY FOR NEW WOODWARD HIGH SCHOOL". Montgomery Community Media. 2021-04-01. Retrieved 2021-01-09.
4. Peetz, Caitlynn (2018-11-08). "A Closer Look at MCPS Superintendent's Proposed Fiscal 2020 Capital Budget, CIP Amendments — Projects include boundary studies, security upgrades, major capital improvements and more". Bethesda Magazine . Bethesda, Maryland: Kohanza Media Ventures. Retrieved 2018-12-13.
5. "Charles W. Woodward HS Reopening — Montgomery County MD Capital Budget". Rockville, Maryland: Operating Budget and Public Services Program, Office of Management and Budget, Montgomery County MD Government. 2018-05-22. Retrieved 2018-12-13.
6. Division of Capital Planning, Montgomery County Public Schools. Superintendent's Recommended FY 2025 Capital Budget and the FY 2025–2030 Capital Improvements Program - Chapter 4: Downcounty Consortium. Accessed 31 May 2024
7. Division of Capital Planning, Montgomery County Public Schools. Board of Education Adopted Boundary Study Scope - to Determine the Service Area for the Reopening of the Charles W. Woodward High School - March 28, 2023. Accessed 31 May 2024
8. Cress, Doug (October 9, 1982). "At 5-Foot-8, Cook Grows In Esteem With U.S. Team". The Washington Post. p. F4.
9. Wiltz, Teresa (November 10, 1999). "The Yellow Brick Road That Led to Broadway". The Washington Post. p. C1.
10. Lenhart, Jennifer (July 4, 2006). "Astronaut From Rockville Keeps Her Eyes on Space, Heart on Earth". The Washington Post. p. B1.
11. Leahy, Michael (September 24, 1999). "For Snyder, Winning Is the Only Thing". The Washington Post. p. A1.
12. Brace, Eric (August 22, 1997). "Organically Electronic, Dude". The Washington Post. p. N10.

11. https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/facilities/construction/project/woodwardhs/