Henry Foss High School

Last updated
Henry Foss High School, an IB World School
Address
Henry Foss High School
2112 South Tyler Street

Tacoma
,
(Pierce County)
,
Washington
98405

United States
Coordinates 47°14′22″N122°29′43″W / 47.23944°N 122.49528°W / 47.23944; -122.49528
Information
Type Public, Coeducational high school
Established1973
StatusOpen
School district Tacoma Public Schools
CEEB code 481383
NCES School ID 530870001466 [1]
PrincipalLysandra D.M. Ness
Faculty100
Grades9-12
Enrollment631 (2020–2021)
Campus typeClosed
Color(s)Green, Gold & White
   
MascotFalcons
NewspaperFoss Focus
YearbookCalypso
Website fossfalcons.org

Henry Foss High School is an American high school in Tacoma, Washington. Named after civic leader and tugboat tycoon Henry Foss, the school first opened in 1973. Foss was the first high school in Washington state to offer the International Baccalaureate (IB) program. It now has the longest-running IB Diploma Program west of the Mississippi in the USA. It is currently a part of the Tacoma Public Schools.

Contents

History

In 1982, Foss became the first high school in Washington state to introduce the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program (DP). [2] [3]

In the spring of 2001, the school was selected by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation as an Achiever High School in Washington State. The school received a $9 million grant to restructure college preparation efforts, as well as an additional $100 million in scholarships. [4] Among the efforts funded by these grants was a restructuring of the school into smaller "academies", a move unpopular with some faculty and students. In April 2004, a group of Foss sophomores threatened to boycott Washington Assessment of Student Learning (WASL) standardized tests if the school board did not promise to retain pre-IB honors courses in English and history. The principal and school board promised to offer these honor classes in the academies, and the boycott was called off. However, the school ultimately removed the pre-IB classes and replaced them with Honors courses. [5]

In March 2006, the faculty voted by a 60-40 margin not to apply for a renewal of the Gates Foundation grant; those opposed argued that the grant "destroyed good programs" in the school, including the IB Program and the "team teaching" structure. [6] Shortly after, Tacoma Schools Superintendent Jim Shoemaker directed the school's principal to override this decision and apply for a grant extension. [7]

On January 3, 2007, 17-year-old student Samnang Kok was shot in the school's hallway as classes were about to resume after Winter break. The 18-year-old student Douglas Chanthabouly was convicted of Kok's murder and was sentenced to 23 years in prison. [8]

Foss now offers the IB Middle Years Program (MYP) for 9th and 10th grade students and IB Career-Related Program (CP) for 11th and 12th students interested in more vocational options along with the school's college-preparatory IB Diploma Programme courses.

Traditions

Foss Family Picnic

At the end of the school year, before seniors graduate, ASB organizes the Foss Family Picnic. This day represents the last day that seniors will be on campus. The morning begins with a "seniors only" breakfast, slide show, graduation practice, and last walk through the school. The culminating event is the Foss Family Picnic, where there is a 3:3 basketball tournament, cake walk (musical chairs to earn free dessert), ping pong tournament, game room, and a staff versus student softball game.

Daffodil Festival

Each year, Henry Foss High School participates in the Pierce County Daffodil Festival, a regional tradition since 1933. Each year a competition is held in the fall within the school, for the title of Henry Foss Daffodil Princess. Once selected, the Henry Foss Princess joins other area school representatives in competition for the title of Daffodil Festival Queen. A prestigious regional award, Henry Foss princesses often return to the parade as area celebrity alumni. At Henry Foss High School, every princess is professionally photographed, and her portrait is displayed alongside every other Henry Foss Princess in the school hallway.

Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (AFJROTC)

Henry Foss High School is host to an AFJROTC program. It develops leadership, self-discipline, citizenship, and patriotism within students. AFJROTC supports Veterans' Day events throughout the community, participates in drill competitions, supports students taking the ASVAB, and much more. Students are encouraged to apply for the AFJROTC pilot scholarship where students have the opportunity to earn their pilots license - fully funded by the Air Force.

Notable alumni

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bright Futures Scholarship Program</span> Florida scholarship program

Bright Futures is a scholarship program in the state of Florida. It is funded by the Florida Lottery and was first started in 1997.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Clover Park High School</span> High school in Washington, United States

Clover Park High School (CPHS), located in Lakewood, Washington, is one of two secondary schools within the Clover Park School District.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sturgis Charter Public School</span> Charter high school

The Sturgis Charter Public School is a dual-campus charter school located in the village of Hyannis, Massachusetts, United States. The school received its charter in February 1998 and opened in September for the 1998–1999 academic year with 162 freshman, 15 faculty and staff, a newly renovated facility, and a $1.2 million budget. The school philosophy is International Baccalaureate for all students.

Jim Hill High School is a public high school located in Jackson, Mississippi, United States, hosting the state's first International Baccalaureate Diploma (IB) program. It hosts Advanced Placement courses, a JROTC, and a SOAR program.

Jefferson County International Baccalaureate School (JCIB) is a public International Baccalaureate school located on the campus of Shades Valley High School in Irondale, Alabama. The school enrolls 372 students in grades 9-12 and is a part of the Jefferson County School System. It is consistently recognized as one of the best high schools in the country:

The International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP) is a two-year educational programme primarily aimed at 16-to-19-year-olds in 140 countries around the world. The programme provides an internationally accepted qualification for entry into higher education and is recognized by many universities worldwide. It was developed in the early-to-mid-1960s in Geneva, Switzerland, by a group of international educators. After a six-year pilot programme that ended in 1975, a bilingual diploma was established.

Vanguard High School is one of seven public high schools in Marion County, Florida. The school serves the northeast area of Ocala, Florida. Vanguard offers the International Baccalaureate program, which accepts students from across Marion County and from surrounding counties and accounts for approximately 25% of the student population. In addition to the IB Program, Vanguard High School is the home of the Future Educators Academy. Graduates of the Future Educators Academy have the opportunity to dual enroll and complete their AA degree upon high school graduation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United World College East Africa</span> Private school in Moshi, Kilimanjaro Region, Tanzania

United World College East Africa (UWCEA) is an independent international school in Tanzania, and a member of the United World Colleges movement. Established in 1969 as International School Moshi, the school is based on two campuses on the slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro and Mount Meru near the city of Moshi, the capital of the Kilimanjaro region in north eastern Tanzania.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Annie Wright Schools</span> School in Tacoma, Pierce County, Washington, United States

Annie Wright Schools is a private school in Tacoma, Washington, United States. It is subdivided into Annie Wright Lower School, Annie Wright Middle School, Annie Wright Upper School for Girls, and Annie Wright Upper School for Boys. It was founded in 1884 by Charles Barstow Wright and Bishop John A. Paddock. It has an indoor pool; two gyms; science, design, and technology labs; art and music studios; theatre; outdoor gardens; play areas; athletic fields, and open spaces. The school is an accredited member of National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS), and a member of Northwest Association of Independent Schools (NWAIS), National Coalition of Girls' Schools (NCGS), the International Boys' Schools Coalition (IBSC), and the Educational Records Bureau (ERB). Annie Wright is also a certified International Baccalaureate (IB) World School offering IB curricula throughout the schools.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Trinity High School (River Forest, Illinois)</span> Private school in River Forest, Illinois, United States

Trinity High School is a Roman Catholic college preparatory high school for girls located in River Forest, a suburb of Chicago, Illinois. Located in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago, it was founded in 1918 by members of the Sinsinawa Dominican Sisters. Originally the school was built on the grounds of Rosary College, which is now Dominican University, but in 1926 the campus was relocated a few blocks away from the original site. Today, Trinity High School has an enrollment of 500 young women divided among four grade levels. Trinity students come from 45 zip codes and 144 different grade schools.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ogden High School</span> Public school in Ogden, Utah, United States

Ogden High School is an Art Deco secondary school located in Ogden, Utah, educating students in grades 10–12. Operated by the Ogden City School District, Ogden High enrolls approximately 1,250 students each year. The graduation rate has increased dramatically over the past three years. The school houses an International Baccalaureate Programme, a Project Lead the Way program and a thriving Life Sciences/Pre-Med program. OHS also offers a dozen AP classes and the AVID program. Ogden High has most recently earned state championships in both marching band and girls soccer. Both teams won state championships in 2019 and 2021. The Ogden High mascot is the Tiger. In 2012, Ogden High School began offering International Baccalaureate courses and in 2014 graduated the first IB Diploma Programme class.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Puyallup High School</span> Public secondary school in Puyallup, Washington, United States

Puyallup High School is a high school in the Puyallup School District in Pierce County, Washington, commonly referred to as PHS.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thomas Jefferson High School (Auburn, Washington)</span> High school in Auburn, Washington, United States

Thomas Jefferson High School is a public high school located in Auburn, Washington. It is the largest enrolled high school in the Federal Way School District and one of the largest in the State of Washington. The school is a member of the Coalition of Essential Schools, an organization whose guiding principles are intended to bolster student achievement. The mascot of Thomas Jefferson is the Raiders. A rebuilding of the school started in winter 2020, the new campus opened in the fall of 2021.

Silas High School is a four-year public secondary school in Tacoma, Washington. It is one of five traditional high schools in the Tacoma Public Schools and is located at the intersection of Orchard Street and 11th Street. Silas' current principal is Bernadette Ray; assistant principals are Alli Bennett, and Rindi Hartman. The school was formerly named Woodrow Wilson High School from its founding in 1958 until July 2021 after a wave of name changes following the 2020 racial protests that swept the world.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Weston Collegiate Institute</span> High school in Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Weston Collegiate Institute is a Grade 9 to 12 public high school in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It was formerly known by its previous names of Weston Grammar School, Weston High School, Weston High and Vocational School and Weston Collegiate and Vocational School. It is located in the York South-Weston area. It is the second oldest high school in Toronto, after Jarvis Collegiate Institute. Weston CI is located on 100 Pine Street and has a student population of about 1043.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Daffodil Festival</span>

The Daffodil Festival is a regional festival and royalty leadership program. The Grand Floral Parade is held in Pierce County, Washington every April. It consists of a flower parade and a year-long royalty program to select a festival queen from one of the 24 area high schools. Each year, the Royal Court spend thousands of hours promoting education, community pride and volunteerism in the county. In 2012, the Royal Court was named the "Official Ambassadors of Pierce County" by the County Executive and the Pierce County Council.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rainier Beach High School</span> Public high school in Seattle, Washington, United States

Rainier Beach High School is a public secondary school in the Seattle Public Schools system. It is located in the Rainier Beach area, in the southeastern part of the city of Seattle, Washington, United States. The school historically has had a strong emphasis on team sports, and many championship teams. The building has a capacity of 1,200 students, but enrollment has declined greatly in recent years. In 2006, 1,302 of the 1,600 high school students living in the Rainier Beach neighborhood traveled out of the area each morning to attend other high schools. In 2008–09, Rainier Beach began the year with 453 students and ended with about 295, giving an average monthly enrollment of 374. Sixty students chose it as their first choice. In 2013 the school began offering an International Baccalaureate program.

Suitland High School is a public school with in Prince George's County, Maryland, operated by Prince George's County Public Schools.

WestIslipHighSchool is a public high school in the town of West Islip, in Suffolk County, New York on the South Shore of Long Island. It is part of the West Islip Union Free School District.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">District of Columbia International School</span> Charter school in Washington, D.C., United States

District of Columbia International School (DCI) is a public charter school in Washington, DC. It offers an International Baccalaureate education to students in grades 6 to 12. Each student learns in a partial language immersion program in Spanish, French or Chinese.

References

  1. ↑ "Search for Public Schools - Foss (530870001466)". National Center for Education Statistics . Institute of Education Sciences . Retrieved 16 November 2021.
  2. ↑ "International Baccalaureate". Ibo.org. Retrieved 2013-10-25.
  3. ↑ "Tacoma Public Schools". Archived from the original on 2013-10-29. Retrieved 2013-10-25.
  4. ↑ "Gates opens college doors Education grants - 7 South Sound high schools among 16 in state to share $109 million for restructuring & scholarships". Pqasb.pqarchiver.com. Retrieved 2013-10-03.[ dead link ]
  5. ↑ "Threat to boycott WASL test defused". Pqasb.pqarchiver.com. Archived from the original on January 31, 2013. Retrieved 2013-10-03.
  6. ↑ "Faculty at Foss like the old way". Pqasb.pqarchiver.com. Archived from the original on January 31, 2013. Retrieved 2013-10-03.
  7. ↑ Archived May 20, 2006, at the Wayback Machine
  8. ↑ "Foss High School killer gets 23-year prison term". KOMO News. 2009-06-05. Retrieved 2016-07-21.
  9. ↑ "Cornell Law Dean Who Grew Up in Puyallup Returns Home to Lead Seattle University" . Retrieved 2021-03-12.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.