Mount Vernon High School (Virginia)

Last updated
Mount Vernon High School
MVLogoAccurateSm.jpg
Address
Mount Vernon High School (Virginia)
8515 Old Mount Vernon Road

,
22309

United States
Coordinates 38°43′36″N77°05′32″W / 38.72667°N 77.09222°W / 38.72667; -77.09222
Information
School type Public, high school
MottoEsse Non Videri
(To be, not to seem to be)
Founded1939, 1974 (relocated) [1]
School district Fairfax County Public Schools
PrincipalKaren Boyd
Staff245
Grades9 – 12
Enrollment2,050 [2]  (2016-17)
CampusSuburban
Color(s)Maroon and grey   
Nickname Majors
NewspaperEmVeeHi
Feeder schoolsWalt Whitman Middle School
Rival schools
Athletic conferences
Website fcps.edu/MtVernonHS
Mount Vernon High School building MVHS - Virginia.jpg
Mount Vernon High School building

Mount Vernon High School is a public high school in the Fairfax County Public Schools system located in Mount Vernon, Virginia.

Contents

History

The former Mount Vernon High School building, seen in 2018. Former Mount Vernon HS building.jpg
The former Mount Vernon High School building, seen in 2018.

Originally constructed to take the place of the Lee-Jackson High School, Mount Vernon High school first opened in November 1939. [3] [4] With the opening of the school, Lee-Jackson principal G. Claude Cox moved to Mount Vernon, becoming the school's first principal, and Lee-Jackson became an elementary school. [5]

In 1945, Principal Cox resigned to become principal of Wythe High School in Wytheville, Virginia, and Lee-Jackson principal Melvin B. Landes moved to Mount Vernon to begin a nearly thirty-year tenure there. [5] [6]

The school's current location was built in 1961 as Walt Whitman Intermediate School. In 1973, Mount Vernon and Whitman swapped facilities, and the former intermediate school was enlarged to serve its new role as a high school. The original Mount Vernon High School continued to operate as the Walt Whitman Intermediate School until 1985, when Whitman was moved to the former Stephen Foster Intermediate School. [7]

Also in 1973, Principal Melvin Landes retired, and Thomas G. Hyer took over as Principal. [6]

Following the departure of Eric Brent to become principal at Forest Park High School in Woodbridge, Nardos King became the principal of MVHS in 2006. [8]

After nine years as principal, Nardos King resigned in 2015 to take a position as Assistant Superintendent of High Schools with the Baltimore County Public Schools system. Assistant Principal Esther Manns became the interim principal of MVHS in September 2015. [9] In February 2016, Rocky Run Middle School Principal Dr. Anthony S. Terrell was announced as the principal of Mount Vernon High School, beginning in March.

The original Mount Vernon High School is still standing on Richmond Highway; it became the Islamic Saudi Academy, which moved to the facility in 1989. [10] This school closed in 2016.

Academic achievement

Students with individual needs are accommodated through special education programs, including English for speakers of other languages (ESOL) program, and advanced placement and International Baccalaureate programs. Mount Vernon is an accredited high school. [11] The average SAT score in 2013 for Mount Vernon was a 1417 (479 in Critical Reading, 474 in Math, and 464 in Writing). [12]

Demographics

For the 2014-15 school year, Mount Vernon High School's student body was 37.80% Hispanic, 29.56% Black, 20.91% White, 6.36% Asian and 5.37% Other. [13]

Athletics

School athletic programs feature fall, winter and spring sports, including cheerleading, cross country, field hockey, football, golf, volleyball, basketball, gymnastics, swimming, wrestling, baseball, crew, lacrosse, softball, soccer, tennis, track and intramural sports.

In Mount Vernon's history, it has garnered five AAA State Championship titles. They won their first title in 1979, in basketball, their second in 1983, for football, their third in 2008 for the swim & dive team, and a fourth in 2013, for soccer, as well as one[ when? ] for wrestling.

Theater

Mount Vernon's "Little Theater," officially named "The Andrew Lee Pauley Theater," was dedicated to an English and Drama teacher who retired from the school in 1986. The Little Theater can hold a capacity of more than 400 students.

It is home to MVHS Theatre Arts program. Other notable events include "Mr. Mount Vernon" and "Miss Personality," that are held annually.

Notable alumni

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fairfax County, Virginia</span> County in Virginia, United States

Fairfax County, officially the County of Fairfax, is a county in the Commonwealth of Virginia. With a population of 1,150,309 as of the 2020 census, it is the most populous county in Virginia, the most populous jurisdiction in the Washington metropolitan area, and the most populous location in the Washington–Baltimore combined statistical area. The county seat is Fairfax; however, because it is an independent city under Virginia law, the city of Fairfax is not part of the county.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fairfax County Public Schools</span> School division in Virginia, U.S.

The Fairfax County Public Schools system (FCPS) is a school division in the U.S. commonwealth of Virginia. It is a branch of the Fairfax County government, which administers public schools in Fairfax County and the City of Fairfax. FCPS's headquarters is located in the Gatehouse Administration Center in Falls Church, Virginia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Robinson Secondary School</span> Public secondary school in Fairfax, Virginia, United States

James W. Robinson, Jr. Secondary School, commonly known as Robinson Secondary School, is a six-year public school in the Fairfax, Virginia, a Northern Virginia suburb southwest of Washington, D.C.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Westfield High School (Virginia)</span> High school in Chantilly, Virginia, United States

Westfield High School is a public high school in unincorporated Fairfax County, Virginia, United States, west of the Chantilly CDP.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lake Braddock Secondary School</span> Secondary school in Burke, Virginia

Lake Braddock Secondary School (LBSS) in Burke, Virginia, United States, administered by Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS), is one of three 7-12 secondary schools in Fairfax County. The other two are Hayfield SS and Robinson SS. Lake Braddock opened in 1973. Its mascot is a bruin, and the school colors are purple and gold.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">South County High School</span> High school in Lorton, Virginia

South County High School, opened in September 2005, is a public high school in Lorton, Virginia and is part of the Fairfax County Public Schools system. The school mascot is "Stan" the Stallion and the school colors are forest green, navy blue, and silver. Common nicknames include "SoCo", "SCHS", and "South County".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fairfax High School (Fairfax, Virginia)</span> High school in Fairfax, Virginia

Fairfax High School (FHS) is a public high school in the Eastern United States, located in Fairfax, Virginia, a suburb west of Washington, D.C. in Northern Virginia. The school is owned by the City of Fairfax, but is operated by Fairfax County Public Schools under a contractual agreement between it and Fairfax County.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Centreville High School (Fairfax County, Virginia)</span> High school in Clifton, Virginia, United States

Centreville High School (CVHS) is a public high school located in unincorporated southwestern Fairfax County, Virginia, north of Clifton and east of the Centreville. Having opened in 1988 to serve the rapidly growing population of the Clifton/Centreville region, CVHS is the top of the Centreville High School Pyramid in Region 4 of the Fairfax County Public School (FCPS) system. In 2010 the school was ranked as the 4th best high school in Fairfax County, and the 18th best high school out of 172 schools rated in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. On a national level, in 2010 CVHS was ranked as the 130th best of all high schools in the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wilbert Tucker Woodson High School</span> High school in Fairfax, Virginia, United States

Wilbert Tucker Woodson High School, commonly known as W.T. Woodson High School or simply Woodson, is a high school located in Fairfax County, Virginia, just outside the east end of the city of Fairfax limits, opposite the shopping center on Main Street.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">West Potomac High School</span> High school in Fairfax County, Virginia

West Potomac High School, formerly Groveton High School, is a public high school in the Alexandria area of Fairfax County, Virginia. It was founded in 1985 and is part of the Fairfax County Public Schools district.

Justice High School is a high school in the Lake Barcroft census-designated place, Virginia. The school is part of the Fairfax County Public Schools district. The school has a Falls Church address but is not located within the limits of the City of Falls Church. Per a vote of the county school board, the school was renamed Justice High School effective July 1, 2018.

Hayfield Secondary School is a secondary school in the Fairfax County Public Schools system of Virginia. It opened in 1968 and graduated its first senior class in 1971.

Herndon High School is a fully accredited four-year public high school in Herndon, Virginia, United States. Herndon serves grades 9-12 and is a part of the Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) system. Herndon High School serves the town of Herndon and the northern part of the unincorporated community of Reston. Herndon's mascot is the Fighting Hornet and school colors are red, black and white.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Falls Church High School</span> High school in Falls Church, Virginia, United States

Falls Church High School (FCHS) is a high school located in West Falls Church, Virginia, in unincorporated Fairfax County. While the school has a Falls Church mailing address, the school does not serve the City of Falls Church, which is served by Meridian High School. The school serves grades 9 through 12. It was relocated from its former site in downtown Falls Church to the current address in 1967. Falls Church High's school motto is "Building on Our Success." The mascot for the school is a Jaguar. The school colors are dark green and white. The principal is Benjamin Nowak.

John R. Lewis High School is a public high school in Springfield, Virginia. It is a part of Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) and opened in 1958. The school was originally named Robert E. Lee High School after Robert E. Lee, the Confederate general, but starting at the beginning of the 2020–2021 school year it was renamed John R. Lewis High School after John Lewis, the recently deceased politician and civil rights leader. The school name changes began shortly after the vote was announced. Lewis High School athletic teams are known as the Lancers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Islamic Saudi Academy</span> Former university preparatory school in Virginia, U.S.

The Islamic Saudi Academy of Washington was an International Baccalaureate (IB) World university preparatory school in Northern Virginia, accredited with the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and authorized by IB in December 2008. It had classes from pre-kindergarten to twelfth grade, and had a final enrollment of more than 1,200 students.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fairfax County Board of Supervisors</span>

The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, sometimes abbreviated as FCBOS, is the governing body of Fairfax County, Virginia, a county of over a million in Northern Virginia. The board has nine districts, and one at-large district which is always occupied by the Chair. Members may serve unlimited number of four-year terms, as there are no term limits.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paul Krizek</span> American politician

Paul Eugene Krizek is an American politician. He has served in the Virginia House of Delegates since 2016, representing the 16th district of Virginia in Fairfax County. Krizek is a member of the Democratic Party.

Luther Porter Jackson High School was a secondary school for Black students in Fairfax County, Virginia, United States, located at the Annandale-Dunn Loring-Merrifield corridor. A part of Fairfax County Public Schools, it was the county's first grade 7-12 school for Black children.

References

  1. Bohn, Michael (2005-10-17). "Keeping the Past Alive: A Brief History of the Mount Vernon District". Mount Vernon Gazette. Archived from the original on 2007-06-10. Retrieved 2007-06-30.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  2. "Mount Vernon High". National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved March 6, 2019.
  3. "Fairfax Delays Opening of White Schools: Incompletion of Buildings Is Given As Reason for Lag". The Washington Post. 31 August 1939. ProQuest   151154652.
  4. "Fairfax Board Accepts School Material Bids". The Washington Post. 8 November 1939. ProQuest   151120045.
  5. 1 2 "G.C. Cox Resigns As Mount Vernon School Principal". The Washington Post. 23 August 1945. ProQuest   151818990.
  6. 1 2 "Melvin Bowman Landes, Alexandria Principal". The Washington Post. 24 August 2004. Retrieved 10 September 2015.This reference incorrectly states that Landes was principal of Lee-Jackson Elementary School in Mathews, Virginia. Landes was principal of Lee-Jackson Elementary in Alexandria.
  7. Mansfield, Virginia (4 August 1988). "Saudi Academy To Fund Fairfax School Face Lift". The Washington Post. ProQuest   139468084.
  8. "High School's New Head Has A Familiar Face". The Connection. 9 August 2006. Retrieved 19 September 2015.
  9. "Mount Vernon Brief: Esther Manns Named Interim Principal at MVHS". The Connection. 9 September 2015. Retrieved 19 September 2015.
  10. Downey, Kirstin (22 May 2008). "Board Extends Saudi School's Lease". The Washington Post. Retrieved 10 September 2015.
  11. "VA - DoE Mount Vernon High School Report Card". Virginia Department of Education. Retrieved 10 October 2014.
  12. "FCPS - High School SAT Scores" (PDF). Fairfax County Public Schools. Retrieved 10 October 2014.
  13. "FCPS – School Profiles – Mount Vernon HS – Student Membership Demographics and Supplemental Programs (as of June for each school year)". Fairfax County Public Schools. Retrieved 8 September 2015.
  14. Lundmark, Aaron (July 6, 2016). "Mount Vernon Local Thrives in Women's Professional Football". Mount Vernon Gazette. Archived from the original on September 27, 2018. Retrieved 10 June 2021.
  15. "Bowl Championship Series – Cunningham, Ed". ESPN . Archived from the original on July 9, 2012. Retrieved 18 March 2018.
  16. "Player Inductees Bios: Gary Etherington". Wirginia-DC Soccer Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved April 1, 2014.
  17. Boswell, Thomas (October 11, 1987). "Hammaker Not Indestructible, Just Unsinkable". Washington Post. Los Angeles Times. Retrieved April 1, 2014.
  18. "Mount Vernon High School – Surveyor Yearbook (Alexandria, VA) – Class of 1970". e-Yearbook.com. Retrieved 26 June 2015.
  19. Photo Gallery: Tony Perkins! Archived 2008-08-20 at the Wayback Machine
  20. Tousignant, Marylou (25 January 1993). "Young Bright Bulbs Make Area Shine in Science Contest". The Washington Post. pp. D01. Archived from the original on 15 August 2017. Retrieved 13 January 2016.
  21. "Washington-Area Students Take Lead in Annual Science Awards". The New York Times. 27 January 1993. Retrieved 13 January 2016.
  22. "ndol.org". ndol.org. Retrieved 18 March 2018.
  23. Shipley, Amy (September 17, 2009). "Swimming for Redemption". Washington Post. Retrieved April 1, 2014.
  24. Covering the Corridor, "Key figure in impeachment inquiry is Mount Vernon graduate," Oct 23, 2019
  25. Hardin, Tom (July 17, 2008). "A community mirror: The first 100 years". Southside Sentinel. Retrieved April 1, 2014.
  26. "Mount Vernon alum takes over as new superintendent of West Point". 16 July 2018.