William Fleming High School is one of the only two public high schools in the Roanoke City area school division, the other being Patrick Henry High School. The school itself is located at 3649 Ferncliff Avenue, Roanoke, Virginia, in the Miller/Arrowood neighborhood. William Fleming is part of the Roanoke City Public School System, regulated by the Roanoke City School Board.[7]
The name William Fleming derived from a Scottish immigrant who was a prominent physician and statesman in Virginia. Originally a native of West Virginia, Fleming migrated into Virginian borders and settled in Norfolk in 1755. After he relocated into Norfolk, he hurriedly began to involve himself in the war effort as an active physician, serving alongside the regiment of colonel and future president George Washington against the French and the Indians. Then he was promoted to the rank of colonel and upheld his position while fighting in Lord Dunmore's War until he was injured, ultimately ending his service in the military. His significance in relation to the school came about after his militant service. He continued to help nurse the ailing and was an active participant in the matters concerning both Roanoke City and Virginia. Then he served in the General Assembly as the senator of Virginia and also as the governor for an abrupt period. Along with the school, a national historical marker on the Monterey Golf Course, which denotes the former location where Colonel Fleming's plantation stood, was dedicated to his contribution.[8][9]
School
In September 1933, 152 students began the school year in a newly constructed building on a 7.5-acre (30,000 m2) tract which is the present site of Breckinridge Middle School in Roanoke. The original William Fleming High School consisted of five high school classrooms, one elementary classroom, a library, a reception room, a chemistry laboratory, two locker rooms, an auditorium, and an office. In 1949, William Fleming became part of the Roanoke City School System through the annexation of part of Roanoke County by the city. William Fleming was moved to its present location in 1961 near Hershberger Road NW. In 1989, eight auxiliary classrooms were added to accommodate the arrival of ninth graders on campus as middle schools were established in the city. A new $57 million building opened in 2009 next to the existing facilities, and the construction of the school's first on-campus football stadium was completed in 2010.[9]
Demographics
As of the 2023–2024 school year, William Fleming High School had a total enrollment of 1,909 students. The student body is diverse, with a plurality of students identifying as Black or African American (46%), followed by a significant Hispanic and Latino population (31.5%).[10]
The school participates in the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP), which allows all students to receive free meals regardless of individual household income. Approximately 95% of the student body is eligible for free or reduced-price lunch.
In 2009, the credibility of William Fleming's faculty and institution at large were challenged when some of the assistant principals, under the direction of head principal Susan Willis, manipulated 30 schedules of special education students to prevent them from taking the SOLs. The state-mandated exams test student's abilities in mathematics, English, and science to ensure that the curriculum of the school aligns with what the state believes the students should be learning. Thus, by preventing certain students from taking the tests, it increased the overall scores of the school. This infringement made the local and state news, making a spectacle of William Fleming. As a result, Willis was given paid leave and the assistant principals who worked in conjunction with her were fired. Since the dilemma Fleming has struggled to maintain its accreditation with regard to its SOLs, and was at risk of losing it during the school year 2010-2011 after being audited by the state of Virginia.[12]
Athletics
William Fleming High School is a member of the Virginia High School League and competes in the 4A competition within conference 24 and the Blue Ridge District. Fleming formerly competed in the now defunct Group AAA Roanoke Valley District and the AA Blue Ridge District. William Fleming won the Group AA state title in men's basketball in 2007, and also captured two titles in the 1950s. In 1985, Fleming won the Group AAA state championship in men's outdoor track. The Colonels have two state runner-up finishes in men's AAA basketball and in AAA and AA football over the past 15 years.
It also offers the following extracurricular activities: Beta Club, DECA, free dance, FBLA-PBL, Forensics, French Honor Society, HOSA, Key Club, SGA, SkillsUSA, Thespian Club[16]
Media
During spring break 2009, 7 students from William Fleming accompanied by students from James Madison University and representatives from Aid for America took a community service trip to Welch, West Virginia. The area is one of the poorest in the United States. The students help to renovate a dilapidated house so that a man, who lost all of his fingers in a mining incident, could gain custody of his child.[17]
Also in 2011, Melissa Poff, an instructor at William Fleming, was named "Teacher of the Year." She was also publicly recognized and commended by the media of Roanoke City for "demonstrating unwavering commitment" to both the school and its students. To generate school spirit amongst the whole student body, in 2011 of the school year 2011-2012, the entire school participated in a videoed 'lip dub', a fusion of a song and lip-syncing. The goal was to promote school spirit and activity amongst the students. The song of choice was "Firework" by Katy Perry; the intended message of the song is to encourage people to be themselves.[18]
Communally, the school has also helped in the retention of dropout students by hosting the Western Virginia Education Classic, a football game between two historically black colleges and universities. The proceeds from the game go toward the local TAP's Project Recovery Program that serves as a partnership with Roanoke City Schools to target and help students at risk of dropping out of school. After the demolition of Victory Stadium, Roanoke's premier football stadium, the classic was no longer being held. However, with Fleming's stadium the classic can proceed and the revenue can continue to help at-risk students.[19]
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