Oakton High School

Coordinates: 38°52′41.74″N 77°16′47.05″W / 38.8782611°N 77.2797361°W / 38.8782611; -77.2797361

Oakton High School
Seal of the Oakton High School
Address
2900 Sutton Road Vienna, Virginia 22181
Information
School type	Public, high school
Founded	1967
School district	Fairfax County Public Schools
Principal	John Banbury
Staff	approximately 220
Grades	9–12
Enrollment	2,275  (2010-11)
Language	English
Campus	Suburban
Color(s)	Burgundy and gold ██
Mascot	Cougars
Feeder schools	Carson Middle School Franklin Middle School Kilmer Middle School Jackson Middle School
Rival schools	Chantilly High School Westfield High School Madison High School Robinson Secondary School
Athletic conferences	Concorde District Northern Region
Website	http://www.fcps.edu/OaktonHS

Oakton High School is a public high school in unincorporated Fairfax County, Virginia, in proximity to the town of Vienna, in the United States. It is part of Fairfax County Public Schools.

Like most Fairfax County schools, the building is of considerable size, consisting of two stories to accommodate its over 2,350 students. The school is divided into separate hallways for individual subjects; English and History predominantly on the second floor, Math and Science residing on the first.

Oakton operates on a block schedule five days a week. It is headed by its principal, John Banbury, and several assistant principals.

History

Oakton High School was founded in 1967 in Vienna, Virginia. The original Oakton High School was located in the facility which is now used by Oakton Elementary School. When it opened, Oakton was the host facility for an IBM 1401 which was Fairfax County's first computer. A computer curriculum, one of the first offered at the high school level, was available to full-time Oakton students and to students from several other county high schools on a part-time basis. This system was retired in the early seventies when Fairfax County installed an IBM 360 mainframe at the Annandale campus of Northern Virginia Community College.

The school achieved international notoriety in 2009 when it suspended, and threatened to expel, a student for taking a birth-control pill while on school premises.^[1] The incident was referenced during the August 3, 2009 episode of The Colbert Report, with the show satirically portraying the student as a "druggie".^[2]

Demographics

In the 2008-2009 school year, Oakton High School's student body was 63.10% White, 20.62% Asian, 6.97% Hispanic, 4.72% Black, and 4.59% other.^[3]

Test scores

Oakton High School is a fully accredited high school based on the Standards of Learning tests in Virginia. The average SAT score in 2006 for Oakton High School was 1,703 (568 in Critical Reading, 578 in Math, and 557 in Writing).

Feeder schools

Crossfield Elementary School, Fox Mill Elementary School, Mosby Woods Elementary School, Navy Elementary School, Oakton Elementary School, Waples Mill Elementary School, Stone Middle School, and Rachel Carson Middle School are all in the Oakton School Pyramid. Jackson Middle School, Kilmer Middle School, and Franklin Middle School are also feeder middle schools for Oakton, though they are not in the school pyramid.

Academics

Oakton uses the Advanced Placement program. AP classes are available to all students, though some AP classes are only available after pre-requisite courses have been taken. It is rare for any freshman to take an AP course. Post AP courses are available to sufficiently advanced students through academy courses.

The school offers a wide variety of elective courses and allows students to participate in academy courses (courses hosted by other schools at other school sites). Elective courses include philosophy, various engineering courses, journalism, video production, accounting, multivariable calculus with linear algebra and six foreign languages. In 2008, Newsweek ranked Oakton High School as the 103rd best high school in the country, based on a ratio of students taking AP (or IB) classes to the number of graduating seniors. In addition, Oakton was ranked 88th on the US News & World Report magazine's list based on an assessment of college readiness in 2007.

Performing arts

Oakton's Performing Arts Department, which includes band, choral, orchestral, and theatre arts departments, regularly earns distinction as one of the premier performing arts programs in the area.^[4]

In 2008, the performing arts department won the extremely prestigious Blue Ribbon Award, a result of Superior ratings for all Band, Choral, and Orchestra groups in state festivals.

Band program

The Oakton High School marching band at the Lee-Davis Invitational competition, fall 2001

The Oakton Band program is in its 30th year under the direction of Dr. Cheryl Newton, and its first year with associate director Michael Bellinger. The program consists of a marching band, three concert bands, two jazz bands, a winter color guard, drumline program, and several guitar classes and ensembles.

Oakton has been recognized as a Virginia Honor Band (the highest award for high school band programs) fifteen times, including eleven consecutive years from 1995 to 2005. This award is given to bands that receive superior marks for marching and concert performances of the top band. The marching band has won countless other awards at competitions throughout the country, and in addition, has been featured in parades and professional football games. The concert bands have made many appearances at Fiesta-val competitions, including locales such as Orlando, Toronto, Myrtle Beach, and Chicago.

The Oakton Band program is deep-seated in tradition. Every August, the marching band will spend a week in Orkney Springs, Virginia to focus on the drill and music for the year's program and enjoy the scenery of the Shenandoah Valley. Furthermore, Oakton hosts the Oakton Classic, a marching band competition. The Classic has been held annually (usually in October) every year since 1984.^[5]

Dr. Cheryl Newton also teaches two AP music theory classes, available to all Oakton students. Piano Lab is another class offered by the music program.

Choral program

Oakton High School has four regular in-school choruses; Madrigals, Chamber Choir, Select Women's Ensemble, and Concert Choir. The department also includes two eighth period (after school, for credit) specialty groups: Jazz choir and Show choir. The department is under the direction of Tiffany Powell, and has competed in such locations as Atlanta, New York, and Orlando. In the spring of 2010, the department traveled to New York and competed in Festivals of Music: New York. At the event, Madrigals and the combined women's choir, comprising members of both Chamber and Select Women's, were awarded the best mixed and women's choirs awards. Madrigals has also had the opportunity to sing at the Kennedy Center in Washington DC along with the Washington Chorus.

Drama program

Oakton High School's drama program typically puts on a few plays in the fall or winter, and a spring musical. The department is under the direction of Vanessa Gelinas, Robert "Skip" Bromley having retired in 2008. In recent years, the drama program has put on Arsenic and Old Lace, The Wizard of Oz, and other plays and musicals.^[6] The 2007-2008 season included The Importance of Being Earnest, You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown and Into the Woods. The 2008-2009 season included The Foreigner and The Odd Couple (female version). The spring 2009 musical was Little Women. Performances usually take place in the Robert "Skip" Bromley Auditorium, dedicated 2008. Oakton Drama is to, for the 2009-2010 season, produce A Tisket, A Tasket, Four Dames and a Casket (a play written by Haley Herrinton, a student attending Oakton), and Rehearsal for Murder.

Orchestra program

The Oakton High School strings program consists of three orchestras: the Chamber Orchestra, the Symphonic Orchestra, and the Concert Orchestra. All three orchestras are under the direction of Dr. Debra K. Myers, who has taught for many years in other Fairfax County public schools. The orchestras typically give around four concerts a year, consisting of performances by the Chamber Orchestra and the combined Symphonic and Concert Orchestras. The program has participated in many festivals around the world, in locations such as Hawaii, Italy, Orlando, and Chicago. In 2007, the newest orchestra, Concert, was introduced. This class meets every day during 7th period, and allows students to learn how to play a stringed instrument in a more learner-friendly environment. The other two orchestras meet on alternating days due to Oakton's block scheduling.

Due to a complication in the grading of certain pieces the Chamber Orchestra was preparing in 2007, both orchestras went to district festival for Comments Only. In 2008, however, both the Chamber and the combined Symphonic and Concert Orchestras received a rating of Superior.

In 2008, the combined Symphonic and Concert Orchestras performed at the Washington D.C. Heritage Festival, where they received a gold rating. In addition, they were invited to perform in 2009's Boston Festival of Gold, which they did not accept.

The Chamber Orchestra participated in the Orchestra America National Festival in Indianapolis, part of the Music for All National Festival, in 2008. The orchestra applied and was accepted in 2007, and prepared an approximately 45-minute concert consisting of three pieces. On March 1, 2008, the Chamber Orchestra performed its selections at the Hilbert Circle Theatre, home of the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra.^[7] Later that year, the Chamber Orchestra was accepted to perform at the American String Teachers Association National Conference, which took place in March 2009 in Atlanta. The group placed 4th, which was the highest ranking of a non-magnet, non-music school.

Publications

Oakton's award-winning publications provide many opportunities for students to express themselves. Its Publications Department produces a newspaper, The Outlook, a yearbook called Paragon, and a literary magazine, Opus. In October 2006, both The Outlook and Paragon received Trophy-Class honors at the Virginia High School League, with a rating of Superior. In April 2008, Paragon received a Pacemaker award, one of the highest honors in high school journalism, as well as 8th in best of show. Outlook placed 6th in best of show. The school also has a radio club, Fat Cat Radio, and a daily television show, Cougar News.

Athletics

Oakton is a member of the AAA Concorde District and the Northern Region of the Virginia High School League. Its cross country, football, baseball, lacrosse, and men's swimming teams have all claimed recent Virginia state titles.

2005-2006

During the 2005-2006 school year, Oakton Baseball were runners-up. Oakton claimed three state titles: boys cross country, football, and girls lacrosse. The boys lacrosse team, with its loss to Robinson Secondary School ended its three-year streak as state champions.

2006-2007

The baseball team won regionals. Oakton's golf team placed 3rd in the district, and 1st in the region. The boys cross country team placed 1st in the district and region, and 2nd in the state. The field hockey team placed 1st in the district. The football team made the playoffs, but lost in the first round to Chantilly High School, who would end up being the state runner-up. The men's swim and dive team finished second at each districts, regionals, and states. The girls basketball team was the district champion and region runner-up, identical results to last year. The boys track and field team won districts, as well as the girls lacrosse team, who went on to win regionals and states as well.

2007-2008

Danny Kim won the boy's state golf tournament as an individual, and Amanda Steinhagen won the girl's state championship, with Lauren Greenlief coming in second. This was the first time in Oakton's history that they captured both the girl's and boy's individual state golf titles in the same year.^{[citation needed]} The boys cross country team captured the district title and were second in the region. The girls cross country team also secured the district title, were 4th in the region, and came back to take 2nd in the state meet. The men's swim team placed 2nd in districts, regionals, and finals to Robinson Secondary School. The girls lacrosse team won the region and state championship.

2008-2009

The boys cross country team won district, region, and state titles. The girls cross country team finished third in the district and were runner-ups in the region. The football team, with a perfect 10 – 0 season, went on to win the district and regional titles, finishing with a 13-1 record. The boys swim and dive team placed third in the district and won the regional title, and the girls swim and dive team placed second in the district. The girls basketball team finished with a perfect season, and went on to win the district and regional titles, and were runner-ups in the state. The girls indoor track and field team won the district title. The boys outdoor track and field team won the district title.

2009-2010

The boys cross country team won the district title for the fifth straight year, they also won the region title for the fourth time in five years, and were runner-ups in the state. The girls cross country team finished second in the district and sixth in the region. The girls indoor track and field team won the district title for the second straight year.

The boys basketball team, under first year head coach David Brooks, defeated Chantilly on a game-winning 17 footer by Senior Andrew Daniels to win its first District title since 1972.

The boys swim and dive team won the state, regional, and district championship titles. Senior Bradley Phillips won the 400 meter freestyle, setting a national record, and the 200 meter freestyle. Senior KJ Park won the 200 meter IM and the 100 meter breaststroke. The men's 400 freestyle relay also won and set a national record. The girls swim and dive team placed fourth at states. Junior Kaitlin Pawlowicz won the 100 meter butterfly and the 200 meter IM, and set a national record in the 200 meter IM.

Amanda Steinhagen became the first girl to win the Virginia High School League (VHSL) girls high school golf championship twice. She also won it in her Sophomore year at Oakton. Amanda set a state record of 138 for the tournament.

State champions and recognitions

Virginia State Championships (Team) Year Sport/Competition 1978 AAA Boys Cross Country 1985 AAA Boys Golf 1990 AAA Boys Swimming and Diving 1991–1992 AAA Theater 1992[8] Boys Lacrosse 1993 AAA Girls Gymnastics 1996 AAA Creative Writing - Folder 1998 AAA Creative Writing - Folder 1998 AAA Boys Cross Country 1999 AAA Creative Writing - Folder 2000 AAA Baseball 2003[8] Boys Lacrosse 2004[8] Boys Lacrosse 2005 AAA Boys Cross Country 2005 AAA Football Division 6 2005[8] Boys Lacrosse 2006 Girls Lacrosse (Unclassified) 2007 Girls Lacrosse (Unclassified) 2008 Girls Lacrosse (Unclassified) 2008 AAA Boys Cross Country 2010 AAA Boys Swim and Dive Virginia State Runner-Up (Team) Year Sport/Competition 1982 AAA Baseball 1983 AAA Boys Golf 1990 AAA Softball 1998 AAA Girls Gymnastics 1999 AAA Boys Soccer 2001 AAA Girls Basketball 2001 AAA Softball 2002 AAA Girls Outdoor Track 2002 AAA Football Division 6 2005 AAA Girls Cross Country 2006 AAA Baseball 2006 Boys Lacrosse (Unclassified) 2006 AAA Boys Cross Country 2007 AAA Boys Swimming and Diving 2007 AAA Girls Cross Country 2008 AAA Boys Swimming and Diving 2008 Boys Lacrosse (Unclassified) 2009 AAA Girls Basketball 2009 AAA Boys Cross Country Virginia Honor Band Year Notes 1990 First in the history of the school 1993 1995 1996 First-time repeat recognition 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 10th Year recognition 2003 2004 2005 2007 2008 15th Year recognition 2009

Virginia State Championships (Individual) Year Sport/Competition Name 1971 AAA Girls Tumbling (Gymnastics) Diane Friedman 1972 AAA Girls Tumbling (Gymnastics) Diane Friedman 1973 AAA Girls Original Oratory (Forensics) Carolyn Davis 1977 AAA Boys Outdoor Two Mile Run (Track) Jim Hill 1977 AAA Individual Boys Golf Tony Deluca 1978 AAA Boys Pole Vault (Track) Troy Nieves 1978 AAA Boys Outdoor Two Mile Run (Track) Jim Hill 1978 AAA Girls Prose Reading (Forensics) Jacqueline Lucid 1978 AAA Individual Boys Cross Country James Hill 1979 AAA Boys Indoor 3200m Run (Track) Jim Hill 1979 AAA Boys Outdoor Two Mile Run (Track) Jim Hill 1981 AAA Boys Original Oratory (Forensics) Bob Stankey 1982 AAA 167 lb Weight Class (Wrestling) Jeff Palmucci 1984 AAA Girls Vault (Gymnastics) Angel Bursenos 1984 AAA Boys Singles (Tennis) Lee Ball 1985 AAA Individual Boys Golf Chris Turner 1986 AAA Boys High Jump (Track) David Daigler 1989 AAA Boys Doubles (Tennis) Finch/Miller 1992 AAA Girls Beam Co-champion (Gymnastics) Kristi Van Buren 1993 AAA Girls Indoor 3200m Run (Track) Keri Gray 1994 AAA 140 lb Weight Class (Wrestling) John McManus 1994 AAA Spelling (Forensics) Richard Allen 1996 AAA Spelling (Forensics) Amy Hegan 1997 AAA 215 lb Weight Class (Wrestling) Brian Welch 1997 AAA Essay (Creative Writing) George Kraus 1998 AAA Boys Outdoor 800m Run (Track) Andrew MacLeod 1998 AAA Poetry (Creative Writing) Maria Ahmad 1998 AAA Short Story (Creative Writing) Becky Olsen 1999 AAA Boys Outdoor High Jump (Track) Teddy Presley 1999 AAA Boys Outdoor 3200m Run (Track) Jacob Frey 1999 AAA Short Story (Creative Writing) Courtney Davis 2000 AAA Boys 200 Medley Relay (Swimming) Oakton[9] 2000 AAA Boys 50 Freestyle (Swimming) Mike Sihler 2000 AAA Boys 100 Freestyle (Swimming) Mike Ott 2000 AAA Boys 200 Freestyle Relay (Swimming) Oakton[9] 2000 AAA Girls Outdoor High Jump (Track) Bonnie Meekins 2000 AAA Girls Outdoor 3200m Relay (Track) Oakton[9] 2000 AAA Individual Girls Cross Country Keira Carlstrom 2001 AAA Boys 200 Individual Medley (Swimming) Mike Ott 2001 AAA Boys Doubles (Tennis) Wolfe/Tsai 2001 AAA Boys Indoor 3200m Run (Track) Matt Maline 2001 AAA Boys Outdoor 1600m Run (Track) Matt Maline 2001 AAA Girls Outdoor 1600m Run (Track) Keira Carlstrom 2001 AAA Individual Girls Cross Country Keira Carlstrom 2002 AAA Boys 200 Individual Medley (Swimming) Mike Ott 2002 AAA Boys 100 Freestyle (Swimming) Mike Ott 2002 AAA Girls Indoor High Jump (Track) Bonnie Meekins 2002 AAA Girls Indoor 1600m Run (Track) Keira Carlstrom 2002 AAA Girls Outdoor Long Jump (Track) Bonnie Meekins 2002 AAA Girls Outdoor High Jump (Track) Bonnie Meekins 2002 AAA Girls Outdoor 1600m Run (Track) Keira Carlstrom 2003 AAA Boys 100 Freestyle (Swimming) Mike Ott 2003 AAA News/Feature Photo (Newspaper) Jennifer Cubas 2003 AAA Student Life Spread (Yearbook) Henricka Hamler, Arushi Phull 2003 AAA Sports Spread (Yearbook) Megan Koster 2003 AAA People Spread (Yearbook) Melissa Leong 2004 AAA Girls Indoor 3200m Relay (Track) Oakton[9] 2005 AAA Girls Indoor 1600m Run (Track) Danielle Light 2005 AAA Boys Outdoor 3200m Run (Track) Jason Vick 2005 AAA Girls Outdoor 3200m Relay (Track) Oakton[9] 2006 AAA Poetry (Creative Writing) Christine Williams 2007 AAA Individual Boys Golf Danny Kim 2007 Individual Girls Golf (Unclassified) Amanda Steinhagen 2008 AAA Boys Indoor 1600m Run (Track) Joe LoRusso 2008 AAA Boys Outdoor 1600m Run (Track) Joe LoRusso 2008 AAA News: Straight News/News Feature/Sports News (Newspaper) Chris Weil 2008 AAA Feature: In-Depth/Informative (including Sports) (Newspaper) Matt Johnson, Erica Wohlleben 2008 AAA Concept Packaging (Yearbook) Oakton[10] 2009 VHSL State Journalist of the Year Matt Johnson 2009 AAA Boys 200 Freestyle (Swimming) Bradley Phillips 2009 AAA Classic Policy Debate Alexandra Kralick, Gabrielle Tate 2010 AAA Boys 200 Freestyle (Swimming) Bradley Phillips 2010 AAA Boys 400 Freestyle (Swimming) Bradley Phillips 2010 AAA Boys 200 IM (Swimming) KJ Park 2010 AAA Boys 100 Breaststroke (Swimming) KJ Park 2010 AAA Boys 400 Freestyle Relay (Swimming) Philip Hu, Chris Megaw, Bradley Phillips, KJ Park 2010 AAA Girls 200 IM (Swimming) Kaitlin Pawlowicz 2010 AAA Boys 100 Butterfly (Swimming) Kaitlin Pawlowicz

Notable alumni

• Zachary Adam Chesser, plead guilty to aiding a terrorist organization^[11]
• Nyambi Nyambi, actor, Mike & Molly.
• Eugene Chung, former professional football player, Indianapolis Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars and New England Patriots.
• Serena Deeb, professional wrestler.
• Cody Grimm, NFL Safety for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
• Sean Parker, attended for two years before transferring to Chantilly, co-founder of Napster, founder of Plaxo, and former president of Facebook.^{[12][13] [14]}
• Michaele (Holt) Salahi, noted party crasher at White House dinner hosted by President Obama. Graduated 1984.^[15]
• Michael Wardian, marathoner and ultramarathoner.
• J.D. Gibbs, President of Joe Gibbs Racing, NASCAR with drivers Kyle Busch, Denny Hamlin and Joey Logano

References

1. ^ "Birth-Control Pill Lands Fairfax Student 2-Week Suspension, Possible Expulsion". The Washington Post. 2009-04-05. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/04/04/AR2009040402591.html. Retrieved 2010-05-20. 
2. ^ Nailed-Em - War on Birth Control The Colbert Report, August 3, 2009
3. ^ FCPS-School Profiles, Oakton HS
4. ^ "Performing Arts". Oakton High School. http://www.fcps.edu/OaktonHS/academics/departments/performing/. Retrieved 2007-12-14. 
5. ^ "Oakton Bands". http://www.oaktonbands.com/. Retrieved 2007-12-14. 
6. ^ "OHS Drama". http://www.fcps.edu/OaktonHS/academics/departments/performing/drama.html. Retrieved 2007-12-14. 
7. ^ "Music for All National Festival". Music for All. http://www.musicforall.org/programs/MFANF/OANF.aspx. Retrieved 2008-03-04. ^{[dead link]}
8. ^ ^{a b c d} Although Oakton was the state champion for boys lacrosse in 1992 and from 2003-2005, those titles were unofficial.
9. ^ ^{a b c d e} Relay teams are considered individuals in this context.
10. ^ The entire yearbook staff is considered an entity in this context.
11. ^ Tara Bahrampour (July 24, 2010). "Terror suspect took his desire to belong to the extreme". Washington Post. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/07/24/AR2010072402497.html?hpid%3Dtopnews&sub=AR. Retrieved July 29, 2010. 
12. ^ Thomas, Owen. "Sean Parker drops out of college, again and again and again". http://valleywag.com/tech/your-privacy-is-an-illusion/sean-parker-drops-out-of-college-again-and-again-and-again-318001.php. Retrieved 2008-11-13. 
13. ^ "Genius from Class '96". http://www.connectionnewspapers.com/articleprint.asp?article=311523&paper=63&cat=104. Retrieved 2011-02-20. 
14. ^ "Sean Parker". http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/1753742/Sean-Parker. Retrieved 2011-02-20. 
15. ^ Mundy, Liza; Argetsinger, Amy; Shapira, Ian (2009-12-22). "The Party Crashers: A look at Tareq and Michaele Salahi before they were famous". The Washington Post. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/story/2009/12/21/ST2009122103754.html?sid=ST2009122103754. Retrieved 2010-05-20. 

External links

• Oakton High School profile at Fairfax County Public Schools
• Oakton HS Sports
• Oakton HS Newspaper
• VHSL-Reference
• http://www.oaktonchorus.org
• http://www.oaktondrama.org
• http://www.oaktonbands.com