Randolph School

Infobox Private School
name = Randolph School


motto = "Diligentes Ad Veritatem Quaerendam"
(Diligent in Seeking Truth)
established = 1959
type = Private
religion = none
head_name = President
head = Dr. Byron C. Hulsey
city = Huntsville
state = AL
country = USA
campus = Suburban (67 acres)
enrollment = 864
faculty = 85
class = 12 students
ratio = 10:1
year = 2006
SAT = 635 verbal
635 math
625 writing
colors = Blue, White, and Gray
mascot = Randolph Raider
homepage = [http://www.randolphschool.net/ www.randolphschool.net]

Randolph School is an American independent private kindergarten-through-12th-grade college preparatory school chartered in 1959 in Huntsville, Madison County, Alabama. It started in an antebellum home on Randolph Street with just a few elementary classes. A few years later it moved to a much larger 17 acre campus on Drake Avenue, where it is now located, gradually adding grade levels until having a graduating high school class in the early 1970s.

In 1998, the school purchased 50 acres of land on Garth Road, less than one mile (1.6 km) from the present location of the main campus. After only expanding the athletic facilities there, in 2006, the Board of Trustees finally gave approval for the construction of a new campus for the high school, something which had been discussed since 1997. According to the plans, the second campus will more than double the square footage of available facilities, and allow continued increase in enrollment. The new high school is currently under construction and will be open for the 2009-2010 school year. It will also include a new theater for the fine arts department and a new gymnasium and additional training and locker room facilities for the athletic department. [cite web
url = http://www.randolphschool.net/news/news/default.asp?newsid=270187&from_nav=
title = Randolph School Trustees Approve Dual Campus Expansion Plan
accessdate = 2006-09-15
date = 2006-05-09
work = Randolph School
language = English]

For the academic year 2008-2009, tuition and fees average about $13,500, though the school offers need-based financial aid to some students.

Academic awards and other recognition

During the 2001-02 school year, and again in 2003-04, Randolph School was recognized with the Blue Ribbon School Award of Excellence by the United States Department of Education [ [http://www.ed.gov/programs/nclbbrs/list-1982.pdf Blue Ribbon Schools Program: Schools Recognized 1982-1983 through 1999-2002 (PDF)] , United States Department of Education. Accessed May 11, 2006.] [ [http://www.ed.gov/programs/nclbbrs/list-2003.pdf Blue Ribbon Schools Program: Schools Recognized 2003 through 2006 (PDF)] , United States Department of Education. Accessed September 25, 2007.] , the highest award an American school can receive. [ [http://www.journalinquirer.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=17475750&BRD=985&PAG=461&dept_id=161556&rfi=6 CIBA cited as one of the best by Education Department] , "Journal Inquirer", November 16, 2006. "The Blue Ribbon award is given only to schools that reach the top 10 percent of their state's testing scores over several years or show significant gains in student achievement. It is considered the highest honor a school can achieve."] [Viers Mill School Wins Blue Ribbon; School Scored High on Statewide Test; "The Washington Post". September 29, 2005 "For their accomplishments, all three schools this month earned the status of Blue Ribbon School, the highest honor the U.S. Education Department can bestow upon a school."]

Between a fifth and a third of each graduating class is identified as a Commended Scholar, Semi-Finalist, or Finalist in the National Merit Scholarship competition. Virtually all graduates go on to attend four-year colleges.

Athletics

All varsity teams currently compete in the AHSAA 3A division. The boys Cross Country team won State Championships in 1982, 2005, 2006, and 2007. The girls Cross Country team won in 1978, 1979, 1980, 1996, and 1998. The boys Soccer team won State Champs in 2000, 2001, 2002, 2006, and 2007. Also, the Randolph Raiders Varsity Soccer Boys were ranked 3rd nationally in 2006 and first in the Southeast. The Randolph Soccer team has either been state runner up or state champs since the year 2000, except 2004 and 2005. The boys tennis team won the state championship in 1984 and 2008.

Technology

Randolph was one of the first high schools to provide its students with a computer lab in 1981, which was donated by Intergraph, a local software company. Randolph instituted a Bulletin Board System, enhanced by the donation of a 1200 baud modem in 1984 by local television station WAAY. National press coverage in 1998 covered the school's implementation of a wireless network which integrated the use of laptops. Randolph was one of the first schools to require all 8th-12th grade students to have wireless-capable laptops.

Alma Mater

Nestled 'neath the wooded mountains
Under southern skies
Boldly stands our alma mater
Holding standards high
Strength and courage on her banner
Never fear nor fail
Hail to thee our alma mater
Randolph School, ALL HAIL!
---Lyrics and Music by Delbert Bailey

Notable alumni

Its alumni include many of the children of the German rocket scientists that moved to Huntsville with Wernher von Braun after World War II. Other notable alumni include:

*Susanna Phillips (graduated 1999) – soprano opera singer at the Chicago Lyric Opera [cite web
url = http://www.randolphschool.net/alumni/welcome/default.asp?newsid=207916&from_nav=&from=archive
title = Star Alum Returns
accessdate = 2006-09-15
date = 2005-11-02
work = Randolph School
language = English]
*Bryan Shelton – Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets women's tennis head coach and six-time Wimbledon participant [cite web
url = http://www.randolphschool.net/alumni/welcome/default.asp?newsid=264342&from_nav=
title = Tennis Champion Bryan Shelton '84 Swings By Randolph
accessdate = 2006-09-15
date = 2006-04-25
work = Randolph School
language = English]
*Jimmy Wales – of Wikipedia [cite news
url = http://www.randolphschool.net/alumni/welcome/profiles.asp?newsid=432566
title = Jimmy Wales '83
accessdate = 2007-12-18
last = Brown
first = David
date = 2007-12-11
work = Alumni Profiles
publisher = Randolph School]
*Bill Holbrook – illustrator, On the FastrackFact|date=August 2007

References

External links

* [http://www.randolphschool.net/ Official web site]