- Middle Schools of Arlington County, Virginia
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There are currently five middle schools in Arlington County, Virginia, administered by the Arlington Public Schools.
Contents
Gunston Middle School
Gunston Middle School is located at 2700 South Lang Street. The principal is Margaret Gill. As of 2006-2007, there were 605 students enrolled and more than 69 teachers (41 of whom have their Master's Degree).[citation needed] It is accredited through the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. The school is named for Gunston Hall, George Mason's estate in nearby Fairfax County.
Gunston's mascot is the Hornet. School colors are teal and violet. Sports teams include of basketball, soccer, wrestling, swimming and tennis.
Gunston's curriculum includes the continuation program for students who attended the Key Elementary or the Claremont Elementary Spanish Immersion program. Students in this program take three classes each day taught entirely in Spanish: Science, Social Studies and Spanish Language Arts. About 1/3 of the incoming 6th graders come from the Key or Claremont programs.
The school, at the time called Gunston Junior High School and encompassing grades 7, 8, and 9, closed in 1978 after a major decline in enrollments. At the time of its closure, the school mascot was the Falcon, and the school colors were black and gold. Gunston reopened in 1994 to address overcrowding in other area schools. After the re-opening in 1994, it subsequently went through a major renovation, funded by the 2000 bond package. Construction was completed in 2003. It was built as a two story building with a public recreation center and public auditorium.
Demographics [1] Ethnicity 2006 American Indian/Alaska Native n/a Asian/Pacific Islander 07.9% Black 25.1% Hispanic 43.8% White 22.5% Unspecified n/a ESL Students 112 State Testing Average % Passing (school vs. state) Grade 6 Subject 2006 Reading 76% 83% Mathematics 21% 51% Grade 7 Subject 2006 Reading 76% 81% Mathematics 27% 44% Grade 8 Subject 2006 Reading 66% 72% Writing 89% 87% Mathematics 68% 76% Science 76% 87% Source: Virginia Department of Education [2]
Kenmore Middle School
Kenmore Middle School is located at 200 South Carlin Springs Road. The principal is Dr. John A. Word, Sr. As of 2006-2007, there are 723 students enrolled and over 79 teachers (51 of which have their Master's Degree). It is accredited through the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.
Kenmore's mascot is the Cougars. The school colors are green and gold.
Kenmore's building was completed for the 2005-2006 school year. The building contains a larger auditorium, cafeteria , art studio, and library/media center. It is multi-storied unlike the previous building. The previous building was used for 50 years, first as an elementary school and later as a middle school. A new building was needed after the old building started to show signs of old age.
Demographics[3] Ethnicity 2006 American Indian/Alaskan Native n/a Asian/Pacific Islander 12.9% Black 18.8% Hispanic 43.8% White 23.9% Unspecified n/a ESL Students 120 State Testing Average % Passing (school vs. state) Grade 6 Subject 2006 Reading 76% 83% Mathematics 68% 51% Grade 7 Subject 2006 Reading 68% 81% Mathematics 33% 44% Grade 8 Subject 2006 Reading 66% 72% Writing 89% 87% Mathematics 58% 76% Science 74% 87% Source: Virginia Department of Education[4]
Swanson Middle School
Swanson Middle School is located at 5800 North Washington Boulevard. The principal is Bridget Loft. As of 2006-2007, there were 724 students enrolled and 59 teachers (46 of which have their Master's Degree). It is accredited through the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. In 2011-2012 there were over 850 students attending Swanson.
Swanson's athletes are named the Admirals[5] and wear white and maroon.
Swanson, in 2011-2012, decided to make three teams for each grade (they used to only have two per grade). For sixth grade there are the Clippers, the Schooners and the Sea Hawks. For seventh grade there are the Captains, the Voyagers and the Mariners. For eighth grade there are the Tropical Cyclones, the Hurricanes and the Typhoons.[6] The names were voted on by Swanson students.
Swanson first opened its doors in 1940 as a 7th through 9th grade junior high to relieve crowding at nearby W-L {Washington-Lee High School}. It is the oldest "junior high" in Northern Virginia, and one of the newest in the state. Because of its unique contribution to education in Virginia as well as its Parisian architecture,[clarification needed] inspired by the then recently restored Colonial Williamsburg, the school is currently pursuing its listing on the National Register of Historic Places. In recognition of the school's history, the Virginia State Legislature passed a resolution on Swanson’s 50th anniversary in 1990 proclaiming Swanson as Virginia’s first junior high school.[7]
It was constructed with WPA funds on the site of the old Torreyson farm in the growing Westover community. One of two North Arlington junior highs targeted for closure in 1977 due to declining enrollment, Swanson reopened as an intermediate school the following year, and the 9th graders were transferred to W-L and Yorktown high schools. Stratford Junior High, although a newer facility, closed its doors. In the fall of 1990, Swanson once again housed three grades as a middle school. It has undergone several renovations, with the most recent in 2005, and another one scheduled in 2017.
Demographics[8] Ethnicity 2006 American Indian/Alaskan Native 00.5% Asian/Pacific Islander 09.9% Black 06.8% Hispanic 15.3% White 67.1% Unspecified 00.3% ESL Students 58 State Testing Average % Passing (school vs. state) Grade 6 Subject 2006 Reading 95% 83% Mathematics 45% 51% Grade 7 Subject 2006 Reading 90% 81% Mathematics 57% 44% Grade 8 Subject 2006 Reading 85% 72% Writing 92% 87% Mathematics 81% 76% Science 93% 87% Source: Virginia Department of Education[9]
Thomas Jefferson Middle School
Thomas Jefferson Middle School is an International Baccalaureate World School. Thomas Jefferson, commonly referred to as "Jefferson" or "TJ," is located at 125 South Old Glebe Road. The principal is Sharon Mondé. As of 2006-2007, there were 598 students enrolled and more than 77 teachers (53 of whom have their Master's Degree). It is accredited through the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. As of March 6, 2007, Jefferson is authorized as an International Baccalaureate World School for the Middle Years. This program attempts to bring a focus on critical thinking, a rigorous curriculum and intercultural awareness to the students and staff.
There are two teams for every grade. In the sixth grade, there are the Dolphins and Turbo Tigers. In the seventh grade, there are the Penguins ans Otters. In eighth grade, there are the Eagles and the Gators.
Jefferson's athletes are named the Yellow Jackets and wear the colors blue, gold, and white.
Thomas Jefferson Middle School opened as a junior high school in 1938 and was named after the third president of the United States.[10] The original cornerstone was placed with George Washington's trowel.[11] The current facility opened in 1971 and is located at 125 South Old Glebe Road in Arlington, Virginia. It is built as a rectangle with three individual corridors for each grade. Upon entering the main entrance of the school, the administrative offices are to the left and the library is further down the long hall. Here, the three corridors extend themselves to another long hall in which various classrooms are located. Also, three individual staircases are located that lead students to a lower level where lockers are located in individual lobbies. The sixth grade lobby is green, the seventh grade lobby is yellow, and the eighth grade lobby is blue. The sixth and seven grade lobbies are also used as cafeteria seating with the kitchen in the middle. These two lobbies also have small corridors that lead to the school gymnasium. It will be renovated in 2010.
Jefferson was designed for use as not only a school but also for community recreation, with the second-largest gymnasium in the state and a community theater that can seat 715 people.[12] The school district works with the local Division of Parks, Recreation and Community Resources to share the facilities.[13]
The school's gymnasium is actually a part of the Thomas Jefferson Community Center. Indoors, a quarter-mile track runs around three basketball courts and past athletic equipment. Outdoors, a half-mile bike trail runs around two athletic fields, two baseball diamonds, two basketball courts and four tennis courts. With the very large space, Arlington County uses the area for the annual Arlington County Fair every August.[14]
Demographics[15] Ethnicity 2006 American Indian/Alaskan Native 00.3% Asian/Pacific Islander 12.4% Black 28.8% Hispanic 38.6% White 19.8% Unspecified 01.0% ESL Students 60 State Testing Average % Passing (school vs. state) Grade 6 Subject 2006 Reading 78% 83% Mathematics 28% 51% Grade 7 Subject 2006 Reading 72% 81% Mathematics 42% 44% Grade 8 Subject 2006 Reading 62% 72% Writing 92% 87% Mathematics 70% 76% Science 80% 87% Source: Virginia Department of Education[16]
Williamsburg Middle School
Williamsburg Middle School is located at 3600 North Harrison Street. The principal is Ann McCarty.[17] As of 2007-2008, there were 1,282 students enrolled and over 77 teachers (66 of which have their Master's Degree). It is accredited through the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.
Williamsburg athletes are named the "Wolves." The school colors are white and blue.
Williamsburg Middle School opened in 1954 to relieve crowding at Stratford and Swanson. At the same time, the controversial decision was made to bus many of the matriculating high school students to the newly opened Wakefield High School in the southern portion of the county because of crowded conditions at nearby Washington-Lee. The original school was administered as a junior high school to only seventh through ninth grade students, but in 1978, the APS system acknowledged ninth graders as high schoolers and the school began serving only seventh and eighth grade students. In 1990, Williamsburg began admitting sixth graders and have done so since. A feeder school for both Yorktown and Washington-Lee High Schools until 2000, Williamsburg now sends most of its students to Yorktown.
The school was built as a U-shaped building with two long halls extending out of the ends of one main hall. At each end of the main hall are also the main gymnasium and auditorium. The main offices are in a separate wing broken off of the end of the main hall toward the main gymnasium. There is a small courtyard in the middle. A new wing was been added to support the growing number of students.
There are 3 teams in each grade along with a separate team (Rockets) for ESOL students. The 6th grade teams are the Cougars, the Coyotes and the Grizzlies. The 7th grade teams are Alpha, Gryphons and Phoenix. The 8th grade teams are Wave, Odyssey and the Questers. There are three fields, a baseball diamond, two tennis courts and a basketball court outside. There is a multi-usage weight room, an auxiliary gym and the main gym.
Demographics[18] Ethnicity 2006 American Indian/Alaskan Native 00.1% Asian/Pacific Islander 10.3% Black 7.9% Hispanic 09.8% White 71.9% Unspecified n/a ESL Students 50 State Testing Average % Passing (school vs. state) Grade 6 Subject 2006 Reading 94% 83% Mathematics 54% 51% Grade 7 Subject 2006 Reading 89% 81% Mathematics 71% 44% Grade 8 Subject 2006 Reading 92% 72% Writing 97% 93% Mathematics 87% 76% Science 94% 87% Source: Virginia Department of Education[19]
References
- ^ Information about Gunston Middle School on GreatSchools
- ^ [1] SOL Test Scores for Gunston Middle School, GreatSchools.net
- ^ Information about Kenmore Middle School on the Local School Profile [2]
- ^ [3] SOL Test Scores for Kenmore Middle School, GreatSchools.net
- ^ Or mis-named, since the school's namesake, Claude A. Swanson, was Secretary of the Navy, and never an "Admiral"!
- ^ Ironically all weather related!
- ^ (2000) "Washington-Lee High School 75th Anniversary History"
- ^ Information about Swanson Middle School on the Local School Profile [4]
- ^ [5] SOL Test Scores for Swanson Middle School, GreatSchools.net
- ^ (2000) "Washington-Lee High School 75th Anniversary History"
- ^ (2000) "Washington-Lee High School 75th Anniversary History"
- ^ [6] Opera Theatre of Northern Virginia
- ^ [7] Arlington Public Schools Web site
- ^ Arlington County Fair Online
- ^ Information about Thomas Jefferson Middle School on the Local School Profile [8]
- ^ [9] SOL Test Scores for Thomas Jefferson Middle School, GreatSchools.net
- ^ http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/02/01/AR2011020106521.html?hpid=sec-education "Arlington principal resigns, blaming superintendent for 'hostile work environment,'" Washington Post (retrieved 2 February 2011).
- ^ Information about Williamsburg Middle School on the Local School Profile [10]
- ^ [11] SOL Test Scores for Williamsburg Middle School, GreatSchools.net
External links
- Gunston Middle School official site
- Kenmore Middle School official site
- Thomas Jefferson Middle School official site
- Great Schools page on Thomas Jefferson MS
- Swanson Middle School official site
- Williamsburg Middle School official site
Middle Schools High Schools Alternative Programs H-B Woodlawn · Arlington Mill · Langston · New Directions · Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and TechnologyCategories:- Schools in Arlington County, Virginia
- Middle schools in Virginia
- Universities and colleges accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
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