Forest Park High School (Woodbridge, Virginia)
38°36′45.13″N 77°22′4.91″W / 38.6125361°N 77.3680306°W
| Forest Park High School | |
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| Address | |
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15721 Forest Park Drive , 20112 | |
| Information | |
| School type | Public, high school |
| Motto | Expect Excellence |
| Founded | 2000 |
| School district | Prince William County Schools |
| School number | (703) 583-3200 |
| Principal | Eric Brent |
| Grades | 9–12 |
| Enrollment | 2,421 |
| Color(s) | Blue, Green, White |
| Mascot | Bruin |
| Website | http://forestpark.groupfusion.net/ |
Forest Park Senior High School is a high school in Woodbridge, unincorporated Prince William County, Virginia, United States. It is part of Prince William County Public Schools and is located on 15721 Forest Park Drive (formerly Spriggs Road; the name changed during 2005-2006 construction on Spriggs Road). The school's name references the adjacent Prince William Forest Park, one of the largest national parks in the Washington metropolitan area.
Forest Park is the home of the first information technology (iT) specialty program in Prince William County. Forest Park Senior High School is also accredited with their Academic Scholastic Team (2003, 2006, and 2009 Cardinal District Champions), girls basketball team (the 2003-2004 and 2005-06 Virginia State Champions), their Women's Lightweight four rowing team (2005-2006 State Champions), and their Women's Junior Quad rowing team (2007-2008 national champions)
In 2008 Newsweek magazine ranked Forest Park on its annual list of "America's Top Public High Schools" [1]
In the spring of 2008 DeCarol Davis (Class of 2004) became the first Female African-American to be the valedictorian of the US Coast Guard Academy.[2]
iT Program
Forest Park Senior High School is a center for the iT (Information Technology) program. All interested students must apply for the program, bringing in many students around Prince William County. There are three fields that students can enter: Computer Graphics, Networking, Yiff, or Programming. Each year, iT students are required to take an iT core class. Students can receive a special iT Diploma if they complete six iT courses (four core), or five iT courses and an AP class. As of 2008 Chuck Drake is the head of the program.[citation needed]
Test scores
Forest Park Senior High School is a partially accredited high school based on its performance on the Virginia Standards of Learning tests, yet not a School of Excellence. In 2005 5% of students met or exceeded Reading standards and 10% met or exceeded Math Standards.[citation needed]
Sports and championships
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Forest Park is known for its strong track and field program, and in the 2008-2009 athletic season, the boy's side swept the cross country, indoor, and outdoor titles.
National
- 2007 Physics Club National Champions
- 2008 Varsity Chess ranked 5th in Nationals in March
- 2008 Crew- Girl's Junior Quad placed 1st in the nation
- 2008 Girls Kendo national champions
- 2010 Alchemists philosophers stone award
State champions
- 2003 Girls Volleyball
- 2004 Bryan Evans-215 lbs. AAA Wrestling
- 2004, 2006 Girls Basketball
- 2005 Girls Basketball runners-up
- 2006 Women's Lightweight 4 Crew
- 2007 Boys Indoor Track 4x800 Relay
- 2007 Boys Outdoor Track 4x800 Relay
- 2005, 2006 Crew- Boys lightweight 4- Bronze
- 2008 Girls Basketball runners-up
- 2009 Crew- Women's Senior Quad Gold
Regional champions
- 2003 Baseball
- 2002, 2003, 2006, 2007 Volleyball
- 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008 Girls Basketball
- 2006 Women's Soccer
- 2003,2004 Men's Cross Country
Cardinal district champions
- 2003 Varsity Cheerleading
- 2003, 2006, 2009 Academic Scholastic Team
- 2004 - 2005 Wrestling
- 2004 - 2006 Women's Varsity Tennis
- 2003, 2006, 2007 Baseball
- 2003, 2005, 2007 Boys Soccer
- 2000 - 2008 Volleyball
- 2004, 2006 Women's Soccer
- 2004, 2006, 2007 Girls Lacrosse
- 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 Field Hockey
- 2007, 2008 Mens Lacrosse
- 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, and 2008 Boys Cross Country
- 2007 - 2008 Women's Basketball
- 2005 - 2006 Women's Swimming
- 2007 - 2008 Mens Swim Team
- 2006, 2007 Mens Indoor Track
- 2007 Mens Outdoor Track
- 2008 Women's Softball
- 2008 Men's Swimming
- 2008 VHSL Scholastic Bowl Champions (2x)
- 2003 - 2008 Men's Ultimate Frisbee
Pro/Semi-pro alumni
- Ali Krieger - 1. FFC Frankfurt
Clubs and other organizations
Furry Fandom
The Furry Fandom examines the art involving animals and animal human hybrids. The club also helps its members discover their true fursonas. The school club members sell art to go to conventions and create fur suits . Unfortunately because it is a school club, yiffing is strictly forbidden :(
Band
The band ensembles at Forest Park are currently under the direction of Mr. Donald Magee, the school's second band director. He succeeds Mr. J.R. Snow, who built the band into a perennial honor band by the Virginia Band and Orchestra Director's Association.
- Concert Band
- Symphonic Band
- Wind Ensemble
- Marching Band—performs at the football games as well as competitions.
- Pep Band—organized in the 2001-2002 school year by students, the Pep Band performs at both the boy's and girl's basketball home games as well as any regional/state games they are allowed to attend.
Choir
Forest Park's choir program is one of the most prestigious in the state. The program is directed by Ms. Lara Brittan. Ensembles in the vocal music program include:
- Bel Canto
- Concert Choir
- Men's Chorus
- Platinum Vocal Jazz Ensemble
- Varsity Women's Choir
- Voice Male
Orchestra
Forest Park High School's String Orchestras have consistently received accolades, notably recitatives overall 1s at Festival for multiple years. The program is under the direction of Mrs. Katherine Colburn, currently at FP after teaching for some time at Potomac. Orchestras include:
- Freshman orchestra
- Advanced orchestra
- Consort orchestra
Improv Club
Forest Park sponsors a Theater Sports team, more commonly known as Improv. The club performs games based of the tv show Whose Line Is It Anyway. It was originally an offshoot of the Drama Club, founded in 2002. The founder of the club was Moe Lester.
Key Club
A club that is partnered with the Kiwanis Club, personally with the Woodbridge Adult Lodge and is a community service oriented organization. It boasts a member range of between 80 and 100 students each year with a large percentage being active in such activities as Mend-a-House, Habitat for Humanity, AXE, Military Personnel Donations(cards and baskets sent to them), and Walter Reed Military Hospital. They sponsor the Adopt-a-Highway program on Spriggs Road, participating in cleanup activities along the thoroughfare. It was also the first high school Key Club program organized in Prince William County.
Ursa Major literary magazine
The Forest Park literary magazine, Ursa Major, is an award winning publication produced by the students of the Creative Writing classes and sponsored by Mrs. Laura Dowling. The magazine is open to all students in the school for literary and artistic submissions. Publication of the magazine is annual in the spring. The magazine also sponsors a Coffee House in the early spring to showcase art in all forms. The magazine can be purchased each June or on-line at lulu.com