Unity Reed High School
Unity Reed High School | |
---|---|
Address | |
8820 Rixlew Lane , 20109 United States | |
Information | |
Former name | Stonewall Jackson High School (1972–2020) |
School type | Public, high school |
Founded | 1972 |
School district | Prince William County Public Schools |
School number | (703) 365.2900 |
Principal | Milagros Polanco |
Teaching staff | 141.29 (FTE)[2] |
Grades | 9–12 |
Enrollment | 2,452 (2021–22)[2] |
Student to teacher ratio | 17.35[2] |
Color(s) | Maroon, Gold, and White [1] |
Mascot | Lion |
Feeder schools | Unity Braxton Middle School |
Website | unityreedhs.pwcs.edu |
Unity Reed High School is a public secondary school in Bull Run, Prince William County, Virginia, near the city of Manassas. It was formerly known as Stonewall Jackson High School; the school was renamed in 2020.
History and administration
Naming controversy
The school was named after Stonewall Jackson, a Confederate general. In 2017, the Prince William County Public Schools (PWCS) Board was considering renaming the school as part of a shift away from naming schools after Confederate leaders.[3][4] In 2020, the PWCS Superintendent released an open letter saying, "We can no longer represent the Confederacy in our schools".[5]
On June 29, 2020, the school board voted to rename the school to "Unity Reed High School", honoring Arthur Reed, who served as a security assistant at the school.[6][7][8]
Awards and recognition
In May 2007, Newsweek magazine ranked Unity Reed 530th in the nation on its annual list of "Best High Schools in America". In 2001, Time named Unity Reed as a High School of the Year.[9][10]
Administration
The principal of Unity Reed High School is Milagros Polanco. Prior to her appointment in 2024, she was the assistant principal at Gar-Field Senior High School.[11]
Academic programs
CTE programs
Unity Reed is one of 2 high schools in the district that hosts an Aviation Maintenance program (the other being Woodbridge High School). The program teaches equipment safety, maintenance publications and records, airframes, engines, and electricity.[12] The school also has cosmetology and engineering programs.[13] Unity Reed is also the only school in the district that hosts a Firefighting program.[14]
International Baccalaureate Program
Unity Reed High School is an International Baccalaureate (IB) World School. They offer the IB Middle Years Programme (MYP), the IB Diploma Programme (DP), and the IB Career Related Programme (CP).
Students can take part in full IB Programs at Unity Reed High School to earn a diploma or certificate. A student can also take courses offered by the IB in their levels of strength and interest, but do not have to be part of a larger IB Program. These are known as IB/MYP Course Students. Students can be awarded college credit with IB classes, and it weighs the GPA. Gar-field is one of two schools that houses the IB Program in Prince William County (the other is Gar-Field Senior High School).[13][15][16]
Demographics
As of the 2023–2024 school year, the student body of 2,174 demographics were:[17]
- Hispanic of any race: 72.4%
- Black/African-Am.: 10.7%
- White 8.0%
- Asian: 6.1%
- Two or More race: 2.4%
- Am. Indian/Alaskan: 0.2%
- Hawaiian/Pacific Isl.: 0.1%
Notable alumni
- Ibram X. Kendi, anti-racist activist[18]
- Tyleik Williams, college football defensive tackle for the Ohio State Buckeyes[19]
- Ryan Williams, former NFL running back[20]
- Greg Stroman, NFL player[21]
- Tim Settle, NFL Player
See also
References
- ^ "Our School". Archived from the original on October 17, 2020. Retrieved October 15, 2020.
- ^ a b c "Stonewall Jackson High". National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved November 3, 2018.
- ^ "School board chairman proposes name change for Stonewall Jackson high, middle". Fauquier Times. August 16, 2017. Retrieved January 29, 2019.
- ^ Fatima, Bhojani (August 18, 2017). "What's in a name? Virginia school enters Confederate symbols battle". Reuters. Retrieved January 29, 2019.
- ^ "Prince William superintendent: rename Stonewall Jackson High". WTOP. June 7, 2020. Retrieved June 28, 2020.
- ^ "Unity Braxton MS & Unity Reed HS". Prince William County Public Schools. June 29, 2020. Archived from the original on July 1, 2020. Retrieved June 30, 2020.
- ^ Mitchell, Samantha (June 29, 2020). "Meet the people who former 'Stonewall' schools in Pr. William County will now be named for". WJLA-TV.
- ^ Basch, Michelle (June 29, 2020). "Prince William County votes to rename schools honoring Stonewall Jackson". WTOP-FM.
- ^ "Time Magazine May 21 2001 Vol. 157 No. 20".
- ^ "Washington Post - A School For Our Time". The Washington Post.
- ^ "Unity Reed High School - A Message From Our New Principal". www.pwcs.edu.
- ^ Sandell, Kevin (March 21, 2024). "Students explore aviation maintenance trade through use of donated airplane at Unity Reed H.S." Potomac Local News. Retrieved July 13, 2024.
- ^ a b Seymour, Emily (January 29, 2024). "Specialty program deadline looms for Prince William County students". INSIDENOVA.COM. Retrieved July 13, 2024.
- ^ Prince William County Public Schools (January 26, 2021). PWCS CTE - Firefighting Program. Retrieved July 13, 2024 – via YouTube.
- ^ "Unity Reed High School - IB Program". www.pwcs.edu.
- ^ "PWCS - International Baccalaureate Programme".
- ^ "Unity Reed High". Virginia School Quality Profiles. February 23, 2024. Retrieved July 13, 2024.
- ^ Writer, Jill Palermo Times Staff (June 29, 2020). "School board picks 'unity,' local Black heroes' names for Stonewall schools". Prince William Times. Retrieved July 13, 2024.
- ^ Future Buckeye Tyleik Williams Selects All-American Bowl
- ^ reports, staff (May 13, 2014). "Ryan Williams released by Arizona Cardinals". INSIDENOVA.COM. Retrieved July 13, 2024.
- ^ "Stonewall Jackson grad Greg Stroman grateful Chicago believes in him". INSIDENOVA.COM. October 5, 2023. Retrieved July 13, 2024.