Willow Spring High School (WSHS) is a public high school located in Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina. The school began construction in 2017 to accommodate the growing population of Wake County, and began operation in 2021. The school has had one of its teachers nominated for a state award in 2023, and since gaining a senior class in 2024, has continued to grow in its student body.
| Willow Spring High School | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Address | |
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1704 Old Honeycutt Rd 27526 United States | |
| Coordinates | 35°34′30″N 78°44′14″W / 35.57500°N 78.73722°W |
| Information | |
| Former name | Fuquay-Varina High School (2019-2021) |
| Type | Public |
| Established | 2021 |
| School district | Wake County Public School System |
| NCES District ID | 3704720[1] |
| CEEB code | 340157 |
| NCES School ID | 370472003570[1] |
| Principal | Wade Martin[2] |
| Teaching staff | 81.52 (on an FTE basis)[1] |
| Grades | 9–12[1] |
| Gender | Coeducational |
| Enrollment | 1,477 (2022–2023)[1] |
| Student to teacher ratio | 18.12[1] |
| Campus size | 58.50 acres (23.67 ha)[3] |
| Campus type | Rural[1] |
| Color(s) | Navy blue, Sky blue, and Yellow[4] |
| Athletics conference | Greater Neuse River Conference[5] |
| Mascot | Storm[4] |
| Website | wcpss |
History
editWillow Spring is a relatively new high school, built to accommodate the growing population of Wake County in the 2020s.[6] WCPSS Assistant Superintendent and future principal of the school upon opening, Wade Martin,[2] helped propose the idea for a new school, after multiple schools in the area were cited as being "significantly over 100 percent of their capacity".[6]
Engineering plans for the school were drafted by LHC Structural Engineers, and the site plan approved on March 21, 2017.[3] In 2019, construction on the school finished, and the completed buildings would first be used to temporarily house students of Fuquay-Varina High School while their old school was being reconstructed.[4] In December 2020, the school mascot was chosen as the "Storm",[4] and in the 2021–2022 school year, the buildings were officially opened for their intended purpose, housing ~900 freshmen and sophomores in their inaugural class.[4][7] Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, about 35 students opted to attend via the district's Virtual Academy, while the remaining ~850 students attended in-person in classroom layouts designed with social distancing in mind.[7]
In February 2023, one of four of the school's assistant principals was suspended following a pending driving under the influence charge.[8]
In October 2023, the school's special education teacher received the Educator of Excellence award from the state Department of Public Instruction.[9]
Extracurricular
editAthletics
editThe school is most notable for their varsity football team, which within the conference had a 1-9 overall record during the 2022–2023 school year.[5] The school hosts cheer, cross-country, football, women's golf, men's soccer, women's tennis, and women's volleyball in the fall; basketball, indoor track and field, women's soccer, swimming/diving, and wrestling in the winter; and baseball, men's golf, lacrosse, women's soccer, softball, men's tennis, and outdoor track and field in the spring.[10]
Clubs and organizations
editThe school hosts a number of clubs: including Interact, Key Club, Mu Alpha Theta, National Art Honor Society, and National Honor Society.[11]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f g "School Directory Information | Willow Spring High". National Center for Education Statistics. 2022. Retrieved December 27, 2023.
- ^ a b "Willow Spring Administrative Team 2023-24". Wake County Public School System. Retrieved December 27, 2023.
- ^ a b "Willow Spring Highschool". Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina. Retrieved December 27, 2023.
- ^ a b c d e "About Our School". Wake County Public School System. Retrieved December 27, 2023.
- ^ a b Bryant, Joel (June 29, 2023). "HC Jason Wilkes previews Willow Spring's second season of varsity football". HighSchoolOT. Retrieved December 27, 2023.
- ^ a b Quigley, Colleen (October 29, 2019). "Parents tour new Willow Springs high as reassignment plan is discussed". WNCN. Retrieved December 27, 2023.
- ^ a b Hoggard, DeJuan; Scott, Tamara (August 23, 2021). "Many traditional calendar central North Carolina students return to class Monday amid pandemic". WTVD. Retrieved December 27, 2023.
- ^ "Wake County assistant principal suspended after DWI charge". WTVD. February 27, 2023. Retrieved December 27, 2023.
- ^ Hollingsworth, Brea (October 25, 2023). "'Definitely an honor': Willow Spring High School special education teacher wins state Educator of Excellence award". WNCN. Retrieved December 27, 2023.
- ^ "Willow Spring Storm". Wake County Public School System. Retrieved December 27, 2023.
- ^ "Clubs & Student Organizations". Wake County Public School System. Retrieved December 27, 2023.