Winston Churchill High School, often referred to as WCHS, Churchill High School, CHS or Churchill, is a public high school in Potomac, Maryland, United States, an unincorporated section of Montgomery County. It is the only public high school in Potomac.
Winston Churchill High School | |
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Address | |
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11300 Gainsborough Road , 20854 United States | |
Coordinates | 39°02′38″N 77°10′21″W / 39.04389°N 77.17250°W |
Information | |
Former name | Potomac High School |
Type | Public high school |
Motto |
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Established | 1964 |
School district | Montgomery County Public Schools |
NCES School ID | 240048000956[1] |
Principal | John Taylor[2] |
Teaching staff | 120.90 FTE (2022-23)[1] |
Grades | 9–12 |
Gender | Co-educational |
Enrollment | 2,234 (2022-23)[1] |
Student to teacher ratio | 18.48 (2022-23)[1] |
Campus type | Suburban |
Color(s) | Kelly green and royal blue |
Athletics conference | MPSSAA 4A |
Mascot | Bulldog |
Rival | Thomas S. Wootton High School |
Newspaper | The Churchill Observer |
Yearbook | Finest Hours |
Feeder schools | Herbert Hoover Middle School, Cabin John Middle School |
Website | www |
The school is named after Winston Churchill, a British statesman and politician who was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom during World War II. Founded in 1964 as Potomac High School, the school's name was changed to "Winston Churchill High School" a year later.[3]
Churchill belongs to the Montgomery County Public Schools system. Most of its students live in Potomac with a small portion in Bethesda.
History
editThis article appears to be slanted towards recent events. (March 2024) |
Winston Churchill High School was established in 1964 as Potomac High School. The school was renamed to honor Sir Winston Churchill the following year.[3]
From 1999 to 2002, Churchill underwent renovations to modernize and revitalize the facilities. There was a formal rededication ceremony on April 21, 2002. Along with the opening of the new facility, the school's auditorium was renamed to the Dr. Gertrude G. Bish Auditorium, to honor the first principal of Churchill High School when it opened in 1964. She was the first woman high school principal in Montgomery County.[4]
In January 2010, a criminal investigation exposed a grade-changing scandal at Churchill. 46 students' grades were modified after 8 students hacked the school's grade system. The incident was treated by the police as a criminal investigation.[5] [6]
In 2016, controversy spiked in Montgomery County around racial incidents at Churchill. In November, two students put a sign reading "whites only" on a bathroom door, later telling authorities that they found the sign and wanted to see people's reaction. A month later, a few students allegedly entered a meeting of the school's Republican club, called the members racist, and wrote "Black Lives Matter" on the classroom whiteboard. In response, a club member supposedly said "White Lives Matter" directed to the non-club members. A Montgomery County Republican leader was hurt by this and told school district leaders after being informed by a parent. Chair of the education committee of the Montgomery County Republican Central Committee, Richard Jurgena was worried for the state of the club and called for a "complete, rapid and nonpartisan" investigation.[7]
In 2017, after a basketball game between Winston Churchill High School and Walter Johnson High School, Walter Johnson High School students defaced Winston Churchill High School property with vulgar graffiti. This caused $100,000 in damage.[8]
On October 13, 2021, a female Churchill student was assaulted by a 17-year old student from Walt Whitman High School. This incident occurred at the Churchill bus loop in the morning where the assailant brandished a knife and attacked the victim. The assailant subsequently fled the scene only to be later identified and taken into custody. The victim sustained minor injuries and "enhanced monitoring" was supposedly implemented during future dismissals.[9][10]
In May 2022, a student made threats of violence against the school on social media. These included mentions of bringing guns and explosives on school property and murder threats in retaliation for being mistreated at the school.[11] The student was out of state at the time, however, and was prohibited from returning to Churchill for the remainder of the school year.[12]
On February 13th, 2023, Principal John Taylor sent out a message regarding a recent incident that occurred at the school. Racist graffiti in a boys bathroom at the school was noticed by a student and reported to school official, which prompted the removal of the graffiti and an investigation which has since gone unresolved. [13]
Areas Served
editChurchill students come from two feeder middle schools and five elementary schools:[14]
- Cabin John Middle School
- Bells Mill Elementary School
- Seven Locks Elementary School
- Herbert Hoover Middle School
- Beverly Farms Elementary School
- Potomac Elementary School
- Wayside Elementary School
School awards and academics
editChurchill has been ranked in the top 100 high schools in the United States for years, climbing to 42 in 2007 and 75 in 2017.[15][16] Churchill earned the 2007 Maryland Blue Ribbon Award[17] and was selected by the U.S. Department of Education as a 2007 National No Child Left Behind Blue Ribbon School.[18] In 2012, Churchill was rated the best high school in Maryland and fifth among non-magnet schools nationally according to U.S. News & World Report.[19] In 2016, the same report ranked Winston Churchill High School 94th in national ranking, 2nd in Maryland High Schools and 146th in STEM High Schools with 83.9 (out of 100) College Readiness Index.[20] In 2017, Churchill was ranked the best high school in Maryland and 75th in the nation by U.S. News.[21] As of 2024, Churchill has fallen to the 5th-ranked high school in Maryland and the 295th-ranked nationally, according to U.S News and World Report.[22]
Churchill students average a score of 1299 on the SAT, with 640 on verbal and 659 on math.[23]
Departments and programs
editChurchill has nine academic departments: Art, Computer Science, English, Foreign Language, Mathematics, Performing Arts, Physical Education, Science, and Social Studies.
Autism Program
editThe Autism Program provides a program for students with low-functioning autism. These students learn how to improve their skills at undertaking certain tasks and also learn speech.
Signature Program
editThe Signature Program allows students to follow one of several course paths to specialize in a particular career field. The program comprises three academies: the Academy of Math, Science, & Technology; the Academy of International Studies; and the Academy of Creative and Performing Arts.[24]
Bridge Program
editThe Bridge Program provides a program for adolescents and young adults with learning/emotional disabilities. The program intends to foster academic skill development and alter behaviors that interfere with academic learning.[25] It is supervised by an interdisciplinary team intended to meet the needs of socially vulnerable middle and high school students who may be challenged by problem-solving abstract thinking, organizing and planning, interpreting social cues, establishing relationships with peers, coping with anxiety, changes in routine, and transitioning.
Performing arts
editMany theater productions are put on regularly, including a night of one act plays. The One Acts Festival is student-produced, directed, and funded by the drama club. Churchill also has a choir program. Showstoppers is a mixed-gender show choir group, while Jazz Ambassadors is a mixed-gender choir. Both groups regularly compete within Montgomery County, regionally, and nationally. Churchill also hosts an annual show choir competition.
Churchill's choral music groups are Voice of a Generation (VOAG), Jazz Ambassadors, and Showstoppers.[26]
Voice of a Generation is a non-audition group for students who like to sing and learn about the study of music. Students learn to sight-read, read music, and improve their performance skills.
Jazz Ambassadors is a coed ensemble selected through auditions, focusing on developing vocal technique. Most songs are challenging jazz music, but this is often stretched to arrangements of different kinds of music like pop or classical.
Showstoppers is an honors show choir group of students selected through auditions who previously held choir positions at Churchill. This group features musically challenging music. Most music is popular, but any musical style, including sacred and secular works, is rehearsed and performed.
In 2007, Churchill's fall production of Singin' in the Rain was nominated for six Cappies High School Theater Awards,[27] winning Best Orchestra (for the third consecutive year), Best Cameo Actor, and Best Cameo Actress. Only one other school received more awards.[28][29]
In 2009, Churchill's fall production of Rent: School Edition was nominated for four Cappies High School Theater Awards: Best Male Vocalist, Best Female Vocalist, Best Orchestra, and Best Song. Churchill won awards for Best Female Vocalist as well as Best Orchestra.[30]
Many students form bands, typically of a rock variety, and the school occasionally facilitates this by sponsoring a battle of the bands or band performance. The school has sponsored day-long concerts on school grounds; the Merritthon, a fundraising event for Leukemia research, occurred annually from 2002 to 2004.[31]
In 2009, the instrumental music program won four awards at the Windy City Classic, including Best Symphonic Band, Best Orchestra, Best Classical Soloist, and Best Overall Program. The jazz band received second place in that category. All three groups received a gold rating.[citation needed]
Publications
editChurchill produces three publications, all of which have won awards: its newspaper, The Churchill Observer; its yearbook, Finest Hours; and its literary magazine, Erehwon.[32][33][34]
Athletics
editWinston Churchill High School offers the following sports:
Falledit
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Winteredit
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Springedit
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State championships
editTeam State championships | |||
---|---|---|---|
Season | Sport | Number of championships | Year |
Fall[35] | Cross country, boys' | 4 | 1968, 1975, 1977, 1978 |
Cross country, girls' | 2 | 1979, 1991 | |
Football | 2 | 1976, 1977 | |
Field hockey | 2 | 1978, 1983 | |
Golf | 15 | 1976, 1987, 1988, 1995, 1998, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2014, 2015, 2019 | |
Soccer, boys' | 7 | 1980, 1985, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1999, 2002, 2009 | |
Winter[36] | Basketball, girls' | 2 | 2002, 2003 |
Basketball, boys' | 1 | 1978 | |
Ice hockey[37] | 8 | 2006, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2022 | |
Indoor track, boys' | 2 | 1976, 2011 | |
Swimming and diving, girls'[38] | 3 | 2009, 2012, 2015 | |
Swimming and diving, boys' | 2 | 2018, 2019, 2022 | |
Spring[39] | Baseball | 1 | 1979 |
Outdoor track, boys' | 1 | 1976 | |
Wiffleball | 5 | 1969, 1978, 1980, 2011, 2012 | |
Ultimate frisbee | 1 | 2013 | |
Lacrosse, boys' | 1 | 2022 | |
Total | 47 |
Notable alumni
edit- Susan C. Lee (class of 1972) – state senator, Maryland General Assembly[40]
- Samuel L. Stanley (class of 1972) – President, Michigan State University[41]
- John F. Mulholland Jr. (class of 1973) – U.S. Army officer
- Elisa New (class of 1976) – professor of English at Harvard University[citation needed]
- Brian Holloway (class of 1977) – professional football player, All-Pro, Stanford graduate, NFL first-round draft pick[42]
- Jeffrey Allan Kemp (class of 1977) – NFL player, quarterback for Los Angeles Rams, Seattle Seahawks, San Francisco 49ers; son of Jack Kemp[43]
- Michael Hardt (class of 1978) – philosopher, author[citation needed]
- Cheryl Kagan (class of 1979) – state senator, Maryland General Assembly[44]
- Kenny Kramm (class of 1979) – entrepreneur, inventor of FLAVORx[45]
- Darren Star (class of 1979) – television creator and producer (Beverly Hills, 90210, Melrose Place, Sex and the City, Younger)[46]
- Marti Leimbach (class of 1981) – novelist[47]
- Bruce Murray (class of 1983) – international soccer player; two-time All-American at Clemson; selected to College Team of the Century; member of 1988 Summer Olympics and 1990 FIFA World Cup soccer teams; National Soccer Hall of Fame[48]
- Paul Palmer (class of 1983) – NFL player, first-round draft pick[49]
- Travis Curtis (class of 1983?) – former NFL safety
- Lori Alan Denniberg (class of 1984) – actress and voice actor[citation needed] best known as Pearl in SpongeBob SquarePants and Diane Simmons in Family Guy
- Deborah Copaken (class of 1984) – writer and photojournalist (Shutterbabe)[50]
- Jonathan Holloway (class of 1985) – professor and dean at Yale University, president of Rutgers University[51]
- Jennie Koch Easterly (class of 1986) – U.S. Army officer, federal government official[52]
- Mike Sacks (class of 1986) – magazine editor, humor writer[53]
- Julie Kent (class of 1987) – American Ballet Theatre, principal dancer for 22 years[54]
- Mike Barrowman (class of 1987) – swimmer, 1992 Olympic gold medalist, 200-meter breaststroke[55]
- Rochelle Walensky (class of 1987) – Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention[56]
- Jimmy Kemp (class of 1989) – CFL football player, president of the Jack Kemp Foundation[57]
- Jordan Ellenberg (class of 1989) – mathematician and author, How Not to Be Wrong[58]
- Tim Sweeney (class of 1989) – founder of Epic Games; most known for Fortnite[59]
- Rachel Nichols (class of 1991) – ESPN reporter[60]
- Jeff Halpern (class of 1994) (did not graduate) – NHL player, first from Southeast U.S.[61]
- Robyn Cohen (class of 1994) – actress[62]
- Dhani Jones (class of 1996) – NFL player, TV personality, The Travel Channel and CNBC[63]
- Bryan Cogman (class of 1997) (did not graduate) – Emmy Award-winning writer, Game of Thrones[64]
- Ben Feldman (class of 1998) – actor, Drop Dead Diva, Mad Men, Superstore[65]
- Gibran Hamdan (class of 1998) (did not graduate) – NFL player, backup quarterback for Washington Redskins[66]
- Kelen Coleman (class of 2002) – actress, The Office, The Mindy Project, The Newsroom, The McCarthys[67]
- Jerome Dyson (class of 2005) (did not graduate) - professional basketball player[68]
- Kamie Crawford (class of 2010) – Miss Teen USA 2010[69]
- Shinsaku Uesugi (class of 2010) – chess player (Chess Olympiad)[70]
- Joshua Coyne (class of 2011) – composer and musician[71]
- Taylor Momsen (class of 2011) (did not graduate) – actor (How the Grinch Stole Christmas!, Spy Kids, Gossip Girl); musician (The Pretty Reckless)[72]
- Eric Brodkowitz (class of 2014), Israeli-American baseball pitcher for the Israel national baseball team[73]
- Noah Bratschi (class of 2018), professional speed climber, American record holder, Bronze medalist World Championships, World Cup silver medalist, 9x US World Team[74][75]
References
edit- ^ a b c d "Search for Public Schools - Winston Churchill High (240048000956)". National Center for Education Statistics. Institute of Education Sciences. Retrieved March 6, 2024.
- ^ "New Churchill, Richard Montgomery and Northwest principals appointed". Bethesda Magazine. July 16, 2021. Retrieved June 16, 2022.
- ^ a b Rathner, Janet (February 7, 2001). "Churchill's past, present come together in auditorium". The Gazette. Retrieved September 24, 2018.
- ^ "Churchill High School Celebrates Building Rededication". Montgomery County Public Schools. April 16, 2002. Retrieved March 6, 2024.
- ^ Birnbaum, Michael; Morse, Dan; Johnson, Jenna (March 4, 2010). "Criminal investigation opened in grade-changing scandal at Churchill High". The Washington Post. pp. A01. Retrieved May 16, 2010.
- ^ Francis, Elliot (March 9, 2010). "Montgomery County High School Cheating Scandal".
- ^ Donna, George (March 14, 2016). "'Black Lives Matter' debate in Maryland school stirs allegations of racism".
- ^ Stabley, Matthew (January 31, 2017). "High School Basketball Rivalry Causes $100,000 in Damage By Vandals". NBC4 Washington.
- ^ Herron, Patrick (October 13, 2021). "Student Assaulted at Winston Churchill High School by Student From Walt Whitman High School". The MoCo Show.
- ^ Schere, Dan (October 13, 2021). "UPDATED: Whitman student in custody after police say he assaulted female student at Churchill High". MoCo360.
- ^ Watts, Lindsay (May 30, 2022). "'Serious and disturbing threats' posted online against Montgomery County high school". WTTG.
- ^ Schere, Dan (May 31, 2022). "Student who made alleged threat won't return to Churchill High, police say". MoCo360.
- ^ Pope, Troy (Feb 13, 2023). "Racist graffiti found at Potomac, Maryland high school". wusa9.
- ^ Division of Capital Planning, Montgomery County Public Schools. Superintendent's Recommended FY 2025 Capital Budget and the FY 2025–2030 Capital Improvements Program - Chapter 4: Winston Churchill Cluster. Accessed 6 June 2024
- ^ "Gold Medal Schools". U.S. News & World Report. November 29, 2007. Archived from the original on December 1, 2007.
- ^ "Winston Churchill High School". U.S. News & World Report. June 7, 2017. Archived from the original on June 7, 2017.
- ^ Jacobson, Erica (December 13, 2006). "Two local schools awarded Md. Blue Ribbon designation". Washington Examiner.
- ^ "Winston Churchill HS Named National Blue Ribbon School". October 2, 2007. Retrieved May 15, 2010.
- ^ "Best High Schools". May 8, 2012. Archived from the original on May 8, 2012.
- ^ "Best High Schools". September 25, 2016.
- ^ "U.S. News 2017 rankings".
- ^ "Winston Churchill High School". U.S. News and World Report. Retrieved 6 June 2024.
- ^ Montgomery County Public Schools. Schools at a Glance - Winston Churchill High School. Accessed 6 June 2024.
- ^ Donaghue, Erin (November 4, 2009). "Signature Program faces more hurdles at Churchill". Potomac Gazette.
- ^ Silverman, Speri (March 20, 2010). "School Based Services".
- ^ "WCHS Choral Music Department". www.wchsarts.com. Retrieved September 26, 2016.
- ^ Mack, Jean (May 17, 2007). "And the Nominees Are..." The Washington Post. Retrieved February 5, 2009.
- ^ Vaughn, Peggy (June 13, 2007). "Wootton, Churchill students bring home some Cappies". Potomac Gazette.
- ^ "Winston Churchill High School Drama :: Production History". wchsdrama.org. Archived from the original on August 25, 2010.
- ^ "2009 National Capital Area Nominees".
- ^ Cetron, Ari (June 18, 2003). "Rock for the Cure". Potomac Almanac. Retrieved May 23, 2010
- ^ "MSPA 2003 Publications Contest Results". Maryland-District of Columbia Scholastic Press Association. University of Maryland. 2003. Archived from the original on April 24, 2009. Retrieved February 5, 2009.
- ^ "Publication Awards Recognize Best in Area". Maryland-District of Columbia Scholastic Press Association. University of Maryland. Winter 2002. Archived from the original on April 24, 2009. Retrieved February 5, 2009.
- ^ "MSPA 2002 Publications Contest Results". Maryland-District of Columbia Scholastic Press Association. University of Maryland. 2002. Archived from the original on April 24, 2009. Retrieved February 5, 2009.
- ^ "Fall Record Book" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on November 21, 2010. Retrieved May 15, 2010.
- ^ "Winter Record Book" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on March 31, 2010. Retrieved May 15, 2010.
- ^ "Winston Churchill". Washington Capitals High School League. Retrieved March 4, 2019.
- ^ "Licensed to Potomac Valley Swimming". Retrieved October 9, 2023.
- ^ "Spring Record Book" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on June 1, 2010. Retrieved May 15, 2010.
- ^ Profitt, Ashley (March 25, 2019). "Women's History Month: MCM Spotlights Senator Susan C. Lee". Montgomery Community Media.
- ^ Jesse, David. "MSU names medical doctor, current Stony Brook University president as new president". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved February 11, 2020.
- ^ Corrigan, Ned (April 26, 1981). "NFL Awaits Holloway: He's No Longer Too Big, Too Heavy". The Washington Post. p. D5.
- ^ Zimmerman, Paul (October 22, 1984). "The Last in a Long Line". Sports Illustrated.
- ^ "Cheryl C. Kagan". Maryland Manual Online. Maryland State Archives.
- ^ Langer, Emily (July 13, 2016). "Kenny Kramm, creator of flavorings to make the medicine go down for kids, dies at 55". The Washington Post.
- ^ Brennan, Patricia (December 23, 1990). "Signals From the Fast Lane". The Washington Post. p. N10.
- ^ "Leimbach, Marti 1963- (Martha Leimbach)". Retrieved October 9, 2023.
- ^ "Ledecky Among First Inductees in Montgomery County Sports Hall of Fame". Bethesda Magazine. September 11, 2019.
- ^ Simms, Brandy L. (January 11, 2018). "Boo-Boo Palmer to be enshrined in college football's Hall of Fame". Montgomery County Sentinel.
- ^ Bing, Jonathan (July 31, 2001). "The Write Stuff: 'Shutterbabe' zooms in". Variety.
- ^ Shahzad, Maryam (January 23, 2020). "Churchill Alum Named Rutgers' First Black President". Montgomery Community Media.
- ^ Armstrong, Jenice (December 16, 1989). "Four from D.C. Area Make the Rhodes Scholarship Grade". The Washington Post. Retrieved April 15, 2022.
- ^ Belford, Susan (July 24, 2014). "Dissecting Comedy". Potomac Almanac.
- ^ Kaufman, Sarah L. (March 7, 2016). "ABT star Julie Kent is Washington Ballet's new artistic director". Washington Post. Retrieved March 8, 2016.
- ^ Anderson, Bruce (August 14, 1989). "On Top of the World".
- ^ "Media Statement from Rochelle P. Walensky, MD, MPH, CDC Director and ATSDR Administrator". January 20, 2021.
- ^ Richman, Michael (July 28, 1998). "Kemp runs with his options". The Washington Post. p. D7.
- ^ Goldstein, Amy (June 7, 1989). "A Sine of a True Genius; Md. Youth Wins Major Math Competition: Jordan Ellenberg". The Washington Post.
- ^ Tsironis, Alex (June 15, 2018). "Potomac Native And Churchill Graduate Is Responsible For Fortnite". Moco Show.
- ^ Frank, Noah (November 18, 2016). "Express lane to Bristol: Why so many D.C. sports personalities end up at ESPN". WTOP News.
- ^ Bowen, Fred (March 9, 2001). "A Hometown Hero". The Washington Post. p. C11.
- ^ "People Notes". Potomac Almanac. Vol. LII, no. 49. December 3, 2008. p. 14.
- ^ Shapiro, Leonard (January 1, 2000). "Jones Is Too Fast To Keep Up With". The Washington Post. p. D4.
- ^ Thompson, Tisha (July 16, 2015). "'Game of Thrones' Writer Credits Churchill High With His Success". WRC-TV. Retrieved April 22, 2018.
- ^ Heil, Emily (October 2, 2014). "D.C. native Ben Feldman on visits home, his new sitcom, and that nipple in a box". The Washington Post.
- ^ Maske, Mark (May 2, 2003). "A Challenge Getting Here". The Washington Post.
- ^ Faguy, Ana (May 28, 2014). "CHS alumna Kelen Coleman catches up with 'Observer'". Churchill Observer.
- ^ Giannotto, Mark (January 9, 2010). "Connecticut's Jerome Dyson is proud to be from Scotland". The Washington Post.
- ^ Donoghue, Erin (November 18, 2009). "Potomac, North Potomac residents crowned in state pageants". Gazette. Archived from the original on August 3, 2010.
- ^ Smith, Shaun (April 19, 2010). "High School Nationals: The Biggest Tie Ever and Hunter on Top". US Chess Federation.
- ^ Milk, Leslie (October 1, 2008). "Rising Stars". Washingtonian.
- ^ Blonska, Joanna (March 28, 2011). "The Young and the 'Reckless'". Bethesda Magazine. Retrieved February 4, 2013.
- ^ Parker, Brandon (May 17, 2013). "Resilient Bulldogs win region title". The Washington Post. p. D7.
- ^ Burgman, John (September 19, 2021). "Noah Bratschi Wins first American Speed Championship Medal in 30 years: Highs and Lows in Moscow". Gym Climber. Retrieved September 19, 2021.
- ^ Noah Bratschi Earns First Climbing World Cup Podium In Salt Lake City