The Potomac School
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Potomac School is a school in McLean, Virginia that serves grades K-12.
Contents |
[edit] History
Founded in 1904 at Dupont Circle in Washington, D.C. The Potomac School was located for many years on California Street, N.W. Since 1951, Potomac has been situated in McLean, Virginia. The Potomac School has had a high school since 1987, and several of its graduates have gone on to prominence. In October 2004 the school celebrated its centenial. The newly renovated high school was completed in September 2006 after a year of construction. This is one of the first renovations in the school's plan for development.
[edit] Philosophy
The Potomac School seeks to provide an atmosphere which encourages high academic achievement, love of learning, caring for others, delight in creative expression, satisfaction of accomplishment, and an appreciation for diversity among students, faculty, administration, and trustees. The School promotes a firm sense of personal integrity, a solid commitment to high ethical and moral values, and a strong social conscience.
[edit] Size
- Lower School (Grades K-3): 3 sections per grade, dress code
- Middle School (Grades 4-6): 4 sections per grade, uniform
- Intermediate School (Grades 7-8): average class size 16 students, uniform
- Upper School (Grades 9-12): average class size 14 students, dress code
[edit] Facilities
The Potomac School's campus covers 87 acres, including nature trails, a pond, athletic fields, tennis courts, two gyms, squash courts, a wrestling room, the Engelhard Performing Arts Center, a black box theatre, a lecture hall, three libraries, five art studios, photography lab, eleven science labs, six dedicated computer labs, fitness center, eight music rooms, and multiple playgrounds.
[edit] Athletics
Even though academics come first at Potomac, athletics play an important role in the student's lives. The students start physical education in kindergarten, and continue until sixth grade. In 7-12 grades the students can compete in interscholastic sports, including,soccer, football, field hockey, cross country, basketball, wrestling, squash, winter track, track, lacrosse, tennis, baseball, and softball. In addition, Potomac offers non-competive sports each season, including P.E., weights and conditioning, outdoor education, and lifetime sports. Potomac is in the MAC conference for boys, and the ISL for girls. Potomac has succeeded in these conferences, winning many titles, and Potomac has produced multiple all americans. Recently the Potomac Girls Cross Country team won the Virginia state championship and the Potomac Girls Varsity Lacrosse team won the Division 2 Virginia state championship in 2006.
[edit] Arts
The arts are deeply imbedded into the Potomac culture. Students from K-12 take music and art. There are art classes for each grade, and music classes for K-2. There is 3rd grade chrous, a middle school concert band, a middle school strings orchestra, an intermediate school concert band, and an intermediate school chrous. In highschool many options open up for the students. They can participate in drawing, photography, ceramics, sculpture, concert band, chorus, strings, and theatre. In addition to curricular music, there are many student formed acapella groups, and many students that have careers in the music business. Potomac has three theatrical productions each year two plays and one musical. Again, Potomac has produced many professional actors, sending many students to North Western University.
