Ravenwood High School
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Ravenwood High School is a public high school located in Brentwood, Tennessee, and serves the eastern-most part of Williamson County, which is known for being home to the highest rated public school system in the state. It is known for its high test scores and wealthy student body. Opened in 2002, the $28 million facility, designed by architect Charlie Johnson, progressively grew its student body, beginning with only 540 students in grades nine and ten, 32 teachers, and 7 staff members. The first graduating class walked to much fanfare at the Belmont University Curb Center in May 2005. Currently comprised of 1350 students with an approximate student/teacher ratio of 20 to 1, Ravenwood aims "to become a model of successful community collaboration with the purpose of developing all learners to be able to work, learn and lead in the 21st century." [1] The mission of Ravenwood is "to develop a community of learners that cultivates the intellect, ability, and character of each person within it." [2]. The school colors are gold, black, and red. The mascot is the raptor, a bird of prey. go raptors!
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[edit] Administration and Faculty
Dr. Pamela Vaden has served as the principal of Ravenwood since its inception. Before arriving at Ravenwood, she served as assistant principal at Brentwood High School. Dr. Vaden received her Ph.D. at Vanderbilt's Peabody College. Three assistant principals, Reggie Mason, Leigh Webb, and Robin Dickerson, aid Dr. Vaden with the day-to-day administration of the school.
[edit] Academics
Most students at Ravenwood take five academic classes, one directed study, and a lunch/advocate period, which serves as a homeroom. Credits are distributed along a fairly standard path, with most students taking English, mathematics, foreign language, science, and social studies. One year of physical education is also required. The standard high school diploma requires twenty-two credits. In addition, two honors diplomas are offered, the Williamson County Honors Diploma and the Ravenwood Honors Diploma. Ravenwood ranks students using weighted GPAs.
There are 15 Advanced Placement (AP) courses are offered at Ravenwood; however, right now there are no International Baccalaureate (IB) courses. AP classes are fairly popular among students as 33% of 10th though 12th graders are enrolled in at least one AP class. In 2005, 62% of students scored a 3 or higher on end-of-course AP tests, and in 2006, 77% of students scored a 3 or higher. [3]
[edit] Band
The Ravenwood High School Marching Band, led by David Aydelott, participates in many contests throughout the region and regularly receives superior marks in the categories of Performance and Presentation. In addition to the school marching band, Ravenwood also is home to a wind orchestra which received numerous awards even in its early years of conception.
[edit] Choir
In addition to the band program, Ravenwood also boasts a choir program directed by Janet Weaver. The young choir quickly rose to be one of the top groups in the area, receiving repeated superior marks at the various contests and festivals they attend. The choir classes include separate Men's and Women's choirs, a Choraliers chorus, a Chorale chorus, and an extracurricular group called SHAZZ, a show and jazz choir.
[edit] Extracurricular activities
Besides sports, Ravenwood has numerous teams, clubs, and organizations covering many interests. These extracurricular activities include:
- Anime Club
- Art & Photography Club
- Astronomy Club
- Book Club
- Crash
- Coffee House Theology
- Color Guard
- Culinary Arts Club
- Distributive Education Club of America (DECA)
- Drama & Forensics
- Environmental Club
- Equestrian Club
- Expolorer Post
- Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA)
- Film Club
- French Club
- Future Business Leaders of America Club (FBLA)
- German Club
- Habitat for Humanity
- Health Occupation Students of America (HOSA)
- Interact Club
- International Council
- Junior Classical League (JCL)
- Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps (JROTC)
- Knitwits Club
- Latin Club
- Marching Band
- Mock Trial
- Model UN
- Mu Alpha Theta
- National Honor Society
- Newspaper Staff ('The Black & Red')
- Red Cross Club
- Science Club
- Sign Language Club
- SkillsUSA
- Spanish Club
- Students Taking a Right Stand (STARS) Student Executive Council (SEC)
- Student Council
- Together Educators Are Children's Hope (TEACH)
- Victory Club
- Winter Guard
- Winter Running Club
- Yearbook Staff ('The Eye of the Raptor')
- Youth Legislature
The 2005-2006 Ravenwood Mock Trial team was the first team ever to win both first and second place in the regional tournament, along with receiving the awards for Best Witness and Best Attorney. Ravenwood advanced on to the state competition and received sixth place, along with the Best Defense Witness Award for the state.
The Ravenwood National Forensics League competes at many local and district wide tournaments. Along with a two-time district winning Reader's Theatre, individuals at Ravenwood have placed first in numerous events at state level, including Dramatic, After Dinner Speaking, and Duet Acting. The Duet Acting team of Mitch Miller and Lindsey Stegall placed in the top sixty in the national level with their piece "Bus Stop", the first time anyone at Ravenwood competed nationally.
[edit] Facilities
Ravenwood includes 51 classrooms, 7 computer labs, 10 science labs, a TV production facility, band and choral rooms, art rooms, counseling center, state-of-the art media center, full production theater, weight room, practice gymnasium, and a full-size gymnasium, as well as a bank, retail store, and cafeteria. Outdoor facilities include a football stadium with a surrounding track, practice football field, baseball and softball fields, tennis courts, and several multi-purpose fields for soccer, lacrosse, and rugby.
[edit] School Fight Song
Lift your voice for Ravenwood, see our banners fill the sky. As we march to victory, hear our battlecry!
Stand up for Ravenwood, let's show our might. We will prove we're number one, so Ravenwood, let's fight!
Hear the thunder of our voices, see our spirits lifted high! As we march to victory, Ravenwood, let's fight!
[edit] Student body
Ravenwood High School is populated primarily through Woodland and Sunset Middle Schools, which are in turn populated by Kenrose, Nolensville, Sunset, and Crockett Elementary Schools.
[edit] Sports
Ravenwood provides many various athletic teams in which students are invited to participate. TSSAA-sponsored sports include:
- Baseball
- Basketball
- Bowling
- Cheerleading
- Cross Country
- Football
- Golf
- Soccer
- Softball
- Tennis
- Track & Field
- Volleyball
- Wrestling
Ravenwood is home to many club sports, including:
- Dance
- Lacrosse
- Rugby
- Swimming
The school also encompasses a hockey team, which is sponsored by the Greater Nashville Area Scholastic Hockey League (GNASH).
Many of the teams have had the pleasure of going to state championships and tournaments, including the baseball, wrestling, rugby, lacrosse, dance, cheerleading, football, and swim teams. Raptors' head football coach Brian Rector led the Ravenwood football team to the 2005 TSSAA Division I, 5A State Championship, winning the title. In 2006, the football team returned to the championship, coming away as runners-up. The Raptor hockey team also won their championship in 2005 after having a stellar season and capturing the Nashville Cup. Other state championships have been captured by the lacrosse team and the dance team, which was a finalist in the 2005 National Dance Team Championship and won the TSSAA State Jazz Dance Championship in 2006. The competition cheerleaders also gained national recognition in December 2005 when they placed first at the Athletic National Championship in Tunica, Mississippi. Ravenwood has also won its division swimming championship and is currently ranked first in the county.
[edit] Testing
Testing is an important aspect of Ravenwood. The ACT is a graduation requirement, and students are urged towards a class ACT goal at an annual pep rally. The 2005 average ACT score of Ravenwood was a 23.1, and in 2006, the average score was 23.8. In addition, all sophomores are required to take the PLAN, a pre-ACT course. In 2006, the average composite PLAN score for the sophomore class was 20.4, compared to the state average of 18.2 and the national average of 16.5. PSAT and SAT testing is common, but not required. In the Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program (TCAP) writing assessment, the 91% of students passed in 2005 and 94% in 2006. In 2006, Tennessee Gateway scores were also very high, with 95.7% passing Algebra I, 99.7% passing English II, and 99.7% passing Biology. [4] There were six National Merit Semi-Finalists in the class of 2006, and one National Merit Semi-Finalist in 2005.
All test scores are recorded on a supplement to the school transcript and sent in to colleges.
