Oakton High School
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| Oakton High School | |
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| Address | |
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| 2900 Sutton Road Vienna, Virginia 22181 |
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| Information | |
| School district | Fairfax County Public Schools |
| Principal | John Banbury |
| Staff | approximately 220 |
| Enrollment |
2,374 (2006) |
| School type | Public high school |
| Grades | 9–12 |
| Language | English |
| Campus | Suburban |
| Mascot | Cougars |
| Color(s) | Burgundy and gold ██ |
| Founded | 1967 |
| Feeder schools | Carson Middle School Franklin Middle School Jackson Middle School |
| Rival schools | Westfield High School Madison High School Robinson Secondary School |
| Athletic conferences | Concorde District Northern Region |
| Homepage | http://www.fcps.edu/OaktonHS |
Oakton High School is a public high school in unincorporated Fairfax County, Virginia, in close proximity to the town of Vienna, in the United States. It is part of Fairfax County Public Schools.
Oakton operates on a block schedule five days a week. It is led by its principal, John Banbury, and several assistant principals.
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[edit] History
Oakton High School was founded in 1967 in Vienna, Virginia. The original Oakton High School was located in the facility which is now used by Oakton Elementary School. When it opened, Oakton was the host facility for an IBM 1401 which was Fairfax County's first computer. A computer curriculum, one of the first offered at the high school level, was available to full-time Oakton students and to students from several other county high schools on a part-time basis. This system was retired in the early seventies when Fairfax County installed an IBM 360 mainframe at the Annandale campus of Northern Virginia Community College.
[edit] Demographics
Oakton High School's student body is 69% White, 17% Asian, 6% Black, and 5% Hispanic.
[edit] Test scores
Oakton High School is a fully accredited high school based on the Standards of Learning tests in Virginia. The average SAT score in 2006 for Oakton High School was 1,703 (568 in Critical Reading, 578 in Math, and 557 in Writing).
[edit] Feeder schools
Crossfield Elementary School, Fox Mill Elementary School, Mosby Woods Elementary School, Navy Elementary School, Oakton Elementary School, Waples Mill Elementary School, Stone Middle School, and Rachel Carson Middle School are all in the Oakton School Pyramid. Jackson Middle School, Kilmer Middle School, and Franklin Middle School are also feeder middle schools for Oakton, though they are not in the school pyramid.
[edit] Academics
Oakton uses the Advanced Placement program. AP classes are available to all students, though some AP classes are only available after pre-requisite courses have been taken. It is rare for any freshman to take an AP course. Post AP courses are available to sufficiently advanced students through academy courses.
The school offers a wide variety of elective courses and allows students to participate in academy courses (courses hosted by other schools at other school sites). Elective courses include philosophy, various engineering courses, journalism, video production, accounting, multivariable calculus with linear algebra and six foreign languages. In 2008, Newsweek ranked Oakton High School as the 103rd best high school in the country, based on a ratio of students taking AP (or IB) classes to the number of graduating seniors. In addition, Oakton was ranked 88th on the US News & World Report magazine's list based on an assessment of college readiness in 2007.
[edit] Performing arts
Oakton's Performing Arts Department, which includes band, choral, orchestral, and theatre arts departments, regularly earns distinction as one of the premier performing arts programs in the area.[1]
In 2008, the performing arts department won the Blue Ribbon Award, a result of Superior ratings for all orchestra, band, and choral groups in district festivals.
[edit] Band program
The Oakton Band program is in its 24th year under the direction of Dr. Cheryl Newton, and its 10th year with assistant director Michelle Taylor. The program consists of a marching band, three concert bands, two jazz bands, a winter color guard, and drumline programs.
Oakton has been recognized as a Virginia Honor Band (the highest award for high school band programs) fifteen times, including eleven consecutive years from 1995 to 2005. This award is given to bands that receive superior marks for marching and concert performances of the top band. The marching band has won countless other awards at competitions throughout the country, and in addition, has been featured in parades and professional football games. The concert bands have made many appearances at Fiesta-val competitions, including locales such as Orlando, Toronto, Myrtle Beach, and Chicago.
The Oakton Band program is deep-seated in tradition. Every August, the marching band will spend a week in Orkney Springs, Virginia to focus on the drill and music for the year's program and enjoy the scenery of the Shenandoah Valley. Furthermore, Oakton hosts the Oakton Classic, a marching band competition. The Classic has been held annually (usually in October) every year since 1984.[2]
[edit] Orchestra program
The Oakton High School strings program consists of three orchestras: the Chamber Orchestra, the Symphonic Orchestra, and the Concert Orchestra. All three orchestras are under the direction of Cheri Collins, who has taught for many years in other Fairfax County public schools. The orchestras typically give around four concerts a year, consisting of performances by the Chamber Orchestra and the combined Symphonic and Concert Orchestras. The program has participated in many festivals around the world, in locations such as Hawaii, Italy, Orlando, and Chicago. In 2007, the newest orchestra, Concert, was introduced. This class meets every day during 7th period, and allows students to learn how to play a stringed instrument in a more learner-friendly environment. The other two orchestras meet on alternating days due to Oakton's block scheduling.
Due to a complication in the grading of certain pieces the Chamber Orchestra was preparing in 2007, both orchestras went to district festival for Comments Only. In 2008, however, both the Chamber and the combined Symphonic and Concert Orchestras received a rating of Superior.
The Chamber Orchestra participated in the Orchestra America National Festival in Indianapolis, part of the Music for All National Festival, in 2008. The orchestra applied and was accepted in 2007, and prepared an approximately 45-minute concert consisting of three pieces. On March 1, 2008, the Chamber Orchestra performed its selections at the Hilbert Circle Theatre, home of the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra.[3] Later that year, the Chamber Orchestra was accepted to perform at the American String Teachers Association National Conference, which will take place in March 2009.
In 2008, the combined Symphonic and Concert Orchestras performed at the Washington D.C. Heritage Festival, where they received a gold rating. In addition, they were invited to perform in 2009's Boston Festival of Gold. However, they will instead be performing at the Orlando Heritage Festival in 2009.
[edit] Drama program
Oakton High School's drama program typically puts on a few plays in the fall or winter, and a spring musical. The department is under the direction of Skip Bromley and Vanessa Gelinas. In recent years, the drama program has put on Arsenic and Old Lace, The Wizard of Oz, and other plays and musicals.[4] The 2007-2008 season includes The Importance of Being Earnest, You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown and Into the Woods.
[edit] Choral program
Oakton High School has eight choruses: Select Women's Chorus, Treble Ensemble, Concert Choir, Madrigals, Show Choir, Men's A Cappella Group, Girl's A Cappella Group, and Jazz Choir. The choral program is under the direction of Tiffany Powell. They have competed in such locations as Atlanta, New York, and Orlando.
[edit] Publications
Oakton's award-winning publications provide many opportunities for students to express themselves. Its Publications Department produces a newspaper, The Outlook, a yearbook called Paragon, and a literary magazine, Opus. In October of 2006, both The Outlook and Paragon received Trophy-Class honors at the Virginia High School League, with a rating of Superior. In April 2008, Paragon received a Pacemaker award, one of the highest honors in high school journalism, as well as 8th in best of show. Outlook placed 6th in best of show. The school also has a radio club, Fat Cat Radio, and a weekly television show, Cougar News.
[edit] Athletics
Oakton is a member of the AAA Concorde District and the Northern Region of the Virginia High School League. Its cross country, football, baseball, and lacrosse teams have all claimed recent Virginia state titles.
[edit] 2005-2006
During the 2005-2006 school year, Oakton Baseball were runners-up. Oakton claimed three state titles: boys cross country, football, and girls lacrosse. The boys lacrosse team, with its loss to Robinson Secondary School ended its three-year streak as state champions.
[edit] 2006-2007
The baseball team won regionals. Oakton's golf team placed 3rd in the district, and 1st in the region. The boys cross country team placed 1st in the district and region, and 2nd in the state. The field hockey team placed 1st in the district. The football team made the playoffs, but lost in the first round to Chantilly High School, who would end up being the state runner-up. The boys cross country team currently holds the Virginia AAA State record for most consecutive state meet appearances at 9 in a row and counting since 1998. The boys swim and dive team finished second at each districts, regionals, and states. The girls basketball team was the district champion and region runner-up, identical results to last year. The boys track and field team won districts, as well as the girls lacrosse team, who went on to win regionals and states as well.
[edit] 2007-2008
Danny Kim won the boy's golf state tournament as an individual, and Amanda Steinhagen won the girl's championship, with Lauren Greenlief coming in second. This is the first time in Oakton's history that they captured both the girl's and boy's state golf titles in the same year.[citation needed]
[edit] State champions and recognitions
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[edit] Notable alumni
- Jasmine Thomas, class of 2007 - MVP of 2007 Girls McDonalds All-American basketball game
- Robert (Bob) Kauflin, class of 1972. Christian pastor and worship leader. Founder of the popular Christian vocal band, "Glad". Renowned international authority on contemporary worship music, and composer/orchestrator.
[edit] References
- ^ Performing Arts. Oakton High School. Retrieved on 2007-12-14.
- ^ Oakton Bands. Retrieved on 2007-12-14.
- ^ Music for All National Festival. Music for All. Retrieved on 2008-03-04.
- ^ OHS Drama. Retrieved on 2007-12-14.
- ^ a b c d Although Oakton was the state champion for boys lacrosse in 1992 and from 2003-2005, those titles were unofficial.
- ^ a b c d Relay teams are considered individuals in this context.
[edit] External links
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