| Fairfax High School | |
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| Fairfax High School (Photo by Kawah Wahidi)
Rebel Pride
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| Address | |
| 3501 Rebel Run Fairfax, Virginia 22030 |
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| Information | |
| School type | Public, high school |
| Founded | 1936, 1972 (Relocated) |
| School district | Fairfax County Public Schools |
| Principal | David Goldfarb |
| Assistant principals | Kristen Boehme (Seniors), Steve Singman (Juniors), Anthony Terrell (Sophomores) and Diego Wilson (Freshman) |
| Staff | approximately 233 |
| Grades | 9–12 |
| Enrollment | 2,384 (April 2011) |
| Language | English |
| Campus | Suburban |
| Color(s) | Rebel Blue, Grey, and White ██ |
| Mascot | Rebel Lion |
| Newspaper | The Rebel Roar |
| Yearbook | The Sampler |
| Feeder schools | Lanier Middle School, Rocky Run Middle School |
| Athletic conferences | Liberty District Northern Region |
| Website | http://www.fcps.edu/FairfaxHS, http://pridetimetelevision.blip.tv/ |
Fairfax High School is a public high school in Fairfax, Virginia. The school is owned by the City of Fairfax, but is operated by Fairfax County Public Schools, as part of a contractual agreement.
The original school building, opened in 1936, is located on Lee Highway (U.S. Route 29) in western Fairfax City, and is currently occupied by Paul VI Catholic High School. Fairfax High School moved to its present site, on the east side of the city, in January 1972. In 2007, FHS underwent a $54 million renovation designed by architectural firm BeeryRio7. Renovations began in March 2005 and added an additional 86,500 sq ft (8,040 m2). of classroom space. Student size has increased at such a high rate that trailers have been installed.
During the 2010-2011 School Year, Fairfax High School celebrated its 75th Anniversary
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As of the 2009-10 school year, Fairfax High School's student body is 44.64% white, 24.37% Asian/Pacific Islander, 16.05% Hispanic, 9.13% black, and 5.80% other.[1]
The school is especially known for their marching band, cheerleading team, high school academy, AVID program, yearly AP Boot Camp, City of Fairfax-sponsored annual performing arts program in April Spotlight on the Arts, Math Creative Classrooms Program, New Chinese Language Program, Pride Time, Professional Learning Communities, Rewards and Remediation Program and College Success Program
Fairfax High School is a fully accredited high school based on the Standards of Learning tests in Virginia. The average SAT score in 2009-2010 for FHS was 1,657.[2]
In 2010-2011, Fairfax High School was ranked the nation's 205th best high school.[3]
Fairfax's nickname is the Rebels, and the athletic teams currently compete in the AAA Liberty District and Northern Region. The closest high schools to Fairfax are Oakton (1.9 miles north) and W.T. Woodson (2.4 miles south). The Northern Region was realigned for the 1994-95 school year, with Fairfax being placed in the Liberty District, and Annandale in the Patriot District. Without district competition, the rivalry with Annandale has lessened, and Fairfax's main rival is now nearby W.T. Woodson.
In athletics, Fairfax is probably best known for the strong football teams that it fielded under the guidance of head coach Tom Verbanic. His teams achieved perfect 10-0 regular seasons in 1991, 1998, and 1999. However, the team's greatest success came during the 1994 season. That team achieved a 9-1 record during the regular season, with the only loss being a 17-0 drubbing to rival Annandale in Week 2. Before losing in the state semifinals, the team captured the school's only Northern Region football title, by way of a closely contested 15-14 win over West Potomac. Fairfax's final record in 1994 was 11-2, with the only losses being to teams that won state titles in the largest classifications - Patrick Henry-Ashland (AAA Division 5) and Annandale (AAA Division 6).
Following the 1999 season, Coach Verbanic left Fairfax to start the football program at the newly opened Westfield High School. Westfield's Director of Student Activities was Francis Dall, Verbanic's college roommate at the University of Virginia. Prior to his current role, Dall was an extremely successful head football coach in his own right at Lake Braddock Secondary School, which had the most wins of any high school in the Northern Region in the 1990s.
Following Coach Verbanic's departure, Fairfax has returned to the playoffs twice in 2009 and 2010. It looks like the program is rising again with back to back playoff appearances. To understand how far the program has fallen, one only has to look at the 2007 season, which resulted in a second straight 1-9 record, including being shut out six times and allowing a total of 322 points. By comparison, the 1994 team only allowed 90 points during the regular season, and 153 points including the three playoff games.
Most recently the Rebel Pride brought home the Virginia State Title for Varsity Cheerleading, the school's second Virginia State Title (first being in Swim & Dive). The Fairfax HS Cheer Program is under the direction of Head Coach Wes Vaughan.
Fairfax athletes who have been First Team All-Met selections by the Washington Post, since the 1990-91 school year:
2010-11: Samantha Cormode (Soccer)
2009-10: Joey Kelly (Boys Swimming), Kelli Stockton (Girls Swimming)
2008-09: Sidarth Balaji & Jason Luu (Tennis)
2007-08: Emily Ferguson (Swimming), Coach Matt Salerno (Girls Swimming), Sidarth Balaji (Tennis), Lauren Palmucci (Tennis)
2006-07: Gina Winters (Soccer), Sidarth Balaji (Tennis)
2005-06: Gina Winters (Soccer)
2001-02: Sean Doolan (Gymnastics, Gymnast of the Year), Ray Hacker (Gymnastics)
2000-01: Matt Johnson (Golf), Coach Mike Personick, Sean Doolan & Ray Hacker (Gymnastics), Adam Jelinek (Soccer)
1999-2000: Brandon Royster (Football), Matt Johnson (Golf), Sean Doolan & Ray Hacker (Gymnastics)
1998-99: Brad Thomas (Football), Coach Milt Papke (Golf)
1997-98: Katie Silverthorne (Field Hockey), Justin Potter (Wrestling), John Eastman (Wrestling, Co-Wrestler of the Year), Inhar Chong (Outdoor Track)
1996-97: John Eastman (Wrestling), Melanie Brophy (Softball), Inhar Chong (Outdoor Track)
1995-96: Chuck Freeman (Baseball), Linda Young (Softball)
1993-94: Coach Lisa Burner (Field Hockey), Heather Schnelzer (Gymnastics)
1992-93: Tina Boyce (Field Hockey), Heather Schnelzer (Gymnastics)
1991-92: Britta Connolly (Field Hockey), Amber Moshos (Field Hockey), Heather Schnelzer (Gymnastics), Earl Smith (Indoor & Outdoor Track)
1990-91: Carrie Hartley (Field Hockey), Katie Gultnieks (Tennis), Mara Cunningham (Basketball), Jamie Dykes (Girls Soccer), Brian Buchanan (Baseball), Bill Pulsipher (Baseball, Player of the Year)
The previous mascot of Fairfax High School was a caricature of a Confederate soldier known as "Johnny Reb" (see picture at left). Due to complaints from students and parents, and at the suggestion of the school’s Minority Achievement Task Force, the principal (Harry Holsinger) removed the Johnny Reb symbol in 1985. Student protests, rallies, and a lawsuit followed, which challenged the principal’s actions as violating the First Amendment guarantees of free speech. In Crosby v. Holsinger, 852 F.2d 801 (4th Cir. 1988), the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed the federal district court decision in favor of the principal. After Johnny Reb was removed, the mascot was a set of crossed swords, and an unusual mascot, that resembled a ball of lint, called the Rebel Rouser. Though the school maintains its nickname of the Rebels, the mascot for Fairfax High is now a lion.
Fairfax High School currently follows the Virginia Department of Education curriculum. The school also hosts Fairfax Academy: School for the Arts, which includes classes such as graphic design and photography. The Academy also features Korean and Chinese. The school has a strong AVID Program, a Reward and Remediation Program, and Honors programs in all areas.
Find out more about clubs: http://www.fcps.edu/FairfaxHS/clubs/newclub.htm
The Fairfax High School Choral Department is currently under the direction of Luke Frels and consists of five ensembles divided by skill level, as well as by the requirement of audition. A beginning group, Women's Concert Choir which is available to freshman women only. Intermediate groups, Men's Ensemble and Select Women's Choir which are made available to men in grades 9-12 and women in grades 10-12. Finally, the two auditioned advanced choral groups, Bel Canto , a group of select women in grades 10-12 and Voce, a selective mixed ensemble for students in 10-12th grades. The choral department also has two extracurricular groups the Show Choir, Fairfax Fame, and Rebel Treble, an auditioned student-led mixed a Cappella ensemble. Approximately 110 students participate in the Fairfax choirs.
Fairfax choral students also participate in District Chorus, Virginia Honors Choir and All-State Chorus, as well as a regional competition trip in the spring. Choral groups perform music of many periods and styles and develop musicianship through vocal technique, sight-reading, and music theory. The choir program holds several concerts over the course of the year, the largest, Spring Show is held in early May and a Cabaret is held in the early winter. In addition to the choral concerts held at FHS, students have performed in the Fairfax musicals, at the Fairfax Festival of Lights, George Mason basketball games, corporate parties, Fairfax Corner, the New York City Festivals of Music, Heritage Festival in Atlanta, Georgia, the Smoky Mountain Music Festival in Gatlinburg, Tennessee and Festival Disney.
Fairfax has a strong band program, including a marching band which has won numerous championships. Included in the Rebel Band is the Fairfax High School Drumline, which placed third in the Atlantic Indoor Association (AIA) championships in North Carolina in 2006, third in 2010, and second in 2011. In 2009, they performed in Dayton, Ohio for Winter Guard International and received 4th place in their preliminary group and 18th in semifinals. Overall, they placed 18th out of 60 groups. Other teams that accompany the Band program are the Fall Guard (competes with the marching band) and the Winterguard (competes separately). The Fairfax High School Band was under the direction of Ms. Meghan Benson, and won second place at a band competition at the Smoky Mountain Music Festival, in Gatlinburg, Tennessee in the spring of 2008. The Marching Band won third place in the local 4 July Parade independence Day celebration, and was awarded $2000 in 2008. At the end of the 2008 Marching Rebel season the band received a 1- Superior rating at the VBODA Championships. The Fairfax High School Band Program received a superior rating at both Marching and Symphonic Band festivals making it eligible to receive the award of Virginia State Honor Band for the first time in the school's 75 year history. The band has repeated the feat every year since. Because of the work of the Marching Band and Symphonic Band along with the work of the orchestral and choral departments, Fairfax was able to earn the title of Blue Ribbon School for the performing arts, which is achieved by Superior ratings at VBODA state marching festival, and a Superior rating for each of the top performing groups at District Festival. At the competition on their spring trip in the year 2009 to Orlando, Florida, the Rebel band placed second in its class by a margin of less than one point and received the Silver Award Overall in Festival Disney.
In its 2009 season, the Marching Rebels won all of the competitions they competed in and got awards for quality music and general effect. They performed the show called Heroes, Gods and Mythical Creatures and performed at the Herndon USSBA Regionals, the Oakton Classic, and the James Madison University Parade of Champions. The Rebels placed first in Class 3A in the Herndon Showcase of Bands without proper uniforms which were destroyed in a flood due to a heating malfunction, also received first at the Oakton Classic. At the final major competition, the band placed 1st in Class 3A with a score of 84.75. At the VBODA state marching festival the rebels received a superior rating and got straight 1s from all of the judges. The symphonic band received straight 1s the following spring to complete the Virginia Honor Band title.
The 2010 season was also a great success with the show "Nautilus", with the Marching Rebels winning 2nd place in class 3A at the Herndon USSBA regionals (short to Thomas Jefferson by a fraction of a point), 1st place at the Oakton Classic, 1st place at the JMU parade of Champions, and straight 1s from all of the judges at the VBODA state marching festival. The symphonic band received straight 1s the following spring to complete the Virginia Honor Band title.
The band has quickly become one of the best bands in the state and has become widely renowned for its fantastic sound and quick rise to success.
The Fairfax High School Orchestra Department is currently directed by Cynthia Crumb. The Orchestra consists of three different levels; Beginning, Intermediate, and Advanced. Starting the 2010-2011 school year, Fairfax HS has added another orchestra group. The Beginning Orchestra focuses on basic elements of music education and teaches the student fundamentals to prepare them and educate them on music. Intermediate are 2 different orchestras designed to test and challenge the musicians at a higher level (VBODA pieces grade 4 and 5). And the Advanced Orchestra (playing grade 6 pieces) is the highest level in the Orchestra Department. There are approximately 100 students in the Orchestra program for the enrollment of the 2009-2010 school year. The Orchestra annually participates in District Festival in which the orchestra plays a series of pieces and is graded on them. Often times it is believed that the experience is a competition between schools, but it is highly encouraged that the competition be amongst and within the students. The Orchestra also attends a Spring trip annually to various places in America. Some examples include Atlanta, Orlando, New York, and Gatlinburg. The past school year of 2009-2010, the Fairfax High School Orchestra went to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina for the annual Spring Trip. The Orchestra is also known for their pit appearances in school plays such as Beauty & the Beast and A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum.
In 2008-2009, The Fairfax High School Orchestra, along with the Chorus and Band Department earned the Blue Ribbon Award, which is awarded to a school in which the highest section of each music department receives Superiors at District Festival.
The FX Players is the Drama Club at Fairfax High School. They are dedicated toward the promotion of theatre in every aspect. The current director and sponsor is Wendy Knight.
Fairfax Theatre was honored by the Cappies organization with seven nominations, including Best Musical, for the 2009 performance of A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, and was invited to perform the opening number at the Cappies Gala at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.
Fairfax has an orchestra pit that can be covered and uncovered, but it is normally kept in the house floor position due to safety concerns. For the run of The King and I in 2007, however, the pit was opened. It was then closed again, and the orchestra has played at house level since. The members of the pit orchestra are some of the only musicians in Fairfax County to have ever played a musical in an actual orchestra pit (Hayfield Secondary School also has a working orchestra pit). The pit sinks six feet below the stage.
The FX Players won the State Title at the VHSL One-Act Competition in 2008. They placed second at Districts in 2009.
The "It's Academic" team participates in quiz bowl tournaments throughout Virginia, Maryland, and DC, most notably NBC 4's "It's Academic" game show hosted by Mac McGarry.
The team competes well in tournaments. In January 2009, Fairfax placed second in the Concorde District at the VHSL AAA District Tournament. The team advanced to the regional tournament for the first time in several years. Overall, Fairfax placed third in the Northern Region tying with Langley High School.
Daniels Run Elementary School, Willow Springs Elementary School, Eagle View Elementary, Providence Elementary School, and Fairfax Villa Elementary School all feed into Lanier Middle School, which feeds into Fairfax High School. Additionally, some students from the listed elementary schools attend Willow Springs Elementary school and Mosby Woods Elementary school for the Gifted & Talented Center (often referred to as the GT center). All students continuing with the GT program through middle school who would normally attend Lanier-feeding schools attend Rocky Run Middle School for the Rocky Run GT Center and later attend Fairfax High School.
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