| Winston Churchill High School | |
|---|---|
| Motto | School of Excellence Where Excellence Soars |
| Established | 1964 |
| Type | Public Secondary |
| Principal | Dr. Joan C. Benz |
| Students | 2087 (2009–2010) 9th Grade: 501 10th Grade: 531 11th Grade: 510 12th Grade: 545 |
| Grades | 9–12 |
| Location | Potomac, Maryland, USA |
| District | Montgomery County Public Schools |
| Campus | Suburban |
| Colors | |
| Mascot | Bulldog |
| Newspaper | The Churchill Observer |
| Website | Winston Churchill Home Page |
Winston Churchill High School, often referred to as WCHS or Churchill, is a high school in Potomac, an unincorporated section of Montgomery County, Maryland.
The school is named after Winston Churchill, British statesman and politician who was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom during and after the Second World War. The school was founded in 1964 and is part of the Montgomery County Public Schools system. The majority of the students come from Herbert Hoover Middle School (75%) and Cabin John Middle School (25%). The principal, as of the 2010–2011 school year, is Dr. Joan C. Benz.[1]
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Churchill has been in the top 100 High Schools in the United States, as ranked by US news, for years, climbing to as high as 42 in 2007.[2] Churchill earned the 2007 Maryland Blue Ribbon Award of Excellence,[3] and it was selected by the U.S. Department of Education as a 2007 National No Child Left Behind Blue Ribbon School.[4]
In January 2010, a criminal investigation opened in a grade changing scandal at Churchill.[5] Police, prosecutors, and school officials examined the actions of at least eight students who allegedly used a USB device to steal teachers' passwords and change grades of 54 students. Three of the eight students identified as ringleaders have left the school. The others, however, were expelled from the school. On Tuesday May 18, 2010, the State of Maryland had a formal meeting with Montgomery County Public Schools, and they decided that the students should be allowed to return for the upcoming 2010-2011 school year. Most of the students who had left the school will be returning, but the future of a select few is undetermined. In a letter sent to parents, the principal confirmed that disciplinary action against the five students who still attend Churchill is ongoing.[6] The grade changing scandal has drawn concern from colleges. The University of Maryland called the school to inquire about the changed grades.
Churchill has nine academic departments: Art, Computer Science, English, Foreign Language, Mathematics, Performing Arts, Physical Education, Science and Social Studies.
The school also has a Signature Program, which allows students the opportunity to follow one of several course paths to specialize in a particular career field. The Signature Program comprises three academies: The Academy of Math, Science, & Technology; The Academy of International Studies; and The Academy of Creative and Performing Arts.[7]
The Bridge Program provides a program for adolescents and young adults with learning/emotional disabilities. The program's intention is on fostering academic skill development and altering behaviors that interfere with academic learning.[8] 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.
Churchill is well known for its outstanding performing arts programs. Many theater productions are put on regularly, including several nights of one-act plays in which many students are able to participate. Theater classes at three levels and a television production class are taught.
In 2007, Churchill's fall production of Singin' in the Rain was nominated for 6 Cappies High School Theater Awards,[9] winning Best Orchestra (for the third consecutive year), Best Cameo Actor, and Best Cameo Actress. Only one other school received more awards.[10][11]
In 2009, Churchill's fall production of Rent: School Edition was nominated for 4 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.[12]
Churchill is well known for its annual Blast from the Past production, in which more than 200 student singers, dancers and musicians perform a variety of popular songs. These songs range from the 1920s to modern day, and they all relate to a selected theme for each school year.
David Levin and Kristofer Sanz conduct Churchill's bands and orchestras. Levin is also the conductor of the Maryland Classic Youth Orchestras (MCYO) Philharmonic Orchestra.
Many students form their own bands, typically of a rock variety, and the school occasionally facilitates this by sponsoring a battle of the bands or band performance. Sometimes, the school has sponsored day-long concerts to take place on school grounds. For example, The Merritthon, a fundraising event for Leukemia research, occurred annually from 2002 to 2004.[13]
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.
Churchill produces three publications, all of which have won awards: its newspaper, The Churchill Observer; its yearbook, Finest Hours, and its literary magazine, Erehwon.[14][15][16] Each publication is accompanied by three levels of instruction in the related publishing topics.
Churchill High School offers the following sports:
Fall
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Winter
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Spring
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| State Championships | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Sport | Number of Championships | Year |
| Fall[17] | Cross Country, Boys | 4 | 1968, 1975, 1977, 1978 |
| Cross Country, Girls | 2 | 1979, 1991 | |
| Football | 2 | 1976, 1977 | |
| Field Hockey | 2 | 1978, 1983 | |
| Golf | 12 | 1976, 1987, 1988, 1995, 1998, 2002–2006, 2008, 2010 | |
| Soccer, Boys | 7 | 1980, 1985, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1999, 2002 | |
| Winter[18] | Basketball, Girls | 2 | 2002, 2003 |
| Basketball, Boys | 1 | 1978 | |
| Ice Hockey[19] | 2 | 2006, 2011 | |
| Indoor Track, Boys | 1 | 1976 | |
| Swimming and Diving, Girls[20] | 1 | 2009 | |
| Spring[21] | Outdoor Track, Boys | 1 | 1976 |
| Total | 38 | ||
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