Suitland High School

Suitland High School is a public magnet high school located at 5200 Silver Hill Road, Forestville, Maryland 20747, long regarded for its Visual and Performing Arts magnet program. Suitland hosts a wide variety of specialized programs of instruction, which includes: the Center for Visual and Performing Arts magnet program; an International Baccalaureate (IB) magnet program; the Technical Academy signature program; the America's Choice School Design signature program; and the Academy of Finance. Suitland also hosted a third magnet program, the University High School, until the program was eliminated throughout the school system in 2006.

Suitland High School is a unique campus within the school system, being divided into four facilities, with three separate physical buildings which together comprised the Suitland High School complex. The main building houses the majority of the schools academic offerings. Directly ahead of the main building is the Annabelle Ferguson Auditorium which was built separate from the main building. Directly behind the main building is the Visual and Performing Arts Annex, which is a former junior high school. Attached to the main building (but generally regarded as another facility) is the Jesse J. Warr Vocational Center, an addition built-on to the original facility which houses the schools' Technical Academy, a vocational program offering different areas of training for eleventh and twelfth graders seeking career and technical education, for entrance into the working world upon graduation from high school.

The principal at Suitland was Mr. Mark Fossett, who was with Suitland for more than a decade. The approximate student enrollment as of September 2013 stands at 1900-students in grades nine through twelve. There is a mandatory uniform policy in place at Suitland.

History

Academics

Center for the Visual and Performing Arts Magnet Program

The Center for the Visual and Performing Arts is a rigorous four-year arts program that offers artistically talented high school students from all over Prince George’s County educational opportunities designed to prepare them artistically for college, professional study, or career options in the arts. Strong association with the arts in the Washington, DC-area offers distinct advantages. Students study with professional artists, dancers, actors, musicians, singers, and directors/producers. Students explore, and eventually major, in any one of the four principle concentrations: music; dance; theater; and visual arts. Suitland High School offers the 950-seat Annabelle E Ferguson Auditorium, an experimental theater, and a fully equipped dance studio.

The Center has been in existence at Suitland High School since 1986 and functions as a school-within-a-school. Each year, graduating students earn millions in scholarship awards and attend some of the most prestigious conservatories, colleges and universities in the country.

Frequent collaborations with local arts institutions such as the University of Maryland, The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Clarice Smith Center, and the Washington Performing Arts Society provide our talented high school students with opportunities to meet and learn from many of today’s successful artists.

Admission into the VPA magnet program is through audition only.

International Baccalaureate (IB) Magnet Program

The International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Program, is an academically challenging and balanced course of study, that prepares students for success in college and life beyond. The mission of the program is to develop inquiring, knowledgeable, and caring young people who help to create a better, more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect.

Benefits of the IB Diploma Program include:

• Higher university and college acceptance rates for IB graduates than for total population applicants
• Increased scholarship and grant opportunities
• A college level academic program that transitions students to university and college standards
• Interdisciplinary instruction to encourage international-mindedness
• Fostering of lifelong learning
• Teacher development using IB strategies

Technical Academy

The Technical Academy Programs provide students with technical skills and knowledge that add value to their academic education. The programs are designed to prepare students with post secondary options (college, workforce and/or military) in their chosen career field. The programs are organized into the Maryland Career Clusters. These clusters are driven by what students need to know in order to graduate fully prepared for post secondary education and a career. Students will be prepared for a high skill, high wage, high demand career in this 21st century global economy.

The Academy currently offers seventeen programs, many of which lead to professional certifications and/or licensures. The programs are offered in nine high schools (Bladensburg, Croom Vocational, Crossland, Forestville, Gwynn Park, Laurel, Suitland, Tall Oaks Vocational, and Henry A. Wise) and serves the entire county. All of the schools serve students in grades 11 and 12.

The Technical Academy teaching methodology utilizes both theory and practical experiences. The Foundation of Automotive and Construction Technology for Students (F.A.C.T.S.) is one of the Academy partners responsible for the student built house project and the Student Auto Group Enterprise. This project provides practical hands on experience which enable students to build a house from start to completion and provides the auto students the opportunity to learn the operations of the auto repair and sales industries. Students wishing to participate in the Technical Academy Program must go through the application process. Students are selected based on their career interest, academic achievement and attendance. Applications are available in all high school guidance offices.

Technical Academy Program Offerings

Arts, Media and Communication

• Publishing and Graphics Careers

Consumer Service, Hospitality and Tourism

• Barbering and Hairstyling Careers
• Cosmetology Careers

Construction and Development

• Carpentry Careers
• Drafting/CAD
• Electrical Careers
• Plumbing and Heating Careers

Health and Bio-Sciences

• Nursing/Medical Careers

Information Technology

• Computer Networking
• IT Essentials

Transportation Technologies

• Automotive Body Repair Careers
• Automotive Technician Careers

Academy of Finance

Notable alumni

Steny Hoyer - House Majority Leader, U.S. House of Representatives

Lamont Jordan - University of Maryland & NFL football player

Chad Scott - NFL football player

Navarro Bowman - Penn State & NFL Football player

Jude Waddy - NFL football player

Bobby Maze - University of Tennessee Basketball player

Devin Tyler - Temple University & NFL Football player

George O. Gore II - actor, New York Undercover, My Wife and Kids

References

External links

• Suitland High School Official Website
• Suitland High School Facts & Figures
• Suitland HS IB Magnet Program
• Suitland HS Visual and Performing Arts Magnet Program
• Suitland HS Technical Academy

References