Spotsylvania High School

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Spotsylvania High School
Location
Wikimedia | © OpenStreetMap
6975 Courthouse Road
Spotsylvania, VA 22551

United States
Coordinates38°09′36.2″N 77°39′11.2″W / 38.160056°N 77.653111°W / 38.160056; -77.653111Coordinates: 38°09′36.2″N 77°39′11.2″W / 38.160056°N 77.653111°W / 38.160056; -77.653111
Information
TypePublic high school
School districtSpotsylvania County Public Schools
PrincipalMr. Kelly Guempel
Faculty80.1 FTEs[1]
Grades9-12
Enrollment1,152 (as of 2017-2018)[1]
Student to teacher ratio14.1:1[1]
Color(s)Red and Navy Blue    
AthleticsFootball, Track, Basketball, Soccer, Field Hockey, Wrestling, Girl's Soft Ball, Volleyball, Baseball, golf
MascotKnights
Feeder schoolsSpotsylvania Middle School
Post Oak Middle School
ThemeBuilding relationships to promote a positive climate and culture
Teacher of the year and New Teacher of the YearMs. Sharon Kiple (Teacher of the Year), Mrs. Tamara Ritzco (New Teacher of the Year), Mrs. Lindsay Herndon (Mentor Teacher of the Year)
Websitehttps://www.spotsylvania.k12.va.us/Domain/36
All information is subject to change as the years go by

Spotsylvania High School is a public high school in Spotsylvania County, Virginia.[2] It serves the southern half of the county.[3] The Knights are the least densely populated of the schools in the division. SHS houses the only International Baccalaureate programme in the division, as well as being one of two sites for the Commonwealth Governor's School, both of these centers are made up of students accepted into the program who come from SHS as well as other high schools in Spotsylvania County, SHS also works in partnership with Germanna Community College to offer the Gladys P. Todd academy where students attend GCC during the day for their junior and senior years - achieving an Associates Degree along with their high school diploma upon graduation. The Original Spotsylvania High School opened in 1940 and three schools hosted the name of Spotsylvania High School.

As of the 2017-2018 school year, the school had an enrollment of 1,152 students and 80.1 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 14.1:1. There were 371 students (33.0% of enrollment) eligible for free lunch and 92 (8.2% of students) eligible for reduced-cost lunch.[1]

About the building[]

Spotsylvania High was the county’s first consolidated high school for students who had previously attended much smaller schools in tiny rural communities including Marye and Margo. Spotsylvania High, on Courthouse Road, was considered state of the art when it opened; when numbers of students grew, the next Spotsylvania High School was built across the street in 1967. Black students from segregated John J. Wright High School began attending Spotsylvania High when schools became fully integrated in 1968. The third and current Spotsylvania High opened in 1994.

Construction started on the school in May, 1992 and occupied in January, 1994. The cost of the project was reported to be $23.7 million. A total of 75.5 acres (306,000 m2) were developed for the school. Within the building there is 257,066 square feet (23,882.2 m2) of space. Total capacity is 1583 students in 79 classrooms. The auditorium can seat 1300, the gymnasium seats 2000, and the stadium seats 4000 people. Massaponax High School, built in 1998, was constructed from the same blueprint as Spotsylvania High School.

Administration[]

Mr. Kelly Guempel is the current principal of Spotsylvania High School. Assistant principals include Mr. Robert Marchetti, Mrs. Veronica Jackson, and Mr. Reitha Abed. Other administration staff include Ms. Michelle Hart, Instructional Coordinator, Mr. William Swink, Activities Director, and Ms. Rachel Bentley-Goode, School Counseling Director.[4]

Following the 2015-2016 school year, Principal Rusty Davis and Athletic Director Buddy Herndon were reassigned to different positions in the school system for unknown reasons.[5]

Advanced Placement Program and International Baccalaureate Programme[]

The Advanced Placement (AP) Program gives students the opportunity to pursue college-level studies while still at Spotsylvania County. Upon completion of the courses, students may receive advanced placement and/or credit when entering college. Academically oriented students are strongly encouraged to participate in the Advanced Placement Program. Students take these courses at high school. Advanced Placement (AP) courses follow the suggested College Board course curriculum and serve to prepare students for the AP examinations in May. AP Courses listed below are offered based on enrollment. However, depending on how many students sign up for an AP class, depends on which course is offered. So some of the courses may not be offered because there are not enough students that sign up for it. Grades earned carry weighted credit in the GPA calculation. The International Baccalaureate Programme (IB) is a new program to SHS, with the Class of 2018 seeing its first graduates. Currently, Spotsylvania High School offers the Diploma Programme. The International Baccalaureate® (IB) offers a continuum of international education. The programmes encourage both personal and academic achievement, challenging students to excel in their studies and in their personal development. The programme aims to develop students who have excellent breadth and depth of knowledge – students who flourish physically, intellectually, emotionally and ethically.

Athletics[]

In 2021, Moses Wilson secured his 100th victory on the last individual state finals match for the 126 lbs Virginia State championship match. Where he secured a major decision against his opponent. This making Moses the 1st individual wrestling state championship in Spotsylvania history in 30 years.[citation needed]

Spotsylvania High school has won 4 State championships since their existence. The most recent State Championship is the 13-8 win in extra innings against Abingdon High school on June, 9th, 2018.[citation needed]

Football: 1991, 1994, 1997

Baseball: 2018

Track and Field: -Indoor High Jump State Champion 2018- Limiah Coleman[citation needed] -Indoor High Jump State Champion 2019- Limiah Coleman[citation needed]

Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps[]

Spotsylvania High School is home to the US Army JROTC "Knight Battalion." The battalion is comprised of about 100+ cadets from both Massaponax and Spotsylvania High School. The Battalion is led by two Instructors and the Cadet Leadership. The Knight Battalion often partakes in local events including the Spotsylvania County Christmas Parade and other community events. The battalion also consists of a Raiders Team, Drill Team, and Color Guard team.

Band, choir, and orchestra[]

Spotsylvania High School is known for its strong fine arts department. In 2018, the school re-established itself as a Blue Ribbon School of Music, led by Mr. Brian Jacobs and Ms. Joanna Peters.[citation needed]

Notable faculty[]

Sexual harassment[]

On October 23, 2015, two Spotsylvania High School students were sexually assaulted in the locker room by other members of the football team prior to a football game.[7]

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b c d School data for Spotsylvania High, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed December 12, 2016.
  2. ^ http://www.spotsyschools.us/
  3. ^ http://www.spotsyschools.us/shs/
  4. ^ "Meet the Administrative Team / About the Admin Team". http. Retrieved 2019-10-02.
  5. ^ LANCE-STAR, JEFF BRANSCOME THE FREE. "Spotsylvania High principal, athletic director reassigned". Fredericksburg.com. Retrieved 2019-10-02.
  6. ^ Branscombe, Jeff. "Del. Bobby Orrock visits President Trump at the White House", The Free Lance–Star, April 27, 2017. Accessed October 4, 2017. "Orrock, who is also a part-time agriculture teacher at Spotsylvania High School, said he received the invite from a White House staffer who worked on House Speaker Bill Howell’s GOP primary campaign two years ago."
  7. ^ LANCE-STAR, KEITH EPPS/THE FREE. "Spotsylvania High football player charged in apparent hazing incident". Fredericksburg.com. Retrieved 2019-10-02.
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