Woodrow Wilson High School (Beckley, West Virginia)

Woodrow Wilson High School
Location
Beckley,WV
Information
School type Public
Founded 1925
Principal Ronald Cantley
Faculty 123
Enrollment 1356
Area Beckley, suburban
Mascot Flying Eagles
Religious affiliation None

Woodrow Wilson High School is a secondary school located in Beckley, West Virginia, (USA), teaching grades nine through twelve. In 1967, it moved from its original location to its current location at 400 Stanaford Road.

It is administered by Raleigh County Schools.

History

Beckley High School, the first public high school in the city, opened in 1917 using the facilities of the former Beckley Institute on Park Avenue. It operated there for one year, until a new high school was built on South Kanawha Street - Beckley Graded and High School.

The Town District Board of Education made plans for a new building. Through the proceeds from a bond issue, a new structure was built and was occupied in December 1925. It was named for former President Woodrow Wilson, who had died the previous year. Woodrow Wilson High School's new building was built on land adjacent to the former Beckley Institute on Park Avenue.[1]

When the school moved to its current site, outside of main Beckley, the former site was turned into Park Junior High School (now Park Middle School). During the first year of operation at the new site (1967–68), a record number of 2,432 students attended WWHS.[2]

Flying Eagle Sports

The Flying Eagles are known statewide for their outstanding basketball teams, which have made numerous state tournament appearances. The basketball team holds the record for the most state championships at 16, 8 second-place finishes, a record 12 straight state tournament appearances, and 65 sectional titles, with the most recent state championship being the 2008 West Virginia Boys' AAA title. Woodrow's soccer team is always a competitor in the state, winning State titles in 2002, 2004, and 2010. They gained national rankings of number 7 in 02, #9 in 04, and #33 in 10. Woodrow's football team turned many heads in the 2005-2006 season, losing only one game in the regular season and being ranked number 1 in the state for a time. The Lassie Dance Team also won the Tri-Atlantic Championship in 2005. The girls' sports which were underrepresented in the past have earned much prestige. Both volleyball and girls' basketball are gaining statewide recognition. Plans are to promote girls' sports more so than in the past due to complaints about Title IX violations and threats of lawsuits by parents.

The Eagle Academy

In the fall of 2006, Woodrow Wilson administrators implemented the "Eagle Academy", where the ninth grade students have a hall of their own, take a full year of English and Algebra I, and travel in established "groups" of students to most classes (excluding electives). They now have their own lunch and are segregated into their own hall. Though the Academy has been met with criticism by some students, administrators maintain that it will increase grades, test scores, and decrease the large number of tardies that the ninth grade class has tended to accumulate in recent years.

Notable alumni

References

  1. ↑ "History of Woodrow Wilson High School, Beckley, West Virginia". Jeff560.tripod.com. Retrieved 2012-09-13.
  2. ↑ Beckley - Raleigh County Chamber of Commerce

Coordinates: 37°47′55″N 81°09′51″W / 37.7987°N 81.16429°W / 37.7987; -81.16429

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