George Mason High School
| George Mason High School | |
|---|---|
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| Address | |
| 7124 Leesburg Pike Falls Church, Virginia 22043 |
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| Coordinates | 38°53′47″N 77°11′29″W / 38.89645°N 77.19140°WCoordinates: 38°53′47″N 77°11′29″W / 38.89645°N 77.19140°W |
| Information | |
| School type | Public high school |
| Founded | 1952 |
| School district | Falls Church City Public Schools |
| Grades | 8-12 |
| Enrollment | 844 (2010-11 School Year) |
| Language | English |
| Campus | suburban |
| Color(s) | Red, White, and Black |
| Mascot | Mustang |
| Feeder schools | Mary Ellen Henderson Middle School |
| Athletic conferences | Virginia High School League A Region B A Bull Run District AA Dulles District [lacrosse, swimming] |
| Website | http://www.fccps.org/gm/ |
George Mason High School (GMHS) is a comprehensive public high school serving the independent City of Falls Church. It is located in the unincorporated area of Idylwood, in Fairfax County, Virginia, adjacent to Falls Church City.[1][2]
The school serves some 844 students in grades 8-12, making it one of the few 5-year high schools in the United States. The school is the sole high school of the Falls Church City Public Schools system.
The school was the first in Virginia to use the International Baccalaureate program.[3]
The school ranks highly overall in Newsweek Magazine's list of the top public high schools in the United States, but it has fallen from the top tier in recent years: after reaching #6 in 2003, it is now #45 .[4]
Contents |
[edit] Demographics
George Mason's racial breakdown in the 2008-09 class was 73% White (Not Hispanic), 11.6% Asian or Pacific Islander, 9% Hispanic, 6.2% Black, and 0.1% Other.[5] For comparison, the demographics of the City are: 85% White, 8.4% Hispanics of any race, 6.5% Asian, 3.3% African American, 0.2% Native American, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 2.5% from other races, and 2.4% from two or more races.[6]
[edit] History
GMHS was built on the site of a single-room school house which burned down in 1857. After the fire, the land sat empty for years, until Falls Church was founded as an independent city in 1948 when residents sought greater control over their local school system, which, at the time, was segregated by race.[7] GMHS, established in 1952, became the City's only institution. Its facilities and athletic fields are a hub of activity within the community.
In early March 2009, Tyrone Byrd was named the new principal following the search process for the replacement of Bob Snee, the position having been held in the interim by assistant-principal Mary McDowell. Byrd began acting as principal April 6, 2009.
[edit] Sports and activities
- VHSL Scholastic Bowl Team - Current state, region, and district title-holder. Former district title holder for nine straight years and regional title holder for four straight years, district and region runners-up 2008-2009, five-time Group A State Champion (2002, 2003, 2007, 2010, 2011), and three-time state runner-up (2004, 2006, 2009). Also finished third at the 2007 NAQT National High School Championship Tournament in their division.
- Track and Field - Girls team third in State in 2007 and 2010, three school records and counting from the class of 2008 runners, girls team second in state (2008). Six individual state championships since 2005.
- Cross Country - Girls State Champions (2008, 2009, 2010, 2011), Girls State Runner-Up (2007, 2005), third (2006), Boys District and Region champs and 4th in state in 2010, sixth in State (2007), Boys District and State Champions (2011)
- FIRST Robotics Team 1418 - winner of 2004 VCU regional Rookie all-star. Winner of the 2007 Chesapeake regional "Delphi's Driving Tomorrow's Technology" award. 8th seed overall in Chesapeake 2007. Winner of the 2008 Chesapeake FIRST regional competition. Also see Team 1418 profile.
- American football - Bull Run District Champions 2006
- Golf - Bull Run District Regular Season Champions 2006, 2007
- Band - Earned "Superior" scores at District X Festival for the past eight years, the past five of which were earned playing Grade V music. Also, the music department earned the VBODA "Blue Ribbon Award" for seven years in a row, 2000-2007.
- Chorus - Consistently earns "Superior" and "Excellent" scores at District X Festival.
- Boys Swimming - Bull Run District and Region B Champions three years running (since it has been an official VHSL-sanctioned sport at the school). Unofficial Group A state champions 2008-2009 (won Virginia High School (Virginia)'s A Invitational meet).
- Girls Swimming - Bull Run District and Region B Champion for the 2008-2009 season. Bull Run District and Region B runners-up two years. Unofficial Group A state champions 2008-2009 (won Virginia High School (Virginia)'s A Invitational meet).
- Girls Basketball - Virginia A D2 State Champions (2008-2009, 2009-2010); Bull Run District runners-up and Region B champions 2007-2008 season.
- Boys Tennis - Bull Run District champions 2004-2010, Region B, and Group A State Champions 1986-1991, 2001, 2004-2007, and 2010.
- Girls Tennis - Bull Run District and Region B Champions 2006-2008
- Boys Soccer - Bull Run District, Region B, and Group A champions, 2009. Bull Run District and Region B champions 2008. Bull Run District Champions 2007 for both varsity and junior varsity. Group A State Champions 1998, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2009, 2010.
- Girls Soccer - Bull Run District, Region B, and Group A champions 2008, 2009. Bull Run District and Region B Runners-Up, and Virginia State A Semifinalists 2007. Bull Run District Champions, Region B Runners-Up, and Virginia State A Semifinalists 2006. Group A Champions 2002, 2004, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011.
- Boys Lacrosse - Dulles District Champions, 2008
- Girls Lacrosse - Dulles District Champions, 2010
- Model United Nations Club
- Chess Club
- Cheerleading Team
- Ultimate Team - Undefeated 2010-2011
- Wrestling Team
- Poker Club
- Rhetoric Club
- Environmental Club
- Future Educators of America
- Students Against Destructive Decisions
- Be The Change Club
[edit] Lasso Online
George Mason High School's student ran newspaper, "Lasso Online," is a reference to the School's Mustang mascot. Originally a print newspaper, it has shifted its focus to a recently updated, online website[citation needed]. The website runs several sections: front page, news, sports, features, miscellaneous Mustang, reviews, and commentary and candid campus.
[edit] Notable alumni
- Ann Downer, author
- Paul Ebert, Prosecutor of sniper John Allen Muhammad, George Mason High School class of 1955, Prince William County’s Commonwealth’s Attorney.[8][9]
- Yousef Abu-Taleb, actor
- Andrew Lowe, amateur astronomer
- Molly Henneberg, Fox News reporter
- Judy Sierra, children's book author
[edit] References
- ^ "Idylwood CDP, Virginia." U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved on March 24, 2010.
- ^ "Home." George Mason High School. Retrieved on March 24, 2010. "7124 Leesburg Pike Falls Church, VA 22043."
- ^ FCCPS Fast Facts
- ^ Newsweek's Top Public Schools in the US, 2010
- ^ State of the School, 2008
- ^ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Falls_Church
- ^ The Falls Church NAACP
- ^ MRWinter2004
- ^ From the Thursday, February 13, 2003 edition of the Falls Church News-Press
[edit] External links
- George Mason High School
- George Mason Athletics
- George Mason High School Alumni Association
- Falls Church City Schools
- City of Falls Church
- George Mason Robotics Website
- Lasso Online
