Gar-Field Senior High School
{{Short description|Public high school in Woodbridge, Virginia, United States}}
{{For|other schools with similar names|Garfield High School (disambiguation)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2024}}{{Infobox school
| name = Gar-Field Senior High School
| image = Gar-Field High School sign Woodbridge VA 2022-05-15 14-47-35 1.jpg
| caption = Gar-Field High School in May 2022
| motto = School of Champions
| pushpin_map = USA Virginia Northern#USA Virginia#USA
| streetaddress = 14000 Smoketown Road
| city = Woodbridge
| state = Virginia
| zipcode = 22192
| url = [https://gar-fieldhs.pwcs.edu/ Official Gar-Field High School website]
| school_number =
| principal = Matthew Mathison
| fundingtype = Public
| district = Prince William County Public Schools
| schooltype = high school
| mascot = Indians (1953–2021)
Red Wolves (2021–present)
| rival =
| colors = {{color box|Red}} Red
{{color box|Blue}} Blue
| founded = 1953
| enrollment = 2,550 (2022–23){{cite web |title=GAR-FIELD HIGH |url=https://nces.ed.gov/ccd/schoolsearch/school_detail.asp?Search=1&ID=510313001299 |website=School Directory Information |publisher=National Center for Education Statistics |access-date=9 June 2024}}
| teaching_staff = 151.00 {{FTE}}
}}
Gar-Field Senior High School is a senior high school in Woodbridge in Prince William County, Virginia, United States, educating students in grades 9 to 12.
History and administration
Gar-Field High School was opened on December 8, 1953, as a successor school to Occoquan District High School.{{Cite web |date=2021-06-09 |title=Gar-Field High School, now home of the Red Wolves |url=https://www.insidenova.com/headlines/gar-field-high-school-now-home-of-the-red-wolves/article_072d5ab2-c962-11eb-bb4b-7b7b5659c89b.html |access-date=2024-07-10 |website=INSIDENOVA.COM |language=en}} The name Gar-Field is derived from two prominent local families, the Garbers and the Manderfields. According to Prince William County Circuit Court records, the Garbers and Manderfields donated approximately 20 acres of land for the original school near Neabsco Creek that had once been part of “Round Top Farm”, just off of U.S. Highway #1. The gift to Prince William County’s School Board stipulated that this land would be used for building a public school for white children.{{cite web | url=https://www.potomaclocal.com/2016/03/29/who-is-gar-field-senior-high-school-named-after/ | title=Who is Gar-Field Senior High School named after? | date=29 March 2016 }} The school was later integrated by an African-American student named Joyce Russell Taylor in 1961. Russell Taylor's name was suggested when Prince William County Schools was choosing a new name for Stonewall Jackson (now Unity Reed High School) and when the district was choosing a name for their 13th High School (now Gainesville High School).{{Cite web |last=Alborn |first=Al |date=2023-01-22 |title=Around Prince William: Pleasant memories and painful recollections |url=https://www.insidenova.com/headlines/around-prince-william-pleasant-memories-and-painful-recollections/article_dabe1eae-9a29-11ed-8cad-f7eab706b5ef.html |access-date=2024-07-10 |website=INSIDENOVA.COM |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Jirak |first=Gianna |date=2020-05-22 |title=School Board hears 10 possible names for 13th high school |url=https://www.potomaclocal.com/2020/05/21/school-board-hears-10-possible-names-for-13th-high-school/ |access-date=2024-07-10 |website=Potomac Local News |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2020-06-26 |title=List grows of potential names to replace Stonewall Jackson |url=https://wtop.com/prince-william-county/2020/06/list-grows-of-potential-names-to-replace-stonewall-jackson/ |access-date=2024-07-10 |website=WTOP News |language=en}} Gar-Field was originally located at 15941 Cardinal Drive until the current school opened in 1972 on 14000 Smoketown Road.
= Mascot name change =
Since the creation of its predecessor, Occoquan District High School in 1927, Gar-Field's mascot was originally the Indians. However, in March 2021, at the request of student leaders, the school announced the name of the school's mascot would change. In June of the same year, the school announced the new mascot would be the Red Wolves.
= Administration =
The principal of Gar-Field High School is Matthew Mathison. Before coming to Gar-Field, he was an assistant principal at Woodbridge Senior High School. He has been principal since 2019.{{Cite web|title=Meet the Principal - Matt Mathison|url=http://www.pwcs.edu/news/2019-20_news/meet_the_principal_-_matt_mathison|access-date=2021-04-10|website=www.pwcs.edu|language=en-US}}
Academic programs
= International Baccalaureate (IB) Program =
Gar-Field High School is an International Baccalaureate (IB) World School. They offer the IB Middle Years Programme (MYP), the IB Diploma Programme (DP), and the IB Career Related Programme (CP).
Gar-Field High School was first authorized to offer the IB Diploma Programme in 2000, IB Middle Years Programme in 2002, and Career Related Programme in 2016. Students can take part in full IB Programs at Gar-Field High School to earn a diploma or certificate. A student can also take courses offered by the IB in their levels of strength and interest, but do not have to be part of a larger IB Program. These are known as IB/MYP Course Students. Students can be awarded college credit with IB classes, and it weighs the GPA. Gar-Field is one of two high schools that houses the IB Program in Prince William County (the other is Unity Reed High School).{{Cite web |title=Gar-field High School - IB Program |url=https://gar-fieldhs.pwcs.edu/our_school/special_programs/ib_program}}{{Cite web |title=PWCS - International Baccalaureate Programme |url=https://www.pwcs.edu/academics___programs/advanced_academics___specialty_programs/specialty_programs/high_school_programs/international_baccalaureate_programme}}
= Other programs =
Gar-Field High School also offers CTE programs in Culinary Arts, Law and Public Safety, and plumbing.{{Cite web |last=Seymour |first=Emily |date=2024-01-29 |title=Specialty program deadline looms for Prince William County students |url=https://www.insidenova.com/headlines/specialty-program-deadline-looms-for-prince-william-county-students/article_44b26e16-becb-11ee-a190-63a9e4e50410.html |access-date=2024-07-10 |website=INSIDENOVA.COM |language=en}}
Demographics
In the 2022–2023 school year, Gar-Field's 2,550 student body was:
- 62.6% Hispanic
- 20.7% Black
- 7.1% White
- 6.5% Asian
- 3.0% Two or More Races
- 0.1% American Indian/Alaskan
Athletics
Gar-Field High School is in the 6A Cardinal District of the Virginia High School League.{{Cite web |last=Tran |first=Huy |title=Alignment |url=https://www.vhsl.org/alignment/ |access-date=2024-07-10 |website=VHSL |language=en-US}} The school offers Cheer, Cross Country, Field Hockey, Football, golf, basketball, gymnastics, indoor and outdoor track, swimming and diving, baseball, crew, lacrosse, soccer, softball, and tennis.{{Cite web |title=Gar-field High School - Athletics |url=https://gar-fieldhs.pwcs.edu/athletics_and_activities/athletics/index}}
Notable alumni
- Jeff Baker, former MLB player (2005-2015){{Cite web |title=Jeff Baker Stats, Age, Position, Height, Weight, Fantasy & News |url=https://www.mlb.com/player/jeff-baker-425557 |access-date=2024-07-10 |website=MLB.com |language=en}}
- Benita Fitzgerald, 1984 Olympic gold medalist, 100-meter hurdles{{Cite web |last=VHSL |date=2016-01-15 |title=Benita Fitzgerald Mosley selected to inaugural VIAHA Hall of Fame class |url=https://www.insidenova.com/sports/benita-fitzgerald-mosley-selected-to-inaugural-viaha-hall-of-fame-class/article_411b9cd4-bb8a-11e5-ab2e-afd9e1fa322d.html |access-date=2024-07-10 |website=INSIDENOVA.COM |language=en}}
- Paula Girven, Olympic high jumper{{Cite web |date=2020-11-06 |title=Paula Girven, Prince William County’s first Olympian, loses battle with cancer |url=https://wtop.com/prince-william-county/2020/11/paula-girven-prince-william-countys-first-olympian-loses-battle-with-cancer/ |access-date=2024-07-10 |website=WTOP News |language=en}}
- Emmylou Harris, country western singer{{Cite web |last=yearbook |first=Gar-Field HS |date=2020-11-20 |title=Emmylou Harris (Gar-Field HS senior photo and writeup 1965).jpg |url=https://www.insidenova.com/emmylou-harris-gar-field-hs-senior-photo-and-writeup-1965-jpg/image_6ef35bb6-2b2d-11eb-b404-3f58581d8298.html |access-date=2024-07-10 |website=INSIDENOVA.COM |language=en}}
- Bob Malloy, Texas Rangers/Montreal Expos professional MLB player 1987 and 1990{{Cite web |title=Bob Malloy Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Rookie Status & More |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/mallobo02.shtml |access-date=2024-07-10 |website=Baseball-Reference.com |language=en}}
- Brian McNichol, former MLB player for the Chicago Cubs{{Cite web |title=Brian McNichol Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Rookie Status & More |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/mcnicbr01.shtml |access-date=2024-07-10 |website=Baseball-Reference.com |language=en}}
- Jeff Nixon, professional football player{{Cite web |title=Jeff Nixon Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/N/NixoJe20.htm |access-date=2024-07-10 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}
- Winston October, college football coach and former professional football player{{Cite web |date=2014-03-21 |title=Winston October joins Tribe's football staff |url=https://www.insidenova.com/sports/prince_william/winston-october-joins-tribes-football-staff/article_001315be-b155-11e3-834e-001a4bcf887a.html |access-date=2024-07-10 |website=INSIDENOVA.COM |language=en}}
- Clint Sintim, college football coach and former NFL Linebacker for the New York Giants{{Cite web |date=2024-03-10 |title=Clint Sintim Named Illinois Outside Linebackers Coach |url=https://fightingillini.com/news/2024/3/10/football-clint-sintim-named-illinois-outside-linebackers-coach.aspx |access-date=2024-07-10 |website=University of Illinois Athletics |language=en}}
- Chris Sprouse, comic book artist{{Cite web |date=2014-02-21 |title=Modern Masters Volume 21: Chris Sprouse Preview by TwoMorrows Publishing - Issuu |url=https://issuu.com/twomorrows/docs/chrissprousepreview |access-date=2024-07-10 |website=issuu.com |language=en}}
- Shaboozey, recording artist{{Cite web |last=Writer |first=Emma Kelly Contributing |date=2024-06-27 |title=Hit songs by Shaboozey, Tommy Richman put Woodbridge on the music map this summer |url=https://www.princewilliamtimes.com/news/hit-songs-by-shaboozey-tommy-richman-put-woodbridge-on-the-music-map-this-summer/article_7af9e49e-3348-11ef-b4fd-8795b2bcc50e.html |access-date=2024-07-10 |website=Prince William Times |language=en}}
- Sheena Tosta (née Johnson), Olympic hurdler and 2008 silver medalist{{Cite web |author=Staff reports |date=2018-05-08 |title=Gar-Field graduate Sheena Tosta selected to VHSL Hall of Fame |url=https://www.insidenova.com/sports/prince_william/gar-field-graduate-sheena-tosta-selected-to-vhsl-hall-of-fame/article_904a43a2-4970-11e8-80ee-fb4faa7b989e.html |access-date=2024-07-10 |website=INSIDENOVA.COM |language=en}}
- Tara Wheeler, Miss Virginia 2008 and news anchor for WCAV CBS19 in Charlottesville, VA{{Cite web |last=Blog |first=On Frozen |date=2008-11-14 |title=Tara Wheeler, Local Girl, Beauty Pageant Winner, Miss America Contestant, Star College Hockey Goalie, Nothing To See Here, Move Along |url=https://onfrozenblog.wordpress.com/2008/11/14/tara-wheeler-local-girl-beauty-pageant-winner-miss-america-contestant-star-college-hockey-goalie-nothing-to-see-here-move-along/ |access-date=2024-07-10 |website=On Frozen Blog |language=en}}
- Othell Wilson, former NBA basketball player{{Cite web |title=Othell Wilson Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft Status and more |url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/w/wilsoot01.html |access-date=2024-07-10 |website=Basketball-Reference.com |language=en}}
- Andrew York, Grammy-winning recording artist
- Lane Napper, actor, choreographer, dancer, acting coach, and dance teacher.{{Cite web |title=Ancestry Library Edition |url=https://ancestrylibrary.proquest.com/aleweb/ale/do/login |access-date=2025-01-28 |website=ancestrylibrary.proquest.com}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://gar-fieldhs.pwcs.edu/ Official Gar-Field High School website]
- [https://gar-fieldhs.pwcs.edu/our_school/special_programs/index Gar-Field High School Specialty Program Website]
- Prince William County Public Schools
{{Prince William County Public Schools}}
{{Virginia IB}}
{{authority control}}
Category:Educational institutions established in 1951
Category:Public high schools in Virginia
Category:Schools in Prince William County, Virginia
Category:International Baccalaureate schools in Virginia