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.
| Gar-Field Senior High School | |
|---|---|
 Gar-Field High School in May 2022 | |
| Address | |
 | |
14000 Smoketown Road , 22192 | |
| Information | |
| School type | Public, high school |
| Motto | School of Champions |
| Founded | 1953 |
| School district | Prince William County Public Schools |
| Principal | Matthew Mathison |
| Teaching staff | 151.00 (on an FTE basis)[1] |
| Grades | 9-12 |
| Enrollment | 2,550 (2022–23)[1] |
| Student to teacher ratio | 16.89[1] |
| Color(s) | Red Blue |
| Mascot | Indians (1953–2021) Red Wolves (2021–present) |
| Website | Official Gar-Field High School website |
History and Administration
editGar-Field High School was opened on December 8, 1953, as a successor school to Occoquan District High School.[2] 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.[3] 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).[4][5][6] 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.[2][2]
Administration
editThe 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.[7]
Academic Programs
editInternational Baccalaureate (IB) Program
edit
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).[8][9]
Other Programs
editGar-Field High School also offers CTE programs in Culinary Arts, Law and Public Safety, and plumbing.[10]
Demographics
editIn 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
editGar-Field High School is in the 6A Cardinal District of the Virginia High School League.[11] 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.[12]
Notable alumni
edit- Jeff Baker, former MLB player (2005-2015)[13]
- Benita Fitzgerald, 1984 Olympic gold medalist, 100-meter hurdles[14]
- Paula Girven, Olympic high jumper[15]
- Emmylou Harris, country western singer[16]
- Bob Malloy, Texas Rangers/Montreal Expos professional MLB player 1987 and 1990[17]
- Brian McNichol, former MLB player for the Chicago Cubs[18]
- Jeff Nixon, professional football player[19]
- Winston October, college football coach and former professional football player[20]
- Clint Sintim, college football coach and former NFL Linebacker for the New York Giants[21]
- Chris Sprouse, comic book artist[22]
- Shaboozey, recording artist[23]
- Sheena Tosta (née Johnson), Olympic hurdler and 2008 silver medalist[24]
- Tara Wheeler, Miss Virginia 2008 and news anchor for WCAV CBS19 in Charlottesville, VA[25]
- Othell Wilson, former NBA basketball player[26]
- Andrew York, Grammy-winning recording artist
References
edit- ^ a b c "GAR-FIELD HIGH". School Directory Information. National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved June 9, 2024.
- ^ a b c "Gar-Field High School, now home of the Red Wolves". INSIDENOVA.COM. June 9, 2021. Retrieved July 10, 2024.
- ^ "Who is Gar-Field Senior High School named after?". March 29, 2016.
- ^ Alborn, Al (January 22, 2023). "Around Prince William: Pleasant memories and painful recollections". INSIDENOVA.COM. Retrieved July 10, 2024.
- ^ Jirak, Gianna (May 22, 2020). "School Board hears 10 possible names for 13th high school". Potomac Local News. Retrieved July 10, 2024.
- ^ "List grows of potential names to replace Stonewall Jackson". WTOP News. June 26, 2020. Retrieved July 10, 2024.
- ^ "Meet the Principal - Matt Mathison". www.pwcs.edu. Retrieved April 10, 2021.
- ^ "Gar-field High School - IB Program".
- ^ "PWCS - International Baccalaureate Programme".
- ^ Seymour, Emily (January 29, 2024). "Specialty program deadline looms for Prince William County students". INSIDENOVA.COM. Retrieved July 10, 2024.
- ^ Tran, Huy. "Alignment". VHSL. Retrieved July 10, 2024.
- ^ "Gar-field High School - Athletics".
- ^ "Jeff Baker Stats, Age, Position, Height, Weight, Fantasy & News". MLB.com. Retrieved July 10, 2024.
- ^ VHSL (January 15, 2016). "Benita Fitzgerald Mosley selected to inaugural VIAHA Hall of Fame class". INSIDENOVA.COM. Retrieved July 10, 2024.
- ^ "Paula Girven, Prince William County's first Olympian, loses battle with cancer". WTOP News. November 6, 2020. Retrieved July 10, 2024.
- ^ yearbook, Gar-Field HS (November 20, 2020). "Emmylou Harris (Gar-Field HS senior photo and writeup 1965).jpg". INSIDENOVA.COM. Retrieved July 10, 2024.
- ^ "Bob Malloy Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Rookie Status & More". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved July 10, 2024.
- ^ "Brian McNichol Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Rookie Status & More". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved July 10, 2024.
- ^ "Jeff Nixon Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved July 10, 2024.
- ^ "Winston October joins Tribe's football staff". INSIDENOVA.COM. March 21, 2014. Retrieved July 10, 2024.
- ^ "Clint Sintim Named Illinois Outside Linebackers Coach". University of Illinois Athletics. March 10, 2024. Retrieved July 10, 2024.
- ^ "Modern Masters Volume 21: Chris Sprouse Preview by TwoMorrows Publishing - Issuu". issuu.com. February 21, 2014. Retrieved July 10, 2024.
- ^ Writer, Emma Kelly Contributing (June 27, 2024). "Hit songs by Shaboozey, Tommy Richman put Woodbridge on the music map this summer". Prince William Times. Retrieved July 10, 2024.
- ^ Staff reports (May 8, 2018). "Gar-Field graduate Sheena Tosta selected to VHSL Hall of Fame". INSIDENOVA.COM. Retrieved July 10, 2024.
- ^ Blog, On Frozen (November 14, 2008). "Tara Wheeler, Local Girl, Beauty Pageant Winner, Miss America Contestant, Star College Hockey Goalie, Nothing To See Here, Move Along". On Frozen Blog. Retrieved July 10, 2024.
- ^ "Othell Wilson Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft Status and more". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved July 10, 2024.