Wikipedia

Western Albemarle High School

Western Albemarle High School is a public high school located in Crozet, Virginia. Western Albemarle is often simply referred to as Western or WAHS (pronounced "woz") by students and locals. The school opened in September 1977.

Western Albemarle High School
Western Albemarle High School entrance
Address
Map
5941 Rockfish Gap Turnpike

Crozet
,
Virginia
22932

United States
Information
School typePublic, Comprehensive high school
FoundedSeptember 1977
School districtAlbemarle County Public Schools
SuperintendentMatthew S. Haas
PrincipalJennifer Sublette
Grades9–12
Enrollment1,241 (2021-22)
LanguageEnglish
CampusSuburban
Color(s)    Blue and gold
Athletics conferenceVHSL Group 3A West Region
Jefferson District
MascotWarrior
NewspaperThe Western Hemisphere
Feeder schoolsJ. T. Henley Middle School
Websitewww2.k12albemarle.org/school/wahs
Front Entrance

About the school

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Western Albemarle enrolls approximately 1,241 students. It is situated at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains on a 75-acre (30 ha) site adjacent to Highway 250 and Interstate 64. WAHS is part of the Albemarle County Public School System, serving the western and central areas of Albemarle County.

The main feeder school is J. T. Henley Middle School.

Western Albemarle High School (WAHS) opened its doors to students in fall 1977. Then, the school consisted of two classroom wings (the A and B-Wings), the fine arts wing with the auditorium, band and choir room, as well as a few more classrooms (the C-Wing), and the gymnasium and athletic wing (D-Wing). The building remained untouched until the 1996 academic year when a new addition to the school was opened. This addition added four classrooms and two science labs to the B-Wing and a new auxiliary gymnasium and athletic offices to the D-Wing. In 2005 a new, modern weight room was added to the D-Wing. In 2011, the school received a total overhaul of their athletic field. A brand new AstroTurf playing field and rubber running track was installed using funds from an anonymous donor. In 2015, a renovation to the media center was conducted to enhance student activities as well as modernize the existing, outdated library. The main office was also modernized and renovated to improve school security. In 2016, a new modern greenhouse and classroom was constructed behind the school to be used by Western's STEM academy the Environmental Studies Academy (ESA). In 2017, two history classrooms and two English classrooms (all together in a quad) were renovated to promote Albemarle County's Global Studies concept where the history and English classes are intertwined. In summer 2018, a total renovation and addition of science labs began. Opening in fall 2018 was the school's new Tri-Lab, a large, open multi use space to the building. This space consisted of two classrooms and a hallway that were all connected by knocking down walls and modernizing the whole room. Throughout the 2018–19 school year and summer 2019, construction continued on the new science addition that would soon be known as the E-Wing. During summer 2019, all of the school's existing science labs were renovated and modernized. These rooms, along with the new E-Wing, opened to students at the beginning of the 2019–20 school year.

Like many schools around the country, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the school went fully virtual on March 13, 2020, resulting in the use of Zoom platforms and online learning, though has since returned to in-person instruction.

Academics

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In January 2008, it was announced that Western was one of two schools (along with Murray Elementary) in the county that received the Governor's Award for Educational Excellence. This was the highest honor in the new incentive program for schools and school divisions created by the board of education to advance Governor Tim Kaine’s “competence to excellence” agenda.[1]

Also in 2008, the school was ranked 1310 of 1358 of the top 5% of U.S. high schools by Newsweek, placing it in the 9th percentile of school quality.[2] It was also ranked in the top 10 of the state of Virginia.

Currently in 2024, Western ranks 44th in Virginia and 1,882th in the nation. [3]

Athletics

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Tennis facilities

Western Albemarle's athletic department has been awarded the Wells Fargo Cup (formerly the Wachovia Cup) five times (2004, 2005, 2008, 2018, and 2019).[4] The cup is awarded annually to one school in each of the VHSL's six divisions that demonstrates the best-overall record in state championship competitions. WAHS broke the record for most points ever scored towards the cup in 2019. The school is a member of VHSL's Class 3 in the Jefferson District.

The boys' soccer team won its fifth state championship in 2022, with other championships coming in 1996, 2014, 2016, and 2019.[5]

The girls' soccer team won their second and third state championships in 2017 and 2018, with the first in 2002.

In 2011, the Western Albemarle track team sent several relay teams to the national track competition.[which?] In 2018, the Boys and Girls Indoor Track teams also won the state championship.[6] In 2017, the boys' and girls' cross-country teams both won the state championship.

In 2004–2005, the school won 21 district, regional, and state championships.

Combined, the boys and girls swimming and diving teams have won 17 state championships, with the girls winning from 2011 to 2016, and in 2019, 2020, and 2024, and the boys winning in 2016,[7] and 2018-2024 with 7 straight state titles. The girls' team currently holds the record for the most state championship wins of any swim team in the state of Virginia.[8] The school has produced two Olympic swimmers: Remedy Rule and Thomas Heilman. Rule represented the Philippines at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and Heilman competed for the United States of America in the 2024 Paris Olympics, where he earned a silver medal as part of the 4x100 medley relay. Notably, after qualifying for Team USA in the 100 and 200 meter butterfly events, Heilman became the youngest male swimmer in the Olympics since Michael Phelps.[9]

In 2022 the Western Albemarle Crew team, also known as, Beaver Creek Sculling, won the Virginia Scholastic Rowing Association State Championships where they won 6 gold medals in the M 4x, the W Jr 4x, the W Jr 2x, the M Jr 2x, the M Jr 1x, and the M 2x events. They also brought home gold medals in the Girls JV 2x and the Boys JV 2x events at the Scholastic Rowing Association of America National Championships

Activities

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Western Albemarle's quizbowl team placed second at the 2014 PACE NSC[10] In 2014 they also won the VHSL Scholastic Bowl 3A title as well as the NAQT Virginia state championship.

WAHS hosts the Destination ImagiNation tournament for the Jefferson District.

Bombing plot

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School grounds

In 2006, a 16-year-old Western Albemarle High School student and a 15-year-old Albemarle High School student were arrested after it was discovered that they were plotting to detonate explosives at their schools.[11] The students were both found guilty of conspiracy to commit murder and conspiracy to use explosives to destroy a school house, and have been committed to the juvenile justice system.[12]

Notable alumni

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References

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  1. ^ Timothy M. Kaine (January 10, 2008). "Governor Kaine Announces Awards for High-Performing Virginia Public Schools". Retrieved May 24, 2018.
  2. ^ America's Top Public High Schools
  3. ^ Western Albemarle High School US News
  4. ^ Isley, Bart (2019-06-28). "Western Albemarle wins Class 3 Wells Fargo Cup with record-setting total". Scrimmage Play CVA. Retrieved 2020-04-25.
  5. ^ Lehmbeck, Alexander (June 12, 2016). "Warriors on top — again". The Daily Progress. Retrieved May 24, 2018.
  6. ^ Western Albemarle High School Athletics page
  7. ^ Counts, Ron (February 19, 2016). "Western Albemarle sweeps 3A state swimming titles". Retrieved May 24, 2018.
  8. ^ "VHSL-Record-Book.pdf". Google Docs. Retrieved 2020-04-25.
  9. ^ "Thomas Heilman 200 Fly Press Conference, Youngest Male Olympic Swimmer Since Michael Phelps". SwimSwam News. June 20, 2024.
  10. ^ "2014 NSC Results". Retrieved November 14, 2014.
  11. ^ Liesel Nowak (April 6, 2006). "13-year-olds guilty in bomb plot Hawranke hearing delayed". The Daily Progress. Archived from the original on September 27, 2007. Retrieved July 27, 2006.
  12. ^ "Student convicted in bomb plot". Richmond Times-Dispatch. March 30, 2006. Retrieved July 27, 2006.
  13. ^ "Billy Baber". Retrieved May 24, 2018.
  14. ^ "Billy Baber". NFL. Retrieved May 24, 2018.
  15. ^ "LeRoi Moore Obituary (2008) - CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA - Daily Progress". Legacy.com.
  16. ^ Make Me a Supermodel (season 2)

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38°2′48″N 78°42′24″W / 38.04667°N 78.70667°W / 38.04667; -78.70667

  1. ^ "Scholastic National Rowing Championship Schedule". results.regattatiming.com. Retrieved 2024-09-19.
  2. ^ "VASRA - Results". www.vasra.org. Retrieved 2024-09-19.
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