Washington-Lee High School (W-L) is one of three traditional public high schools in the Arlington Public Schools district in Arlington, Virginia, covering grades 9â€"12, the others being Yorktown High School, also in north Arlington, and Wakefield High School in south Arlington. It has consistently had a high standing in national and state rankings for college preparatory, with excellence in teachers, and distinction in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), and diversity. It is the only Arlington high school offering the International Baccalaureate Program. In the wake of the August 2017 Charlottesville, Virginia, white supremacist rally protesting the removal of a statue of Robert E. Lee, the Arlington County School Board is considering changing the name of the school to remove Robert E. Lee from it.
History
The school was named after two Virginians: Continental Army General George Washington and Confederate Army General Robert E. Lee.
Construction on Washington-Lee began in 1924, with the school opening in 1925 and graduating its first class in 1927. The architectural firm Upman & Adams designed the building in a simplified version of the Colonial Revival style. The school fronted on 13th St. N, which separated the school from its athletic field, eventually dedicated as Arlington County's War Memorial Stadium. In 1932, 41 classrooms, new offices, and another gym were added to the original building. A new wing and a large library with Palladian windows and two reading rooms were built in 1942 with WPA funds. The rifle range was also constructed in the shop area. In 1951, noted architect Rhees Burkett designed an addition that fronted on N. Quincy Street in the International Style. Along with the new Stratford Junior High School, it helped usher in a wave of contemporary commercial and school architecture that defined much of Arlington until the 1980s.
In 1960, some Sophomores and Juniors were sent to form the core of the then new Yorktown High School, to relieve overcrowding resulting from the new generation, Baby boomers.
In 1975, the school board made the controversial decision to demolish the original sections of the school and construct a new facility with an open space instructional environment. The new school opened in 1977, and a new auditorium was constructed a few years later. In 1984, with the introduction of a new "closed campus" policy for underclassmen, a cafeteria was constructed in the school's commons.
Beginning in 2006, the school underwent a complete reconstruction; none of the older buildings remain. The theater and nearby classrooms were demolished to allow for the construction of the new classroom building, which opened in January 2008. An axial orientation to War Memorial Stadium and the primary parking areas is the defining characteristic of the new school. A ten-lane regulation NCAA short course swimming pool (with optional 25 meter lanes), gym and other indoor athletic facilities, and an 800-seat auditorium opened to the public in July 2009. The demolition of the 1951 building and the construction of auxiliary athletic fields and additional landscaping was completed in December 2009. The demolition of the 1951 building and the construction of auxiliary athletic fields and additional landscaping was completed in December 2009. The renovation cost Arlington County nearly $100 million and making it one of the most expensive high school construction projects in the United States.
Campus
The new four-story building frames the northern end of War Memorial Stadium, referencing the orientation of the original three story 1924 building. A stepped terrace leads to the field from the school's student commons and outdoor eating areas. The school's primary corridor on the ground floor is the focal point for the more public spaces, which include the performing arts center, student commons, alumni conference room, cyber cafe, and journalism suite. It spans the distance between the commons and a primary entrance with access to a multistory parking structure and bus lanes. A public entrance is located on N Stafford St, and a separate public entrance serves the pool.
The compact massing of the new building allowed for the construction of additional athletic fields on land previously occupied by the former school. The orientation of the new school within the surrounding open space and the abundant pedestrian connections across the site that connect neighborhoods adhere to Arlington County's urban design guidelines, which follow "smart growth" planning principles. The new building was certified LEED gold by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) rating system, the second high school in Virginia to achieve that benchmark.
Academics
W-L has received national recognition for its academic programs. In 1985, W-L was named a National (Blue Ribbon) School of Excellence by the US Department of Education. The school has also received honors from the Virginia Board of Education and the Virginia Department of Education. In 2007, Newsweek Magazine ranked Washington-Lee 33rd among the nation's top high schools.
Washington-Lee is the only school in Arlington that offers both the Advanced Placement Program as well as the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme. The vast majority of its students take advantage of these advanced courses or diploma programs.
Fine arts
The school offers fine arts courses and electives. Within the music department, electives include the marching and symphonic bands, madrigals, women's chorale, choir, orchestra, music theory, and guitar. In 2007, the music department received the Blue Ribbon Award, the highest award given by the Virginia Music Educators Association. The school was also a blue ribbon school for 2010â€"2011.
Demographics
The demographic breakdown of the 2,203 students enrolled in 2013â€"2014 was:
- Male â€" 52.3%
- Female â€" 47.7%
- Native American/Alaskan â€" 0.4%
- Asian/Pacific islanders â€" 10.5%
- Black â€" 10.4%
- Hispanic â€" 30.6%
- White â€" 42.5%
- Multiracial â€" 5.6%
28.5% of the students were eligible for free or reduced lunch.
Test scores
Washington-Lee High School is a fully accredited with the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. W-L's average SAT score in 2007 was a 1,095 (548 in Reading; 548 in Math).
As of 2011, Washington-Lee High School met or exceeded the Virginia average passing rate for the majority of Virginia Standards of Learning exam categories
Athletics
The school mascot is the "Generals". Most of the athletic teams, as well as many scholastic competitions, compete through the Virginia High School League.