Winston Churchill High School (Potomac, Maryland)
Winston Churchill High School, often referred to as WCHS, Churchill High School, CHS or Churchill, is a high school in Potomac, Maryland, United States, an unincorporated section of Montgomery County.
Winston Churchill High School | |
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Address | |
United States | |
Information | |
Other names | WCHS, Churchill High School, CHS, or Churchill |
Former name | Potomac High School |
Type | Public Secondary |
Motto |
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Established | 1964 |
Status | Active |
School district | Montgomery County Public Schools |
Principal | John Taylor |
Grades | 9–12 |
Enrollment | 2,212 (2021–2022) 9th grade: 553 10th grade: 533 11th grade: 556 12th grade: 570[1] |
Campus | Suburban |
Color(s) | |
Mascot | Bulldog |
Rival | Thomas S. Wootton High School |
Newspaper | The Churchill Observer |
Website | montgomeryschoolsmd |
The school is named after Winston Churchill, a British statesman and politician who was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom during World War II. Founded in 1964 as Potomac High School, the school's name was changed to "Winston Churchill High School" a year later.[2]
Churchill is part of the Montgomery County Public Schools system. The majority of the students come from Herbert Hoover Middle School (75%) and Cabin John Middle School (25%).
Administration
The current principal of Winston Churchill High School is John W. Taylor. Before being appointed in 2021, Taylor was the principal of Cabin John Middle School[3]
School awards and recognition
Churchill has been ranked in the top 100 high schools in the United States for years, climbing to 42 in 2007 and 75 in 2017.[4] Churchill earned the 2007 Maryland Blue Ribbon Award[5] and was selected by the U.S. Department of Education as a 2007 National No Child Left Behind Blue Ribbon School.[6] In 2012, Churchill was rated the best high school in Maryland and fifth among non-magnet schools nationally according to U.S. News & World Report.[7] In 2016, the same report ranked Winston Churchill High School 94th in national ranking, 2nd in Maryland High Schools and 146th in STEM High Schools with 83.9 (out of 100) College Readiness Index.[8] In 2017, Churchill was ranked the best high school in Maryland and 75th in the nation by U.S. News.[9]
Departments and programs
Churchill has nine academic departments: Art, Computer Science, English, Foreign Language, Mathematics, Performing Arts, Physical Education, Science, and Social Studies.
Autism Program
The Autism Program provides a program for students with low-functioning autism. These students learn how to improve their skills at undertaking certain tasks and also learn speech.
Signature Program
The Signature Program allows students to follow one of several course paths to specialize in a particular career field. The program comprises three academies: the Academy of Math, Science, & Technology; the Academy of International Studies; and the Academy of Creative and Performing Arts.[10]
Bridge Program
The Bridge Program provides a program for adolescents and young adults with learning/emotional disabilities. The program intends to foster academic skill development and alter behaviors that interfere with academic learning.[11] It is supervised by an interdisciplinary team intended to meet the needs of socially vulnerable middle and high school students who may be challenged by problem-solving abstract thinking, organizing and planning, interpreting social cues, establishing relationships with peers, coping with anxiety, changes in routine, and transitioning.
Performing arts
Many theater productions are put on regularly, including a night of one act plays. The One Acts Festival is student-produced, directed, and funded by the drama club. Churchill also has a choir program. Showstoppers is a mixed-gender show choir group, while Jazz Ambassadors is a mixed-gender choir. Both groups regularly compete within Montgomery County, regionally, and nationally. Churchill also hosts an annual show choir competition.
Churchill's choral music groups are Voice of a Generation (VOAG), Jazz Ambassadors, and Showstoppers.[12]
Voice of a Generation is a non-audition group for students who like to sing and learn about the study of music. Students learn to sight-read, read music, and improve their performance skills.
Jazz Ambassadors is a coed ensemble selected through auditions, focusing on developing vocal technique. Most songs are challenging jazz music, but this is often stretched to arrangements of different kinds of music like pop or classical.
Showstoppers is an honors show choir group of students selected through auditions who previously held choir positions at Churchill. This group features musically challenging music. Most music is popular, but any musical style, including sacred and secular works, is rehearsed and performed.
In 2007, Churchill's fall production of Singin' in the Rain was nominated for six Cappies High School Theater Awards,[13] winning Best Orchestra (for the third consecutive year), Best Cameo Actor, and Best Cameo Actress. Only one other school received more awards.[14][15]
In 2009, Churchill's fall production of Rent: School Edition was nominated for four Cappies High School Theater Awards: Best Male Vocalist, Best Female Vocalist, Best Orchestra, and Best Song. Churchill won awards for Best Female Vocalist as well as Best Orchestra.[16]
Many students form bands, typically of a rock variety, and the school occasionally facilitates this by sponsoring a battle of the bands or band performance. The school has sponsored day-long concerts on school grounds; the Merritthon, a fundraising event for Leukemia research, occurred annually from 2002 to 2004.[17]
In 2009, the instrumental music program won four awards at the Windy City Classic, including Best Symphonic Band, Best Orchestra, Best Classical Soloist, and Best Overall Program. The jazz band received second place in that category. All three groups received a gold rating.
Athletics
Winston Churchill High School offers the following sports:
Fall
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Winter
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Spring
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State championships
Team State championships | |||
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Season | Sport | Number of championships | Year |
Fall[21] | Cross country, boys' | 4 | 1968, 1975, 1977, 1978 |
Cross country, girls' | 2 | 1979, 1991 | |
Football | 2 | 1976, 1977 | |
Field hockey | 2 | 1978, 1983 | |
Golf | 15 | 1976, 1987, 1988, 1995, 1998, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2014, 2015, 2019 | |
Soccer, boys' | 7 | 1980, 1985, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1999, 2002, 2009 | |
Winter[22] | Basketball, girls' | 2 | 2002, 2003 |
Basketball, boys' | 1 | 1978 | |
Ice hockey[23] | 8 | 2006, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2022 | |
Indoor track, boys' | 2 | 1976, 2011 | |
Swimming and diving, girls'[24] | 3 | 2009, 2012, 2015 | |
Swimming and diving, boys' | 2 | 2018, 2019, 2022 | |
Spring[25] | Baseball | 1 | 1979 |
Outdoor track, boys' | 1 | 1976 | |
Wiffleball | 5 | 1969, 1978, 1980, 2011, 2012 | |
Ultimate frisbee | 1 | 2013 | |
Lacrosse, boys' | 1 | 2022 | |
Total | 47 |
Notable alumni
- Susan C. Lee (class of 1972) – state senator, Maryland General Assembly[26]
- Samuel L. Stanley (class of 1972) – President, Michigan State University[27]
- John F. Mulholland Jr. (class of 1973) – U.S. Army officer
- Elisa New (class of 1976) – professor of English at Harvard University
- Brian Holloway (class of 1977) – professional football player, All-Pro, Stanford graduate, NFL first-round draft pick[28]
- Jeffrey Allan Kemp (class of 1977) – NFL player, quarterback for Los Angeles Rams, Seattle Seahawks, San Francisco 49ers; son of Jack Kemp[29]
- Michael Hardt (class of 1978) – philosopher, author
- Cheryl Kagan (class of 1979) – state senator, Maryland General Assembly[30]
- Kenny Kramm (class of 1979) – entrepreneur, inventor of FLAVORx[31]
- Darren Star (class of 1979) – television creator and producer (Beverly Hills, 90210, Melrose Place, Sex and the City, Younger)[32]
- Marti Leimbach (class of 1981) – novelist[33]
- Bruce Murray (class of 1983) – international soccer player; two-time All-American at Clemson; selected to College Team of the Century; member of 1988 Summer Olympics and 1990 FIFA World Cup soccer teams; National Soccer Hall of Fame[34]
- Paul Palmer (class of 1983) – NFL player, first-round draft pick[35]
- Lori Alan Denniberg (class of 1984) – actress and voice actor
- Deborah Copaken (class of 1984) – writer and photojournalist (Shutterbabe)[36]
- Jonathan Holloway (class of 1985) – professor and dean at Yale University, president of Rutgers University[37]
- Jennie Koch Easterly (class of 1986) – U.S. Army officer, federal government official[38]
- Mike Sacks (class of 1986) – magazine editor, humor writer[39]
- Julie Kent (class of 1987) – American Ballet Theatre, principal dancer for 22 years[40]
- Mike Barrowman (class of 1987) – swimmer, 1992 Olympic gold medalist, 200-meter breaststroke[41]
- Rochelle Walensky (class of 1987) – Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention[42]
- Jimmy Kemp (class of 1989) – CFL football player, president of the Jack Kemp Foundation[43]
- Jordan Ellenberg (class of 1989) – mathematician and author, How Not to Be Wrong[44]
- Tim Sweeney (class of 1989) – founder of Epic Games; most known for Fortnite[45]
- Rachel Nichols (class of 1991) – ESPN reporter[46]
- Jeff Halpern (class of 1994) (did not graduate) – NHL player, first from Southeast U.S.[47]
- Robyn Cohen (class of 1994) – actress[48]
- Dhani Jones (class of 1996) – NFL player, TV personality, The Travel Channel and CNBC[49]
- Bryan Cogman (class of 1997) (did not graduate) – Emmy Award-winning writer, Game of Thrones[50]
- Ben Feldman (class of 1998) – actor, Drop Dead Diva, Mad Men, Superstore[51]
- Gibran Hamdan (class of 1998) (did not graduate) – NFL player, backup quarterback for Washington Redskins[52]
- Kelen Coleman (class of 2002) – actress, The Office, The Mindy Project, The Newsroom, The McCarthys[53]
- Jerome Dyson (class of 2005) (did not graduate) - professional basketball player[54]
- Kamie Crawford (class of 2010) – Miss Teen USA 2010[55]
- Shinsaku Uesugi (class of 2010) – chess player (Chess Olympiad)[56]
- Joshua Coyne (class of 2011) – composer and musician[57]
- Taylor Momsen (class of 2011) (did not graduate) – actor (How the Grinch stole Christmas, Spy Kids, Gossip Girl); musician (The Pretty Reckless)[58]
- Eric Brodkowitz (class of 2014), Israeli-American baseball pitcher for the Israel national baseball team[59]
- Noah Bratschi (class of 2018), professional speed climber, American record holder, Bronze medalist World Championships, World Cup silver medalist, 9x US World Team[60][61]
References
- "Winston Churchill High School - #602" (PDF). Montgomery County Public Schools.
- Rathner, Janet (February 7, 2001). "Churchill's past, present come together in auditorium". The Gazette. Retrieved September 24, 2018.
- "New Churchill, Richard Montgomery and Northwest principals appointed". Bethesda Magazine. July 16, 2021. Retrieved June 16, 2022.
- "Gold Medal Schools". U.S. News & World Report. November 29, 2007. Archived from the original on December 1, 2007."Winston Churchill High School". U.S. News & World Report. June 7, 2017. Archived from the original on June 7, 2017.
- Jacobson, Erica (December 13, 2006). "Two local schools awarded Md. Blue Ribbon designation". Washington Examiner.
- "Winston Churchill HS Named National Blue Ribbon School". October 2, 2007. Retrieved May 15, 2010.
- "Best High Schools". May 8, 2012. Archived from the original on May 8, 2012.
- "Best High Schools". September 25, 2016.
- "U.S. News 2017 rankings".
- Donaghue, Erin (November 4, 2009). "Signature Program faces more hurdles at Churchill". Potomac Gazette.
- Silverman, Speri (March 20, 2010). "School Based Services".
- "WCHS Choral Music Department". www.wchsarts.com. Retrieved September 26, 2016.
- Mack, Jean (May 17, 2007). "And the Nominees Are..." The Washington Post. Retrieved February 5, 2009.
- Vaughn, Peggy (June 13, 2007). "Wootton, Churchill students bring home some Cappies". Potomac Gazette.
- "Winston Churchill High School Drama :: Production History". wchsdrama.org. Archived from the original on August 25, 2010.
- "2009 National Capital Area Nominees".
- Cetron, Ari (June 18, 2003). "Rock for the Cure". Potomac Almanac. Retrieved May 23, 2010
- "MSPA 2003 Publications Contest Results". Maryland-District of Columbia Scholastic Press Association. University of Maryland. 2003. Archived from the original on April 24, 2009. Retrieved February 5, 2009.
- "Publication Awards Recognize Best in Area". Maryland-District of Columbia Scholastic Press Association. University of Maryland. Winter 2002. Archived from the original on April 24, 2009. Retrieved February 5, 2009.
- "MSPA 2002 Publications Contest Results". Maryland-District of Columbia Scholastic Press Association. University of Maryland. 2002. Archived from the original on April 24, 2009. Retrieved February 5, 2009.
- "Fall Record Book" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on November 21, 2010. Retrieved May 15, 2010.
- "Winter Record Book" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on March 31, 2010. Retrieved May 15, 2010.
- "Winston Churchill". Washington Capitals High School League. Retrieved March 4, 2019.
- "Licensed to Potomac Valley Swimming". Retrieved October 9, 2023.
- "Spring Record Book" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on June 1, 2010. Retrieved May 15, 2010.
- Profitt, Ashley (March 25, 2019). "Women's History Month: MCM Spotlights Senator Susan C. Lee". Montgomery Community Media.
- Jesse, David. "MSU names medical doctor, current Stony Brook University president as new president". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved February 11, 2020.
- Corrigan, Ned (April 26, 1981). "NFL Awaits Holloway: He's No Longer Too Big, Too Heavy". The Washington Post. p. D5.
- Zimmerman, Paul (October 22, 1984). "The Last in a Long Line". Sports Illustrated.
- "Cheryl C. Kagan". Maryland Manual Online. Maryland State Archives.
- Langer, Emily (July 13, 2016). "Kenny Kramm, creator of flavorings to make the medicine go down for kids, dies at 55". The Washington Post.
- Brennan, Patricia (December 23, 1990). "Signals From the Fast Lane". The Washington Post. p. N10.
- "Leimbach, Marti 1963- (Martha Leimbach)". Retrieved October 9, 2023.
- "Ledecky Among First Inductees in Montgomery County Sports Hall of Fame". Bethesda Magazine. September 11, 2019.
- Simms, Brandy L. (January 11, 2018). "Boo-Boo Palmer to be enshrined in college football's Hall of Fame". Montgomery County Sentinel.
- Bing, Jonathan (July 31, 2001). "The Write Stuff: 'Shutterbabe' zooms in". Variety.
- Shahzad, Maryam (January 23, 2020). "Churchill Alum Named Rutgers' First Black President". Montgomery Community Media.
- Armstrong, Jenice (December 16, 1989). "Four from D.C. Area Make the Rhodes Scholarship Grade". The Washington Post. Retrieved April 15, 2022.
- Belford, Susan (July 24, 2014). "Dissecting Comedy". Potomac Almanac.
- Kaufman, Sarah L. (March 7, 2016). "ABT star Julie Kent is Washington Ballet's new artistic director". Washington Post. Retrieved March 8, 2016.
- Anderson, Bruce (August 14, 1989). "On Top of the World".
- "Media Statement from Rochelle P. Walensky, MD, MPH, CDC Director and ATSDR Administrator". January 20, 2021.
- Richman, Michael (July 28, 1998). "Kemp runs with his options". The Washington Post. p. D7.
- Goldstein, Amy (June 7, 1989). "A Sine of a True Genius; Md. Youth Wins Major Math Competition: Jordan Ellenberg". The Washington Post.
- Tsironis, Alex (June 15, 2018). "Potomac Native And Churchill Graduate Is Responsible For Fortnite". Moco Show.
- Frank, Noah (November 18, 2016). "Express lane to Bristol: Why so many D.C. sports personalities end up at ESPN". WTOP News.
- Bowen, Fred (March 9, 2001). "A Hometown Hero". The Washington Post. p. C11.
- "People Notes". Potomac Almanac. No. Volume LII, Number 49. December 3, 2008. p. 14.
- Shapiro, Leonard (January 1, 2000). "Jones Is Too Fast To Keep Up With". The Washington Post. p. D4.
- Thompson, Tisha (July 16, 2015). "'Game of Thrones' Writer Credits Churchill High With His Success". WRC-TV. Retrieved April 22, 2018.
- Heil, Emily (October 2, 2014). "D.C. native Ben Feldman on visits home, his new sitcom, and that nipple in a box". The Washington Post.
- Maske, Mark (May 2, 2003). "A Challenge Getting Here". The Washington Post.
- Faguy, Ana (May 28, 2014). "CHS alumna Kelen Coleman catches up with 'Observer'". Churchill Observer.
- Giannotto, Mark (January 9, 2010). "Connecticut's Jerome Dyson is proud to be from Scotland". The Washington Post.
- Donoghue, Erin (November 18, 2009). "Potomac, North Potomac residents crowned in state pageants". Gazette. Archived from the original on August 3, 2010.
- Smith, Shaun (April 19, 2010). "High School Nationals: The Biggest Tie Ever and Hunter on Top". US Chess Federation.
- Milk, Leslie (October 1, 2008). "Rising Stars". Washingtonian.
- Blonska, Joanna (March 28, 2011). "The Young and the 'Reckless'". Bethesda Magazine. Retrieved February 4, 2013.
- Parker, Brandon (May 17, 2013). "Resilient Bulldogs win region title". The Washington Post. p. D7.
- Burgman, John (September 19, 2021). "Noah Bratschi Wins first American Speed Championship Medal in 30 years: Highs and Lows in Moscow". Gym Climber. Retrieved September 19, 2021.
- Noah Bratschi Earns First Climbing World Cup Podium In Salt Lake City