Woodrow Wilson High School (Portsmouth, Virginia)

Coordinates: 36°48′54.45″N 76°22′53.05″W / 36.8151250°N 76.3814028°W / 36.8151250; -76.3814028

Woodrow Wilson High School
Address
1401 Elmhurst Lane Portsmouth, Virginia 23701 United States
Coordinates	36°48′54.45″N 76°22′53.05″W / 36.8151250°N 76.3814028°W / 36.8151250; -76.3814028
Information
School type	Public, high school
Founded	1888
School district	Portsmouth City Public Schools
Superintendent	Dr. Elie Bracy III
Principal	Timothy Johnson
Grades	9–12
Enrollment	1,334 (2006-07)
Language	English
Campus	Suburban
Color(s)	Royal Blue, Orange and White
Athletics conference	Virginia High School League AAA Eastern Region Eastern District
Mascot	Presidents
Rival	I. C. Norcom High School
Website	Official Site

Woodrow Wilson High School is a public high school located in Portsmouth, Virginia. It is administered by Portsmouth City Public Schools. The school colors are royal blue, orange, and white, and the nickname is the Presidents.

History

Wilson can be traced back to 1885, when a high school was organized at The Academy on Glasgow Street, which had housed only grammar and elementary students from 1850 through 1884. The first high school class graduated that same year. In 1886 the Glasgow Street building was no longer suitable, so the city erected a new building on Green Street, known as the Green Street School. High school, grammar, and elementary students moved there from the Glasgow Street location in September 1886.

In 1888, Portsmouth High School was formally established but continued to be housed in the Green Street building. Portsmouth High School moved to a brand new building on Washington Street in 1909. The new facility was the first one planned for the exclusive use of the high school.

In September 1919, Portsmouth High School was renamed Woodrow Wilson High School and moved to a new building on High Street. The vacated building became an elementary school called Washington Street School, and later F.T. Briggs School. In September 1955, Woodrow Wilson High School moved again to a new facility on Willett Drive, and the vacated building on High Street became Harry Hunt Junior High School. In September 1993, Woodrow Wilson was merged with Cradock High School and Manor High School. To appease alumni, the Woodrow Wilson name was kept, though the three schools were merged into the Manor building, which opened in 1972.^[1]

The school, along with others in the area, has recently become noted for its high dropout rates.^[2]

Notable alumni

• V. C. Andrews – author^[3]
• Marty Brennaman – sportscaster for the Cincinnati Reds^[4]
• Karen Briggs – violinist^[5]
• Mahlon Clark – jazz musician^[6]
• LaTasha Colander – track and field sprint star, 2000 Olympic Gold Medalist (4x400m)^[7][8][9]
• Clarence "Ace" Parker, Pro Football Hall of Famer and Former MLB player
• Bill Deal – beach music musician with group Bill Deal and the Rhondels
• Missy Elliott – rapper^[10][11]
• Perry Ellis – fashion designer^[12]
• Chandler Harper, golfer^[13]
• Ben Jones – actor and politician^[14]
• T. J. Jordan – basketball player
• LaShawn Merritt – sprinter, 2008 Olympic Gold medalist (400 meters and 4x400m relay)^[9]
• Bill Moran – Former Major League Baseball player^[15]
• Bill Schneider – journalist with CNN^[16]
• Aaron Sparrow, American football player^[17]
• Khadijah Whittington – Former WNBA basketball player^[18]

References

External links

• Wilson High School website