Abingdon High School
Encyclopedia
Abingdon High School is a Public high school located in Abingdon, Virginia
. The school focuses on academics as well as placing emphasis on extracurricular activities
such as athletics, the arts, clubs, and community involvement.
, Chemistry
, United States History, Government
, English 11,English 12, and Calculus
. Dual-enrollment classes are also offered through the nearby Virginia Highlands Community College
(VHCC) in Abingdon
. These courses include VHCC Calculus
, VHCC Geology
, and VHCC Computer Software
. Furthermore, the A. Linwood Holton's Governor's school offers classes in western civilization
, statistics
, anatomy
, world civilizations, and astronomy
.
.
. Its championships include:
, band
, chorus
, One act theater, DECA
, National Honor Society
, Washington County Community Scholars, FFA
, and a TSA
chapter, as well as numerous other academic and service clubs. The school newspaper is the Talon, the yearbook is The Beacon, and the school's literary magazine is Wings.
The Band is currently under the direction of Gary Holley as of 2010.
and Region IV
of the Virginia High School League
.
Abingdon, Virginia
Abingdon is a town in Washington County, Virginia, USA, 133 miles southwest of Roanoke. The population was 8,191 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Washington County and is a designated Virginia Historic Landmark...
. The school focuses on academics as well as placing emphasis on extracurricular activities
Extracurricular activity
Extracurricular activities are activities performed by students that fall outside the realm of the normal curriculum of school or university education...
such as athletics, the arts, clubs, and community involvement.
Academics
Abingdon High School offers numerous academic programs and courses that prepare its students for college and future careers. The school offers many Advanced Placement courses including BiologyBiology
Biology is a natural science concerned with the study of life and living organisms, including their structure, function, growth, origin, evolution, distribution, and taxonomy. Biology is a vast subject containing many subdivisions, topics, and disciplines...
, Chemistry
Chemistry
Chemistry is the science of matter, especially its chemical reactions, but also its composition, structure and properties. Chemistry is concerned with atoms and their interactions with other atoms, and particularly with the properties of chemical bonds....
, United States History, Government
Government
Government refers to the legislators, administrators, and arbitrators in the administrative bureaucracy who control a state at a given time, and to the system of government by which they are organized...
, English 11,English 12, and Calculus
Calculus
Calculus is a branch of mathematics focused on limits, functions, derivatives, integrals, and infinite series. This subject constitutes a major part of modern mathematics education. It has two major branches, differential calculus and integral calculus, which are related by the fundamental theorem...
. Dual-enrollment classes are also offered through the nearby Virginia Highlands Community College
Virginia Highlands Community College
Virginia Highlands Community College is located in Abingdon, Virginia. One of the 23 schools in the Virginia Community College System, the college was established November 30, 1967 to serve the residents of Washington County, western Smyth County, and the city of Bristol, Virginia. Over 4,000...
(VHCC) in Abingdon
Abingdon, Virginia
Abingdon is a town in Washington County, Virginia, USA, 133 miles southwest of Roanoke. The population was 8,191 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Washington County and is a designated Virginia Historic Landmark...
. These courses include VHCC Calculus
Calculus
Calculus is a branch of mathematics focused on limits, functions, derivatives, integrals, and infinite series. This subject constitutes a major part of modern mathematics education. It has two major branches, differential calculus and integral calculus, which are related by the fundamental theorem...
, VHCC Geology
Geology
Geology is the science comprising the study of solid Earth, the rocks of which it is composed, and the processes by which it evolves. Geology gives insight into the history of the Earth, as it provides the primary evidence for plate tectonics, the evolutionary history of life, and past climates...
, and VHCC Computer Software
Computer software
Computer software, or just software, is a collection of computer programs and related data that provide the instructions for telling a computer what to do and how to do it....
. Furthermore, the A. Linwood Holton's Governor's school offers classes in western civilization
Western culture
Western culture, sometimes equated with Western civilization or European civilization, refers to cultures of European origin and is used very broadly to refer to a heritage of social norms, ethical values, traditional customs, religious beliefs, political systems, and specific artifacts and...
, statistics
Statistics
Statistics is the study of the collection, organization, analysis, and interpretation of data. It deals with all aspects of this, including the planning of data collection in terms of the design of surveys and experiments....
, anatomy
Anatomy
Anatomy is a branch of biology and medicine that is the consideration of the structure of living things. It is a general term that includes human anatomy, animal anatomy , and plant anatomy...
, world civilizations, and astronomy
Astronomy
Astronomy is a natural science that deals with the study of celestial objects and phenomena that originate outside the atmosphere of Earth...
.
Wachovia Cup
Abingdon High School has won the Central Fidelity/Wachovia Cup in Group AA Academics 15 times which is a state record for most championships. Abingdon won 9 consecutive championships from 1990 to 1998. The Central Fidelity/Wachovia Cup, which was started in 1989, is awarded by the Virginia High School LeagueVirginia High School League
The Virginia High School League is the arbiter of interscholastic competition among public high schools in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Unlike similar organizations in many other states, private or religious schools are prohibited from joining. Non-public schools belong to other organizations,...
.
Southwest Academic Conference
Abingdon High is a member of the Southwest Academic ConferenceSouthwest Academic Conference
The Southwest Academic Conference began with meetings between the Superintendents of schools in Smyth County, Washington County, and Bristol in December 1986 to propose the formation of a league to allow students to participate in academic competitions...
. Its championships include:
- Science: 2002, 2005, 2007
- Social Studies: 1995, 1996, 2002, 2009
- All Around: 2001
Extracurricular activities
The school offers a plethora of student activities including athleticsSport
A Sport is all forms of physical activity which, through casual or organised participation, aim to use, maintain or improve physical fitness and provide entertainment to participants. Sport may be competitive, where a winner or winners can be identified by objective means, and may require a degree...
, band
Band (music)
In music, a musical ensemble or band is a group of musicians that works together to perform music. The following articles concern types of musical bands:* All-female band* Big band* Boy band* Christian band* Church band* Concert band* Cover band...
, chorus
Choir
A choir, chorale or chorus is a musical ensemble of singers. Choral music, in turn, is the music written specifically for such an ensemble to perform.A body of singers who perform together as a group is called a choir or chorus...
, One act theater, DECA
DECA (organization)
DECA, also known as Collegiate DECA on the college level) is an international association of students and teachers of marketing, management and entrepreneurship in business, finance, hospitality, and marketing sales and service . DECA prepares emerging leaders and entrepreneurs in marketing,...
, National Honor Society
National Honor Society
The National Honor Society is a recognition program for high school students in grades 10-12 in the United States and in several other countries...
, Washington County Community Scholars, FFA
National FFA Organization
The National FFA Organization is an American youth organization known as a Career and Technical Student Organization, based on middle and high school classes that promote and support agricultural education...
, and a TSA
Technology Student Association
The Technology Student Association is an international Career and Technical Student Organization made up of over 150,000 Middle School and High School Technology Education Students. TSA is the premier CTSO dedicated to STEM Standards: Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics...
chapter, as well as numerous other academic and service clubs. The school newspaper is the Talon, the yearbook is The Beacon, and the school's literary magazine is Wings.
Band
The Abingdon High School band performs both concert and marching seasons and holds the title of "The Mighty Falcon Marching Band." The band competes in several competitions during the fall season. One of their most recognized achievements is the "Papa Joe Smiddy" award, received in 2006 at the UVA Wise Marching Competition.The Band is currently under the direction of Gary Holley as of 2010.
Chorus
Under the direction of Rose Payne the choir produces a high quality annual musical production along with several concerts. Members of the choir are consistently selected, through audition, to participate in all-county, all-district and all-state choirs.Athletics
As of the 2010-2011 school year, Abingdon High School competes in the AA Southwest DistrictAA Southwest District
The AA Southwest District is a high school conference of the Virginia High School League that includes schools from southwestern Virginia, United States. The schools of the Southwest District compete in AA Region IV with the schools in the AA Piedmont District and the AA River Ridge District...
and Region IV
AA Region IV
AA Region IV is one of the four AA regions in the Virginia High School League. It is made up of three districts: the AA Piedmont District, the AA River Ridge District, and the AA Southwest District....
of the Virginia High School League
Virginia High School League
The Virginia High School League is the arbiter of interscholastic competition among public high schools in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Unlike similar organizations in many other states, private or religious schools are prohibited from joining. Non-public schools belong to other organizations,...
.
State championships
- Volleyball: 1983
- Girls Cross Country: 1988
- Girls Outdoor Track & Field: 1994
- Golf: 2000
Notable alumni
- Scott CooperScott Cooper (director)Scott Cooper is an American actor, writer, director, and producer. He is known for writing, directing and producing the 2009 film Crazy Heart starring Jeff Bridges...
(1988) - director and actor - Rick BoucherRick BoucherFrederick Carlyle "Rick" Boucher is the former U.S. Representative for , serving from 1983 until 2011. He is a member of the Democratic Party.-Early life, education and career:...
(1964) - Representative to Congress for Virginia's 9th district - Colette Burson (1984) - Executive Producer and Writer