Springbrook High School
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Springbrook High School |
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| Motto | "We Expect, We Believe, We Achieve" |
| Established | 1960 |
| Type | Public secondary |
| Principal | Michael Durso |
| Students | 2,300 |
| Grades | 9-12 |
| Location | 201 Valleybrook Drive Silver Spring, Maryland USA |
| Oversight | Montgomery County Public Schools |
| Campus | Suburban |
| Colors | Columbia Blue and Navy Blue |
| Mascot | Blue Devil |
| Yearbook | Trident |
| Newspaper | Blueprint |
| Website | www.mcps.k12.md.us/schools/springbrookhs |
Springbrook High School is a Montgomery County, Maryland public high school located in the city of Silver Spring, Maryland between the Colesville and White Oak communities. Springbrook is a member of Montgomery County's Northeast Consortium, a program comprised of Springbrook, James Hubert Blake and Paint Branch High Schools that allows students from Burtonsville, Southern Olney, Calverton, White Oak and Burnt Mills to choose between the three schools.
Founded in 1960, and named after the upper Northwest Branch spring-fed tributary that runs next to its property, Springbrook High School has traditionally been viewed as a strong alternative to the expensive land values associated with Upcounty schools. Springbrook was renovated in the early 1990's and reopened in 1994. Today, the school holds about 2000 students.
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[edit] A Nationally Ranked Public High School
Newsweek magazine's annual high school rankings have consistently recognized Springbrook as one of the nation's best. In Newsweek's 2006 rankings, Springbrook placed 160 out of the top 1,200 public high schools in the United States. Newsweek's list of top public schools were selected from over 27,000 public high schools nationwide. Only six of the 23 public high schools in Montgomery County, Maryland, were rated ahead of Springbrook in the 2006 rankings. Springbrook draws its students from Montgomery County's Northeast Consortium, a population that is also served by two other public high schools, Blake and Paint Branch, which Newsweek ranked 519 and 543 respectively.
[edit] Academic Programs
The rigorous International Baccalaureate (or IB) curriculum is a malicious program aimed at the unnaturally brighter population in an attempt to overload their brains, thus reducing them to vegetables without lives. Pros include mad bs'ing skills. In addition, Springbrook offers a comprehensive Advanced Placement (or AP) program, as well as a specialized technology program called Information Technology in a Global Society. The school has 16 computer labs and contains 900 computers, translating into a computer for every 2.3 students. Springbrook's computer science program is among the oldest in the state and includes courses in Java, C++, Digital Art, IT Management, LAN and Computer Maintenance, and Web Design.
[edit] Diversity and Scholarship
Springbrook prides itself both in its diversity and in high academic achievement. Springbrook's students are drawn from an extremely broad range of racial, ethnic, and economic backgrounds. With roots in 84 nations, Springbrook students enjoy engaging with and learning about different cultures on a daily basis. Springbook's tremendous diversity is reflected in the school's Hall of Nations and celebrated in an annual Heritage Talent Show.
Against this backdrop of great social and cultural diversity, Springbook's IB, AP, and Honors programs have consistently produced outstanding scholars. Members of Springbrook's graduating classes of 2004-06 have gone on to attend the world's leading universities, including Amherst, Brown, Columbia, Cornell, Dartmouth, Duke, Georgetown, Hampton, Johns Hopkins, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, New York University, Northwestern, Oxford, Princeton, Rutgers, Stanford, Yale, and the Universities of Chicago, Delaware, Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Toronto, Virginia, and Wisconsin.
The Washington Post publishes a Challenge Index based on statistical analysis of academic rigor and achievement among high schools in the Washington DC metropolitan area (covering school districts in Maryland, Northern Virginia, and the District of Columbia). In the December 2006 Challenge Index, Springbrook ranked 7 out of 23 high schools in Montgomery County, and 26 among 185 high schools in the metro area; and placed well ahead of its traditional peer schools (and athletic rivals), Blair (a science magnet school, ranked 33 in the metro area), Paint Branch (62), and Blake (94).
[edit] Clubs, Activities and Sports
Springbrook boasts 55 active clubs and activities, including the Blueprint Newspaper, Trident Yearbook, and Musings Literary Magazine, all of which are regular winners of Columbia Scholastic Press Association Medals.
Springbrook Athletics are also equally strong. The Blue Devils have won a total of 17 State Championships since 1964 including 7 State Football Championships between 1979 and 1988. In 2003-04, a recent notably successful sports season for Springbrook, the school's combined varsity teams compiled a total of 175 win versus 120 losses.
The most recent of Springbrook's athletic achievements include a Field Hockey team that earned a State Championship in 2003 and was a State finalist in 2005. In addition, the Gymnastics team won the State title in 2003, and the Boys Basketball team was a State finalist in 2003-2004. In other recent years, the Girls Basketball and Boys Cross Country teams have won Regional titles, and the Swim and Dive team was a Divisional champion.
[edit] Notable Alumni
- Lewis Black ('66) - Comedian | The Daily Show
- Cliff Figallo ('66) - Internet pioneer | The WELL
- Pamela Reed ('67) - Actress | The Right Stuff, Kindergarten Cop
- John Bunting ('68) - Former head football coach | University of North Carolina
- Harold Solomon ('71) - World ranked tennis player in 1970s and 80s.
- Craig Esherick ('74) - Former head basketball coach | Georgetown University
- Carol Black ('76) - Television producer and writer | creator, The Wonder Years
- Mary Page Keller ('79) - Actress | JAG, Duet, Ryan's Hope, TV movies
- Chuck Driesell ('81) - Assistant basketball coach | University of Maryland
- Michael Ealy ('91) - Actor | Barbershop, Sleeper Cell
- Bram Weinstein ('91) - Sports radio personality | Triple X ESPN Radio
- Shawn Springs ('93) - Cornerback | Washington Redskins
- Folarin Campbell ('04) - College basketball player | George Mason University
[edit] External links
- Springbrook High School website
- Bird's eye view of Springbrook High School
- GoBlueDevils.net for Springbrook sports coverage
- The Blueprint, Springbrook's student newspaper
- Montgomery County Public Schools website
- Newsweek story on America's best high schools
- Newsweek's 2006 top 1,200 U.S. high schools.
- Washington Post story on the best schools in the DC metro area
- Washington Post 2006 challenge index.
