Warwick High School (Newport News)

Infobox School
name= Warwick High School


imagesize=
streetaddress= 51 Copeland Lane
city= Newport News
state= Virginia
country= USA
zipcode= 23601
district= Newport News Public Schools
superintendent=Ms. Ashby Kilgore
principal= Ms. Varinda Robinson
assistant_principals= Ms. Wendy Sifen
Mr. Anthony Frazier
Mr. Thomas Jackson
Mr. Chris Colvin
Mrs. Sharon Williams
director= Mrs. Carol Kennedy
(IB Program)
staff=
type= Public
schooltype= high school
grades= 9–12
language= English
communities=
feeders=
campus= Suburban
mascot= Raiders
colors= Maroon and Gold
founded= 1922
enrollment= 1790
enrollment_as_of= October 2007
rival= Heritage High School
conference= Virginia High School League
Peninsula District
Eastern Region
website= http://warwick.nn.k12.va.us
bgcolor_section= #800000
bgcolor_label= #FFD700
bgcolor_value= #FFD700
bgcolor_address= #FFD700
bgcolor_url= #FFD700

Warwick High School is a high school in Newport News, Virginia. Warwick is the oldest of five high schools in the city and has been home to the Newport News Centre for the International Baccalaureate (IB) program since 1996. The school's sports teams are known as the Raiders, previously the Farmers. Newsweek magazine ranked Warwick 86th overall in the nation in terms of high schools and exam testing in 2006, a drop from their 62nd ranking in the 2005 listings. And many of the Advanced Placement and IB students that attend that school have helped to maintain the school's ranking in the top 100.

chool History

The school originally opened in 1926 as Morrison High School in the small community of Morrison. It became Warwick High School in 1948. Originally located in Warwick County, it became part of the Newport News Public Schools system in 1958 when the citizenry of the former Warwick County voted to be politically consolidated with the neighboring independent city of Newport News, adopting the name of the latter for the newly-enlarged independent city, which became the largest in Virginia geographically at the time. The facilities at Warwick High School were expanded to their present size in 1968.

Following the 1954 "Brown vs. Board of Education" decision of the U.S. Supreme Court, and Virginia's failed policy of Massive Resistance to public school integration which was led by the Byrd Organization, racial desegregation lawsuits eventually resulted in a federal court-ordered busing program in Newport News which began in 1971. Busing dramatically changed the nature of Warwick's population and community. However, in the years after the federal court supervision ended, a magnet school approach was adopted to successfully attract students and families to voluntarily select the school.

From the years 1996-2001, Warwick High School was the academic home of the elite group of athletic students who founded the Grill Fest tradition. Usually taking place across the street from the High School on the grounds of the Mariner's Museum, Grill Fest was an epic event of football and food that centered around competition, fellowship, and grilled meats. Although there were many participants over the years where the event was held, the Grill Fest council remained constant: Michael "Footlong" Marshall, Jason "Skunk" Munn, Ken "The Diving One" Ray, "Big" Dave Seals, "Little" Dave Myers. The tradition fell into legend as all of the council members dispersed to make their mark on the world. Other notable warriors of the tradition include: Derek "D" Munn, Dan "Turquoise" Charles, and Jeff "PH" Woods.

Recently, due to overcrowding, Warwick High School was expanded into the building which was formerly the Warwick Early Childhood Center. This building is now known as the Senior Center, although students from all grades may have classes there.

Also, in the 2007-2008 school year, Warwick High School started an archery team. This team won first place in the state competition and went to nationals in Louisville, Kentucky. At nationals, the team was one of three nominated for the spirit award.

Notable alumni

* Henry Jordan - former National Football League player
* Norman Snead - former National Football League player
* William Styron - Pulitzer Prize winning Author
* Marcus Vick - National Football League player 2006-2007
* Michael Vick - National Football League player 2003-2007
* Christian Haines - a 1997 graduate who was a four-time champion on Jeopardy!, and was a semi-finalist in the show's Season 24 Tournament of Champions broadcast in November 2007. In 2007, Michael Vick's football jersey was removed from the trophy case at Warwick High School, after his conviction in August on felony charges relating to dog fighting as part of the Bad Newz Kennels dog fighting investigation. This removal decision was made by the school staff, and the central administration and the school board were not involved. [cite web
last = Holtzclaw | first = Mike | coauthors = | title = High school pulls Vick's jersey from trophy case | work = | pages = | language = English | publisher = Daily Press (Virginia) | date = October 11, 2007 | url = http://www.dailypress.com/news/dp-37288sy0oct11,0,2325482.story | accessdate = October 11 | accessyear = 2007]

References