PROFILE OF BLACKSBURG HIGH SCHOOL

Blacksburg High School

520 Patrick Henry Drive

Blacksburg, VA 24060

(540) 951-5706 FAX (540) 951-5714

2007/2008

Principal Guidance Counselors

Michael Hurst Kate Buchanan 9th - 12th Grades, A - D

Gwen Houston 9th - 12th Grades, E - K

Assistant Principals Carmelita Moore 9th - 12th Grades, L - R

Dave Dickinson Kelley McCall 9th - 12th Grades, S - Z

Mary Fain

Greg Stick Tammi Hayter, Guidance Secretary

Tammy Wright, Registrar

CEEB Number: 470225

Department of Education Number: 0760

SCHOOL: Blacksburg High School is a comprehensive school with a wide range of academic and vocational courses. Historically 90% of the graduates attended college upon graduation - 70% to four-year colleges. Virginia Tech, the largest university in Virginia, is located in Blacksburg, a town with a population of 34,000. Academic excellence is shown by College Board and state test scores, and encouraged by great parental interest and support.

ACCREDITATION: Blacksburg High School, a public secondary school, is accredited by the Virginia State Board of Education and the Southern Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools.

CLASS RANK: Rank is computed on a 4.0 scale each September and June for the Senior Class and each October for the Junior Class. For the purpose of college admission, first semester senior year grades will be mailed in mid-February. All subjects are given credit and are included in the calculation, including subjects failed. All Advanced Placement and approved college/university courses are weighted one (1) additional point in the calculation. Secondary school courses taken in middle school (e.g. Algebra I, Geometry, Latin I) are included in class rank and grade average.

NC = No credit for courses repeated that were previously passed.

-L = Loss of credit due to excessive absences (Montgomery County Public Schools Attendance Policy).

Transcripts show the following levels of difficulty:

AP = Advanced Placement, H = Honors, C = College, G = General, B = Basic, XFER = Transfer Course

Dual Enrollment and Collegiate Courses are indicated where appropriate.

AP COURSES: Calculus AB, Calculus BC, Statistics, Chemistry (2 class periods), Biology (2 class periods), Physics (2 class periods), Environmental Science (2 class periods), European History, U.S. History, U.S. Government and Politics, Comparative Government and Politics, English Language and Composition (11th Grade), English Literature and Composition (12th Grade), Computer Science, Computer Science AB, Psychology, Studio Art, Spanish, French.

VIRTUAL AP COURSES: English Literature, English Language and Composition, World History, US History, US Government and Politics, European History, Statistics, Calculus AB, Micro Economics, Macro Economics, Physics B, Biology, Chemistry, Environmental Science, Spanish, Latin Literature, Psychology, Human Geography, Art History, Statistics

AP SCORES: Scores three or higher: 2004 - 83% 2006 - 85%

2005 - 86% 2007 - 85%

HONORS AND ADVANCED COURSES: English 9, 10; World History, Geography and History of the World. In addition, Physics, Honors Biology I, Biology II, Honors Chemistry I, Honors Earth Science, Geometry Honors, Algebra II Honors, Trigonometry/Pre-Calculus, Calculus, and four years of foreign language (French, Latin and Spanish may be taken for five years including eighth grade).

HIGHEST LEVEL COURSES OFFERED: Art - AP Studio Art; English - AP English Language and Composition (11th Grade), AP English Literature and Composition (12th Grade); Mathematics - Calculus, AP Calculus AB, AP Calculus BC, and AP Computer Science, AP Statistics; Social Studies - AP European History, AP United States History, AP U.S. Government and Politics, AP Comparative Government and Politics; Physical Science - AP Physics, AP Chemistry; Biological Science - AP Biology, AP Environmental Science; Foreign Languages – AP French, German IV, Latin V, AP Spanish.

SAT I SCORES: Group Critical Reading Math Writing

Class of 2007 Mean 580 579 558

National Mean (2007) 502 515 494

Virginia Mean (2007) 511 511 498

CURRICULUM: Through 180 courses, the curriculum at Blacksburg High School offers a college-preparatory track for college-bound students and a wide selection of vocational and work training courses for those students who may terminate their formal education at the high school level. Talents and skills are developed through a variety of academic work in: art, music, technology education, work and family studies, and various trade and industrial courses. Special education for the learning disabled, the mentally handicapped, and the emotionally disturbed is provided. Faculty and college student tutorial assistance is available free to all students.

GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS: Candidates for graduation are required to earn a minimum of 22 units of credit in grades 9-12. Seventeen of the 22 are specified. The Advanced Studies Diploma (24 credits) is available for those who meet requirements of 21 specified courses including foreign language.

KEY TO GRADING SYSTEM

A = 90 - 100

B = 80 - Less than 90

C = 70 - Less than 80

D = 60 - Less than 70

F = Below 60

P = Pass (used primarily for students taking courses outside the United States,

not included in grade average and class rank)

The Class of 2006 had three (3) National Merit Semi-Finalists.

The Class of 2007 had four (4) National Merit Semi-Finalists.

The Class of 2008 has seven (7) National Merit Semi-Finalists.

CLASS OF 2007

Most Popular College Choices

Virginia Tech (41)

New River Community College   (25)

Radford University (19)

College of William and Mary (10)

University of Virginia     (8)

Mary Washington (5)

Virginia Commonwealth University (5)

New York University (4)

Fashion Institute of Technology (3)

George Mason (3)

UNC @ Wilmington (3)

American University (2)

Christopher Newport (2)

Cornell University (2)

Roanoke College (2)

University of Georgia (2)

Some Other Choices:

Bowling Green State University Mary Baldwin College

Bridgewater College McGill University

Brigham Young University NC State University

Carnegie Mellon University Old Dominion University

Chowan University Ohio State University

Clemson University Pepperdine University

Colorado College Rhode Island School of Design

Concord University Stetson University

Davidson College University of Alberta

Duke University University of California @ Irvine

Emory & Henry College University of Illinois @ Urbana-Champaign

Emory University University of Maryland

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University University of Missouri-Columbia

Evergreen State University University of Northwestern Ohio

Florida State University University Ottawa

Franklin W Olin College of Engineering University of Richmond

Franciscan University University of South Carolina

Gardner-Webb University UVA’s College at Wise

Hobart Welding Institute University of West Georgia

Indiana Wesleyan University Wake Forest University

Ithaca College Washington & Lee University

James Madison University Western Carolina University

Jefferson College of Health Sciences Wesleyan University

Johns Hopkins University Yale University