BLACKSBURG HIGH SCHOOL
PROFILE
Blacksburg High School
3109 Prices Fork Road
Blacksburg, VA 24060
(540) 951-5706 FAX (540) 951-5714
2010-2011
Principal:
Michael Hurst
Assistant Principals:
Greg Stick, 9th Grade
Amanda Weidner, 10-12 Grades, A-K
Mary Fain, 10-12 Grades, L-Z
Counselors:
Kate Buchanan 9th - 12th Grades, A - D
Gwen Houston 9th - 12th Grades, E - J
Kirsten Mosby 9th - 12th Grades, K - P
Shelley Blumenthal 9th - 12th Grades, Q – Z
Tammi Hayter, Guidance Administrative Assistant
Tammy Wright, Registrar
Erica Sheppard, Testing Coordinator Assistant
CEEB Number: 470225
Department of Education Number: 0760
SCHOOL: Blacksburg High School is a comprehensive school with a wide range of academic and career and technical education courses, and 1,130 students. 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 Department 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 Dual Enrollment and other 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, French I, Latin I, and Spanish 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 or failure to take the SOL end-of-course subject test
(Montgomery County Public Schools Attendance and SOL Testing Policies).
Transcripts show the following levels of difficulty:
AP = Advanced Placement, H = Honors, C = College, G = General, XFER = Transfer Course
Dual Enrollment (DE) 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, World History (added in 2009-10), English Language and Composition (11th Grade), English Literature and Composition (12th Grade), Psychology, Studio Art, Spanish, French, Latin
VIRTUAL VIRGINIA AP COURSES: English Literature, English Language and Composition, Human Geography, World History, US History, US and Comparative Government and Politics, European History, Statistics, Calculus AB, Calculus BC, Computer Science A, Microeconomics, Macroeconomics, Physics B, Biology, Chemistry, Environmental Science, French, Spanish, Latin: Vergil, Psychology, Human Geography, Art History, Statistics
AP SCORES: Scores three or higher: 2004 - 83% 2006 - 85% 2008 – 84%
2005 - 86% 2007 - 85% 2009, 2010 - 90%
HONORS AND ADVANCED COURSES: Dual Enrollment with New River Community College: Math 163-Pre-Calculus/Math 271-Applied Calculus I (DE Math I), English 111-112-English Composition I-II (11th or 12th grade), English 243-244-Survey of English Literature I-II (12th grade); English 9, 10; Geography and History of the World I Honors and II Honors. In addition, Honors Biology I, Honors Chemistry I, Honors Earth Science, Geometry Honors, Algebra II Honors, Trigonometry/Pre-Calculus (recently renamed Math Analysis/Pre-Calculus Honors), Also, Physics, Biology II: Advanced Survey, Calculus, and four years of foreign language (French, Latin, and Spanish may be taken for five years including eighth grade; and Spanish VI is being offered for those with high school credit in 7th and 8th grades).
HIGHEST LEVEL COURSES OFFERED: Art - AP Studio Art; English - AP English Language and Composition (11th Grade), AP English Literature and Composition (12th Grade), DE English Composition (11th or 12th grade), and DE Survey of English Literature (12th grade); Mathematics - Calculus, AP Calculus AB, AP Calculus BC, and AP Statistics, DE Pre-Calculus and Calculus; Social Studies - AP European History, AP World History, AP United States History, AP Government (AP U.S. Government and Politics, AP Comparative Government and Politics), AP Psychology; Physical Science - AP Physics, AP Chemistry; Biological Science - AP Biology, AP Environmental Science; Foreign Languages – AP French, German IV, AP Latin, AP Spanish.
SAT Reasoning SCORES: Group Critical Reading Math Writing
Class of 2010 Mean 571 569 553
National Mean (2010) 501 516 492
Virginia Mean (2010) 512 512 497
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. Talents and skills are developed through a variety of academic work in: art, music, career and technical education, work and family studies, and various trade and industrial courses. Special education is provided, and 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; also home schooled student transfer
courses and courses transferred from non-accredited schools). Credit may be awarded based on successful
performance by examination.
Pass/Fail grades are not included in grade average and class rank.
Class of 2007--four (4) National Merit Semifinalists
Class of 2008--seven (7) National Merit Semifinalists
Class of 2009--three (3) National Merit Semifinalists
Class of 2010—five (5) National Merit Semifinalists
Class of 2011—four (4) National Merit Semifinalists