Type Public Secondary Principal Dr. Alan Goodwin Yearbook Saga Mascot Viking | Established 1962 Grades 9–12 Phone +1 301-320-6600 | |
Motto Pride + Determination = Success School district Montgomery County Public Schools Address 7100 Whittier Blvd, Bethesda, MD 20817, USA District Montgomery County Public Schools Similar Landon School, Montgom Blair High School, Woodrow Wilson High Sch, Langley High School, Bullis School Profiles | ||
Walt Whitman High School is a public secondary institution serving roughly the western part of Bethesda—an unincorporated suburban area of Washington, D.C., in Montgomery County, in the U.S. state of Maryland. The school is named in honor of the American poet. It is fed into by Thomas W. Pyle Middle School.
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History
The school opened in the fall of 1962 with 1,418 students. Designed by local architect, Anthony Ferrara, it was built on 17 levels, with a center courtyard and a geodesic dome for its gymnasium until renovation in 1992. A Ford Foundation grant underwrote the design and construction of the dome. In 1981, a 1,176-seat auditorium was added to the school.
Daryl Shaw served as the inaugural principal from 1962 until 1975. Jerome Marco was principal from 1975 until his retirement in 2004. Today, the Principal is Alan Goodwin, who was assistant principal for several years before taking his current post.
Five elementary schools feed Thomas W. Pyle Middle School, which in turn feeds Walt Whitman. The elementary schools are Wood Acres, Bannockburn, Burning Tree, Carderock Springs, and Bradley Hills. The Bethesda area is served by Whitman High School, Walter Johnson High School, and Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School.
The Black & White
The Black & White is the student-run newspaper. It was established in 1961 and produces nine issues each academic year. The newspaper was inducted into the National Scholastic Press Association Hall of Fame in 1991.
Awards/Rankings and Recognition
Walt Whitman is often noted as one of Maryland's best high schools, and is currently ranked as the #1 high school in the state of Maryland by U.S. News World & Report.
In 2008, Newsweek ranked Whitman at #69 on its "Best High Schools in America" list.
In 2009, U.S. News & World Report ranked Whitman as the #44 best school nationwide on its list of "America's Best High Schools"
In 2014, Whitman was ranked the best high school in Maryland and #61 nationwide.
In 2015, Whitman remained ranked as the best high school in Maryland and #55 nationwide.
In 2016, Whitman was once again ranked as the best high school in Maryland and #63 nationwide.
Athletics
Students can choose from 16 varsity sports and several other club sports, such as ice hockey, rowing, and ultimate frisbee. The sports that Walt Whitman offers are: