The school first opened to grades 10-12 in 1956,[8] and was named after the local baseball pitcher and politician, Walter Johnson. The school's original mascot and team name was The Spartans; as the student body chose the school colors based on the colors and name of Michigan State University, Spartans. The school mascot was named in 1963 as Mighty Moo, a dairy cow, named after the cows that roamed the fields before the school was built.[8] After a 1987 consolidation with nearby Charles W. Woodward High School, Walter Johnson maintained its school colors of white and green, but adopted Woodward's mascot, "Wild Thing" the Wildcat.[9]
Academicsedit
Walter Johnson High School established their APEX-Reach Signature Program in 1996.[10] This APEX-Reach Program leads students through a more rigorous curriculum through a combination of honors and Advance Placement (AP) classes.[11]
In 1960, sixteen more rooms were added to the school along ten more in 1964. Construction in the mid-1970s introduced the addition to a secondary gym and theater. In the merge with the Charles W. Woodward High School, more lockers, trophy cases, and seven portable classrooms were added.[8]
At the start of the 2001-2002 school year began construction plans to renovate the school.[8] The construction took ten years which include new installations like 19 more classrooms, 4 more science labs, a new cafeteria, stadium, media center, new gym, and new auditorium.[8][13] The renovation also include the addition of more amenities like an art, music, and technology suite. The school's entrance was designed to have a glass ceiling decorated with 90 national flags respresenting the nationalities of the student population.[13]
Activitiesedit
Athleticsedit
The school offers a variety of sports with fall, winter, and springs sports. In the fall, the school offers cross country, field hockey, football, golf, pom pon, soccer, and volleyball. In the winter, the school offers baseketball, bocce, indoor track, swimming, and wrestling. In the spring, the school offers baseball, lacrosse, softball, tennis, track, and volleyball.[14]
Writingedit
Walter Johnson has classes to support their literature with their own newspaper, The Pitch, as well as their own literary magazine, The Spectator. Their Yearbook is named The Windup.[8]
Musicedit
The school contains several ensembles for music like the Madrigals, Choir, Jazz Ensemble, Band, Orchestra and Wind Ensemble. These ensembles often perform for county and/or state competitions in various venues.
Walter Johnson also has their own musical productions, WJ STAGE, and along with it their own production crew.
^ abcd"Search for Public Schools - School Detail for Walter Johnson High". nces.ed.gov. Retrieved December 29, 2023.
^Ward, Derrick. "Football game ends in brawl between Montgomery County high schools". NBC 4 News.
^"Walter Johnson High School". Montgomery County Public Schools. Retrieved August 12, 2020. - Compare the street address with the map.
^"2010 CENSUS - CENSUS BLOCK MAP: North Bethesda CDP, MD" (Archive). U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved on April 30, 2014. Compare them map with the street address.
^Kraut, Aaron (June 20, 2016). "Parents Want to Reopen Old Woodward High School to Ease Walter Johnson Capacity Problems". Bethesda Magazine. Retrieved January 14, 2021.
^ abcdef"WJ HS - History". www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org. Retrieved February 18, 2020.
^Wisnia, Saul (November 11, 1993). "The Legend Behind a School's Name". The Washington Post.
^ ab"WJHS Advanced Placement Program | Walter Johnson HS". www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org. Retrieved December 29, 2023.
^"APEX Scholars - Program Information | Walter Johnson HS". www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org. Retrieved December 29, 2023.
^"No Fees for Approved College Courses and AP and IB Exams | Montgomery County Public Schools | Rockville, MD". www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org. Retrieved December 30, 2023.
^ ab"After a Decade, Walter Johnson High School Is Finally Construction-Free". Bethesda-Chevy Chase, MD Patch. September 18, 2010. Retrieved December 29, 2023.
^"Walter Johnson High School". Walter Johnson High School. December 22, 2023. Retrieved December 30, 2023.
^"Search for Public Schools - School Detail for Walter Johnson High". nces.ed.gov. Retrieved December 29, 2023.
^Kaplan, Melanie D.G. (April 24, 2017). "Political Journalist Jonathan Allen Releases New Book About Hillary". MoCo360. Archived from the original on August 29, 2023. Retrieved August 29, 2023.
^Olivares, Beatriz (May 29, 2018). "50 years later: an interview with '68 senior". The Pitch.