Suitland High School is a public magnet high school located at 5200 Silver Hill Road, Forestville, Maryland 20747, long regarded for its Visual and Performing Arts magnet program. Suitland hosts the most specialized programs of instruction in the county, which includes the Center for Visual and Performing Arts magnet program, an International Baccalaureate (IB) magnet program, the Technical Academy signature program, the America's Choice School Design signature program, and the Academy of Finance. Suitland also hosted a third magnet program, the University High School, until this was eliminated throughout the school system in 2006.
Suitland High School is a unique campus within the school system, being divided into four facilities, with three separate physical buildings which together comprise the Suitland High School complex. The main building houses the majority of the school's academic classes. Directly ahead of the main building is the Annabelle Ferguson Auditorium. Directly behind the main building is the Visual and Performing Arts Annex, which is a former junior high school. Attached to the main building (but generally regarded as another facility) is the Jesse J. Warr Vocational Center, an addition which houses the school's Technical Academy, a vocational program offering different areas of training for eleventh and twelfth graders seeking career and technical education for entrance into the working world upon graduation from high school.
Dr. Joe Hairston was Principal from the school's inception as a magnet school in 1987 until the mid-1990s, when he left to be Superintendent of the Clayton County Board of Education in Jonesboro, Georgia, and later, Superintendent of Baltimore County Public Schools for 12 years.
Mark Fossett was Principal for more than a decade. Nate Newman has been principal since 2012.
The approximate student enrollment as of August 2015 stands at about 1800 students in grades nine through twelve.
Suitland has a mandatory uniform policy.
Maps, Directions, and Place Reviews
History
Academics
Center for the Visual and Performing Arts magnet program
The Center for the Visual and Performing Arts is a rigorous four-year arts program that offers artistically talented high school students from all over Prince George's County educational opportunities designed to prepare them artistically for college, professional study, or career options in the arts. Strong association with the arts in the Washington, DC area offers distinct advantages. Students study with professional artists, dancers, actors, musicians, singers, directors, and producers. Students explore and eventually major in music, dance, theater, and visual arts.
The Center has been in existence at Suitland High School since 1986 and functions as a school-within-a-school. Each year, graduating students earn millions in scholarship awards and attend some of the most prestigious conservatories, colleges, and universities in the country.
Frequent collaborations with local arts institutions such as the University of Maryland, The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Clarice Smith Center, and the Washington Performing Arts Society provide students with opportunities to meet and learn from many of today's successful artists.
Admission into the VPA magnet program is through audition only.
Suitland High School offers the 950-seat Annabelle E. Ferguson Auditorium, an experimental theater, and a fully equipped dance studio.
International Baccalaureate magnet program
The International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Program is an academically challenging and balanced course of study that prepares students for success in college and life beyond. Its mission is to develop inquiring, knowledgeable, and caring young people who help to create a better, more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect.
Benefits of the IB Diploma Program include:
- Higher university and college acceptance rates for IB graduates than for total population applicants
- Increased scholarship and grant opportunities
- A college level academic program that transitions students to university and college standards
- Interdisciplinary instruction to encourage international-mindedness
- Fostering of lifelong learning
- Teacher development using IB strategies
Technical Academy
The Technical Academy Programs provide students with technical skills and knowledge that add value to their academic education. The programs are designed to prepare students with post-secondary options (college, workforce, and/or military) in their chosen career fields. The programs are organized into Maryland Career Clusters. These clusters are driven by what students need to know in order to graduate fully prepared for post-secondary education and a career. Students will be prepared for a high-skill, high-wage, high-demand career in this 21st century global economy.
The academy currently offers seventeen programs, many of which lead to professional certifications and/or licensures. The programs are offered in nine high schools (Bladensburg, Croom Vocational, Crossland, Forestville, Gwynn Park, Laurel, Suitland, Tall Oaks Vocational, and Henry A. Wise) and serves the entire county. All of the schools serve students in grades 11 and 12.
The Technical Academy teaching methodology utilizes both theory and practical experiences. The Foundation of Automotive and Construction Technology for Students (FACTS) is one of the Academy partners responsible for the student-built house project and the Student Auto Group Enterprise. This project provides practical hands-on experience which enables students to build a house from start to finish, and provides the auto students the opportunity to learn the operations of the auto repair and sales industries. Students wishing to participate in the Technical Academy Program must go through the application process. Students are selected based on their career interest, academic achievement and attendance.
Technical Academy program offerings
Arts, Media, and Communication
- Publishing and Graphics Careers
Consumer Service, Hospitality, and Tourism
- Barbering and Hairstyling Careers
- Cosmetology Careers
Construction and Development
- Carpentry Careers
- Drafting/CAD
- Electrical Careers
- Plumbing and Heating Careers
Health and Bio-Sciences
- Nursing/Medical Careers
Information Technology
- Computer Networking
- IT Essentials
Transportation Technologies
- Automotive Body Repair Careers
- Automotive Technician Careers
Academy of Finance
Notable alumni
- NaVorro Bowman - Penn State and NFL football player
- George O. Gore II - actor, New York Undercover, My Wife and Kids
- Steny Hoyer - House Minority Whip, U.S. House of Representatives
- Lamont Jordan - University of Maryland and NFL football player
- Chad Scott - NFL football player
- Devin Tyler - Temple University and NFL Football player
- Jude Waddy - NFL football player
- B. Nakia Garner - Author, "Things My Heart Has to Say"
- M.H. "Jim" Estepp - Director of Public Safety + Homeland Security Director, Maryland (retired)
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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