Oakton High School


Oakton High School is a public high school in unincorporated Fairfax County, Virginia, in proximity to the town of Vienna, in the United States. Oakton High School is not located in the town of Oakton as the name might suggest. It is part of Fairfax County Public Schools.
Oakton operates on a block schedule five days a week, alternating between "Burgundy" and "Gold" days. It is currently led by Principal Jamie Lane and several assistant principals.

History

Oakton High School was founded in 1967 in Vienna, Virginia. The original Oakton High School was located in the facility which is now used by Oakton Elementary School. When it opened, Oakton was the host facility for an IBM 1401 which was Fairfax County's first computer. A computer curriculum, one of the first offered at the high school level, was available to full-time Oakton students and to students from several other county high schools on a part-time basis. This system was retired in the early seventies when Fairfax County installed an IBM 360 mainframe at the Annandale campus of Northern Virginia Community College.
In 1973, while W. T. Woodson High School in nearby Fairfax City was being repaired after an April 1 tornado struck and damaged it, Woodson students attended the remainder of the school year in a split shift at Oakton High School.
The school achieved international notoriety in 2009 when it suspended, and threatened to expel, a student for taking a birth control pill while on school premises. The incident was referenced during the August 3, 2009 episode of The Colbert Report, with the show satirically portraying the student as a "druggie".

Campus

Like most Fairfax County schools, the building is of considerable size, consisting of two stories in order to accommodate its large population of students. The school is divided into separate hallways for individual subjects, with English and History predominantly on the second floor, and Science residing on the first. Ever since the renovations have begun, all Math classes are now being taught in trailers where the tennis courts used to be.

Demographics

Standardized testing

Oakton High School is a fully accredited high school based on the Standards of Learning tests in Virginia. The average SAT score in 2006 for Oakton High School was 1,703.

Feeder schools

Crossfield Elementary School, Fox Mill Elementary School, Mosby Woods Elementary School, Navy Elementary School, Oakton Elementary School, Waples Mill Elementary School, Franklin Middle School, Luther Jackson, and Rachel Carson Middle School are all in the Oakton School Pyramid.

Academics

The school offers a wide variety of elective courses and allows students to participate in academy courses. Elective courses include psychology, various engineering courses, journalism, video production, accounting, multivariable calculus with linear algebra and six foreign languages.
Oakton offers an Advanced Placement program and a large variety of AP classes in major subject areas, including English, Social Studies, Science, Foreign Languages, Math, Performing Arts and Fine Arts. Post-AP courses, such as multivariable calculus and linear algebra are available to sufficiently advanced students.
Oakton is a frequent recipient of the annual Virginia Index of Performance awards, which, since 2007, recognize advanced learning and achievement and are awarded by the Governor of Virginia and the Virginia Department of Education.
In 2019, Oakton was ranked by US News & World Report #173 nationally in its report ranking the best high schools across the USA. In the same report, Oakton was ranked as the #4 high school in Virginia.

Performing arts

Oakton's Performing Arts Department, which includes band, choral, orchestral, and theatre arts departments, regularly earns distinction as one of the premier performing arts programs in the area.
In 2008, the performing arts department won the extremely prestigious Blue Ribbon Award, a result of Superior ratings for all Band, Choral, and Orchestra groups in state festivals.

Oakton Bands

The Oakton Band program is in its 8th year and has been under the direction of Dr. James "Jamie" VanValkenburg since 2012. The program consists of a marching band, three concert bands, two jazz bands, a winter color guard, drumline program, and several guitar classes and ensembles.
Oakton has been recognized as a Virginia Honor Band twenty-three times, including eleven consecutive years from 1995 to 2005. This award is given to bands that receive superior marks for marching and concert performances of the top band. The marching band has won countless other awards at competitions throughout the country, and in addition, has been featured in parades and professional football games. The concert bands have made many appearances at Fiesta-val competitions, including locales such as Orlando, Toronto, Myrtle Beach, and Chicago.
The Oakton Band program is deep-seated in tradition, with the exception of the saxophone section, who's just kind of there. Every August, the marching band will spend time in Orkney Springs, Virginia to focus on the drill, music, and isolated friend groups for the year's program and suffer in the summer weather of the Shenandoah Valley. Furthermore, Oakton hosts the Oakton Classic marching band competition, a large fundraiser. The Classic has been held annually every year since 1986, with a gap year in 2012.

Cougar Chorus

Oakton High School has four regular in-school choruses; Oakton Singers, Chamber Choir, Women’s Treble Choir, and Men’s Choir.
The department also includes three after school specialty groups: Jazz choir, men’s a cappella, and women’s a cappella. Both a cappella groups are student-run.
The department is under the direction of Tiffany Powell, and has competed in such locations as Atlanta, New York, and Orlando. In the spring of 2010, the department traveled to New York and competed in Festivals of Music: New York. At the event, Madrigals and the combined women's choir, comprising members of both Chamber and Select Women's, were awarded the best mixed and women's choirs awards. Madrigals has also had the opportunity to sing at the Kennedy Center in Washington DC along with the Washington Chorus. In 2014 the group traveled to Pittsburg, in 2015 the group traveled to Nashville, in 2016 they traveled to Orlando, in 2017 they traveled to New York City, in 2018 they traveled to Toronto. In 2018, Oakton Singers was given the opportunity to perform with Barry Manilow during his tour stop in Washington DC. In 2019 they returned to Orlando.

Oakton Theatre

Oakton High School's drama program typically puts on a few plays in the fall or winter, and a spring musical. The department is under the direction of Vanessa Gelinas, and Robert "Skip" Bromley having retired in 2008.
In recent years, the drama program has put on Arsenic and Old Lace, The Wizard of Oz, and other plays and musicals. The 2007–08 season included The Importance of Being Earnest, You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown and Into the Woods. The 2008–09 season included The Foreigner, the lead played by Chris North, and The Odd Couple . The spring 2009 musical was Little Women. Performances usually take place in the Robert "Skip" Bromley Auditorium, dedicated 2008. Oakton Drama is to, for the 2009–10 season, produce A Tisket, A Tasket, Four Dames and a Casket, and Rehearsal for Murder. Most recently, former student Henry Ragan starred in Oklahoma! by Rodgers and Hammerstein, for which he was nominated a Cappies award. Following spring musicals included Anything Goes, Footloose, Grease, Pirates of Penzance, And Mary Poppins. In the 2015-2016 season, Oakton Drama tackled the production The Phantom of the Opera, bringing in a chandelier that could fall from the ceiling by the push of a button. As for the 2016–17 season, the department put on: Once In A Lifetime, Cyrano, a One Act Night, including an original play by recent alumni Marriya Schwarz, and Les Misérables: School Edition, which made Oakton High School history, when the last night of the show, Oakton had to turn away customers, due to overcrowding.
The 2017–18 Performance Season, had Oakton making a strong impact. First, Much Ado About Nothing by William Shakespeare, Next, Almost, Maine by John Cariani, then, Orphie and the Book of Heroes by Kooman and Dimond, followed by their annual Cougar Dinner Theatre and VHSL One Act Night, which featured the first high school production of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s 21 Chump Street. The season ended with their annual spring musical, Titanic. It was nominated for 16 total National Capital Area Cappie awards, the highest to date for an Oakton Production. Award Nominations included Best Musical, Lighting, Sets, Orchestra, Creativity, Stage Management and Crew, Best Ensemble, Special Effects, Joe Malone for Best Featured Actor, Lindsey Jacobson for Best Female Vocalist, Parker Waters for Best Lead Actor, Max Branciforte for Best Supporting Actor, Maggie Klein for Graduating Critic, Emma Shacochis for Best Returning Critic, and Best Critic Team. Oakton Drama came away with the awards for Best Orchestra and Best Special Effects.
Oakton’s Theatre department has brought its students across the country and around the world to experience theatre, from New York City, to the Oregon Shakespeare Festival to London, England, these thespians are well-traveled and well-trained. Oakton Drama has produced professional actors, stage managers, and technical designers who now work professionally in Washington DC, on Broadway, and beyond.

OHS Orchestras

The Oakton High School strings program consists of four orchestras, ordered in decreasing difficulty level: the Chamber Orchestra, the Philharmonic Orchestra, the Symphonic Orchestra, and the Concert Orchestra. Currently, all four orchestras are under the direction of Max Oppenheimer. The orchestras typically give four concerts a year, consisting of performances by the Chamber Orchestra, the Philharmonic Orchestra, the Symphonic Orchestra and the Concert Orchestra. The program has participated in many festivals around the world, in locations such as Hawaii, Italy, Orlando, and Chicago. In 2007, Concert Orchestra was introduced. This class meets every day during 4th period, and allows students to learn how to play a stringed instrument in a more learner-friendly environment. The other two orchestras meet on alternating days due to Oakton's block scheduling. In 2018, the newest orchestra, Philharmonic, was created. This class meets on Gold Days during 8th period, in which students continue to develop their skills—focusing on advanced level technical and ensemble skills.
The Chamber Orchestra participated in the Orchestra America National Festival in Indianapolis, part of the Music for All National Festival, in 2008. The orchestra applied and was accepted in 2007, and prepared an approximately 45-minute concert consisting of three pieces. On March 1, 2008, the Chamber Orchestra performed its selections at the Hilbert Circle Theatre, home of the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra. Later that year, the Chamber Orchestra was accepted to perform at the American String Teachers Association National Conference, which took place in March 2009 in Atlanta. The group placed 4th, which was the highest ranking of a non-magnet, non-music school.
Prior to 2018, Mr. Oppenheimer also taught AP music theory classes, available to all Oakton students that are either currently taking in band, chorus, or orchestra.

Honor Council

Oakton High School has a student-led Honor Council. The role of the Honor Council is to promote honesty and integrity throughout Oakton High School, while enforcing the Honor Code of Oakton High School. The Oakton HS Honor Council has two processes for students suspected of breaking the honor code: the Punitive Council or Restorative Justice.
;Processes for Honor Code Violations
;Punitive Council
The Punitive Council is the more traditional way the Honor Code has applied to students. If a teacher suspects a student of violating the Honor Code, the teacher fills out a form and turns it into the Honor Council. The teacher also gives the suspect a form to fill out and for the suspect's parent or legal guardian to sign. Both the teacher and the student are given the opportunity to prepare written testimonies about the possible Honor Code infraction. Usually, within a month, student representatives from the Honor Council and randomly selected staff members will be chosen to serve on a punitive council to determine whether or not a possible infraction occurred. The Punitive Council will read through both testimonies, and evidence if there is any to make a decision on the possible infraction. The decision of the punitive council is final.
;Restorative Justice
The Restorative Justice Program is a new development at Oakton HS. Restorative Justice is meant to help repair the relationships between the victim and the offender involved with an incident. The only way for a student to be able to participate in the Oakton Honor Council Restorative Justice is to admit to the Honor Code infraction. Once both the student and teacher agree, separate initial interviews will occur. Then, a circle with a Restorative Justice trained Honor Council member, and the offender and the victim discuss their actions and feelings and work towards an amicable solution to the Honor Code infraction.
;Outreach
In the 2017–18 school year, President Rebecca Woodhouse, Vice President Pratik J. Kharat, and Secretary Alina Shin have spearheaded a comprehensive plan to get the spread the word about integrity and honesty at Oakton HS. With the "Don't be a Cheater-Cheater, Pumpkin-Eater" pledge in October, and the informational videos made, Woodhouse, Kharat, and Shin have had a marked impact on the Oakton High School Honor Council.

Publications

Oakton's award-winning publications provide many opportunities for students to express themselves. Its Publications Department produces a newspaper, The Outlook, a yearbook called Paragon, and a literary magazine, Opus. In October 2006, both The Outlook and Paragon received Trophy-Class honors at the Virginia High School League, with a rating of Superior. In April 2008, Paragon received a Pacemaker award, one of the highest honors in high school journalism, as well as 8th in best of show. The Outlook placed 6th in best of show. The school used to have a radio club, Fat Cat Radio, and a daily television show, Cougar News.

Athletics

Oakton is a member of the AAA Concorde District and the Northern Region of the Virginia High School League. Its cross country, football, baseball, lacrosse, and men's swimming teams have all claimed recent Virginia state titles. In addition, Oakton fields a number of highly-competitive teams for club sports, such as crew and ice hockey. The Oakton Ice Hockey Club plays in the Northern Virginia Scholastic Hockey League.
;2005–06
During the 2005–06 school year, Oakton Baseball were runners-up. Oakton claimed three state titles: boys cross country, football, and girls lacrosse. The boys lacrosse team, with its loss to Robinson Secondary School ended its three-year streak as state champions.
;2006–07
The baseball team won regionals. Oakton's golf team placed 3rd in the district, and 1st in the region. The boys cross country team placed 1st in the district and region, and 2nd in the state. The field hockey team placed 1st in the district. The football team made the playoffs, but lost in the first round to Chantilly High School, who would end up being the state runner-up. The men's swim and dive team finished second at each districts, regionals, and states. The girls basketball team was the district champion and region runner-up, identical results to last year. The boys track and field team won districts, as well as the girls lacrosse team, who went on to win regionals and states as well.
;2007–08
Danny Kim won the boy's state golf tournament as an individual, and Amanda Steinhagen won the girl's state championship, with Lauren Greenlief coming in second. The boys cross country team captured the district title and were second in the region. The girls cross country team also secured the district title, were 4th in the region, and came back to take 2nd in the state meet. The men's swim team placed 2nd in districts, regionals, and finals to Robinson Secondary School. The girls lacrosse team won the region and state championship.
;2008–09
The boys cross country team won district, region, and state titles. The girls cross country team finished third in the district and were runners-up in the region. The football team, with a perfect 10 – 0 season, went on to win the district and regional titles, finishing with a 13-1 record losing 10-7 to Oscar Smith High School in the state semi-finals after Tiger kicker Ryan Trottman kicked a short field goal in the waning moments. The boys swim and dive team placed third in the district and won the regional title, and the girls swim and dive team placed second in the district. The girls basketball team finished with a perfect season, and went on to win the district and regional titles, and were runners-up in the state. The girls indoor track and field team won the district title. The boys outdoor track and field team won the district title.
;2009–10
The boys cross country team won the district title for the fifth straight year, they also won the region title for the fourth time in five years, and were runners-up in the state. The girls cross country team finished second in the district and sixth in the region. The girls indoor track and field team won the district title for the second straight year.
The boys basketball team, under first year head coach David Brooks, defeated Chantilly on a game-winning 17 footer by Senior Andrew Daniels to win its first District title since 1972.
The boys swim and dive team won the state, regional, and district championship titles. Senior Bradley Phillips won the 400 meter freestyle, setting a national record, and the 200 meter freestyle. Senior KJ Park won the 200 meter IM and the 100 meter breaststroke. The men's 400 freestyle relay also won and set a national record. The girls swim and dive team placed fourth at states. Junior Kaitlin Pawlowicz won the 100 meter butterfly and the 200 meter IM, and set a national record in the 200 meter IM.
Amanda Steinhagen became the first girl to win the Virginia High School League girls high school golf championship twice. She also won it in her Sophomore year at Oakton. Amanda set a state record of 138 for the tournament.

State champions and recognitions

Notable alumni

In popular culture and film