Carter G. Woodson High School

For the 2021–22 school year, Woodson High School's student body was 48.68% white non-Hispanic, 25.23% Asian, 13.37% Hispanic, 5.18% black, and 7.54% Other. == Renovation ==

Woodson began the process of renovating all of its facilities in 2005 and adding several classrooms. The project was paid for in bonds that were established in 2003 by a voter referendum. The issue of whether to renovate had been debated for several years before the plan was approved. Woodson was one of the oldest schools in Fairfax County Public Schools, as the main facilities (plumbing, heating/cooling, floors, electrical) were still fundamentally the same as they were when the structure was built. The renovations nearly doubled the square footage of the school. The project was completed in 2009. The renovation consisted of complete renovation to all existing interior spaces, as well as adding to the performing arts and athletic wings, creating a new administration wing with a new front entrance, highlighted by a large tower and the addition of a new science classroom wing and two student drop off areas. == Activities, groups, and programs ==

Woodson's mascot is a Cavalier and the sports teams play in the AAA Patriot District and the Northern Region. In 1976, the Washington Diplomats of the North American Soccer League used the school's stadium as their home field. In a Diplomats game on June 27, 1976, soccer legend Pelé, playing for the New York Cosmos, scored a goal in a game held at Woodson. Publications The Cavalcade is the school newspaper. The Cavalier, Woodson's yearbook, is a AAA publication. == Communities served by Woodson ==

Several unincorporated areas, such as Mantua, Olde Creek, Canterbury Woods, Truro, Rutherford, Long Branch, and Wakefield Forest are served by Woodson. == Woodson in the news ==

• On April 1, 1973, a strong tornado struck Woodson High School and ripped off the roof. It was hit on a Sunday and no injuries were reported among the 65-75 people playing basketball in the school gymnasium. The students did a split shift with Oakton High School to finish out the school year. Graduation ceremonies were held on their home football field. • A second tornado spawned by the remains of Hurricane David severely damaged the school's stadium on September 5, 1979, causing an estimated $45,000 in damage. • On October 30, 2015, five students and a teacher were injured in an accidental fire caused by a chemistry experiment. Two of the injured students were airlifted to a local hospital, one of whom was left in critical condition. The incident received coverage from the Washington Post, and New York Times. The event also prompted a statement from the U.S. Chemical Safety Board, who considered launching an investigation into the incident, but eventually opted against doing so. • On January 30, 2022, a fire broke out in one of the school's administrative buildings adjacent to the main school building. Investigators did not determine a reason for the fire, which was reported to have caused $8.8 million in damages. The remains of the building would eventually be scheduled for demolition. == Suicide and mental health crisis ==

Between 2011 and 2014, six Woodson students died by suicide. Woodson continues to be considered among the top high schools in Virginia, and some parents pointed to the school's competitive environment as a possible cause for the poor mental health of its students. Following the suicides of 2014, the Virginia officials requested assistance from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the primary public health agency of the US federal government. CDC officials were sent to Northern Virginia to conduct focus group activities that attempted to identify possible causes of the suicides. Woodson itself also received $50,000 in federal aid for use in implementing mental health resources for its students. Another suicide of a Woodson student was reported in 2017. == Notable alumni ==

• Dave Aitel, CTO and Founder of Immunity, Inc. • Tommy Amaker, point guard for Duke University (1983–1987) and men's basketball coach for Seton Hall (1997–2001), the University of Michigan (2001–2007) and Harvard University (2007–present) • Heman Bekele, inventor and Time Kid of the Year 2024 • Loryn Brantz, American author • Bob Cesca, columnist/blogger for The Huffington Post, creator of anime series Kung Fu Jimmy Chow and web cartoon Napster Bad • David Chase, Broadway music director and arranger • Catherine Coleman, astronaut • Denise Dowse, actor, director, producer • Robert F. Godec, U.S. ambassador to Thailand, former ambassador to Tunisia and Kenya • Clarence Goodson, former member of the United States men's national soccer team • Tim Gunn, author, academic, and television personality • Andy Heck, pro-football player (1989–2002), currently the offensive line coach for the Kansas City Chiefs, 2× Super Bowl champion (LIV, LVII) • Chris Knoche, former coach of the American University Eagles men's basketball team, color commentator for the Maryland Terrapins men's basketball broadcasts • Michael Lahoud, former professional soccer player • Steve Marino, professional golfer • Chris McCandless, Alaskan traveler, subject of the nonfiction work Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer and subsequent film. • David W. Marsden, Senate of Virginia representative for the 37th District. • Michael P. Mullin, Virginia House of Delegates Representative for the 93rd District. • Thomas J. Perrelli, Associate Attorney General of the United States under former president Obama • Jessica Rogers, Founder of iSACRA, American wheelchair racer, basketballer, and swimmer • Austin St. John, actor • Abe Thompson, former professional soccer player, all-time leader scorer at the University of Maryland, College Park with 112 points, last played with the Fort Lauderdale Strikers. • Michael Weiss, U. S. skating and Olympic champion • Jennifer Wilson, opera singer == Photo gallery ==

File:Carter G Woodson Welcome Sign.jpg|Welcome sign at entrance File:A Hall upstairs at Woodson HS.jpg|View of Hallway A on 2nd floor File:Snowy day at WHS.jpg|View of exterior of Woodson HS on a snowy afternoon File:Woodson HS Library.jpg|School library File:English classroom D206 at Woodson HS.jpg File:6th Period CG Woodson Leadership.jpg|6th period Leadership team (student council) for 2025-26 school year File:Leadership team building activity 2.jpg|Leadership students at Woodson doing a team building activity File:Leadership team building WHS.jpg|Some Leadership students at Woodson File:WHS library doors.jpg|School library entrance File:Woodson HS gymnasium.jpg|Main gymnasium File:WHS main lobby.jpg|Main lobby view facing outside File:Main Entrance WHS.jpg|Main lobby view facing inside File:Hallway C.jpg|Science hallway File:Leadership winter potluck at Woodson HS.jpg|Leadership winter potluck File:Cav kickoff dance.jpg|2025 "Cav Kickoff" dance File:Pep rally fall 2025 WHS.jpg|Fall pep rally 2025 File:WHS Varsity football game.jpg|Varsity football game File:Snowy Courtyard Woodson.jpg|Snowy courtyard File:Hoco concessions at WHS.jpg|Concession stand for 2025 Homecoming dance File:A gloomy morning at Woodson.jpg|Stairwell leading to D and A hallways upstairs File:WHS L hallway.jpg|Hallway L File:L Hallway WHS 2.jpg|Hallway L entrance alternative view File:Buses lined up at Woodson.jpg|School buses lined up in front of the school File:Woodson athletics hallway.jpg|Athletics hallway File:Rainy courtyard Woodson.jpg|One of the many courtyards on a rainy day File:Cafeteria WHS.jpg|School cafeteria File:Room K101 at Woodson HS.jpg|Chemistry classroom File:Room K101 at Woodson Alt.jpg|Alternative view of chemistry classroom File:WHS geometry classroom.jpg|Geometry classroom File:Cav Hall.jpg|Lecture hall File:English classroom 2.jpg|English classroom on a snowy day File:Woodson Leadership classroom.jpg|Leadership (student council) classroom File:Hallway outisde the gymasium.jpg|Gymnasium hallway File:Pep rally WHS fall 2025 2.jpg|Playing a game at the 2025 fall pep rally File:Pep Rally Winter Woodson 2.jpg|Playing a game at the 2025 winter pep rally File:WHS Pep rally winter 2025.jpg|School mascot, the Cavalier, at the 2025 Winter Pep Rally File:Hoco court 2025 at Woodson HS.jpg|Sophomore 2025 Homecoming Court File:WHS upstairs English hallway.jpg|English hallway upstairs File:WHS Hoco 2025 Hallway.jpg|Hallway decorated for Homecoming dance 2025 File:Hoco clean up.jpg|Homecoming cleanup by Leadership students File:Leadership team building project Woodson.jpg|Leadership students doing another team building activity File:Classroom A133 at Woodson.jpg|Leadership classrom as viewed from back == References ==