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Robinson Secondary School

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Coordinates: 38°49′01″N 77°18′11″W / 38.817°N 77.303°W / 38.817; -77.303
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

James W. Robinson, Jr.
Secondary School
Address
Map
5035 Sideburn Road

Fairfax
,
Virginia
22032

United States
Coordinates38°49′01″N 77°18′11″W / 38.817°N 77.303°W / 38.817; -77.303
Information
School typePublic, secondary school
MottoThe Home of Champions
EstablishedMay 7, 1971; 53 years ago (1971-05-07)
School districtFairfax County Public Schools
PrincipalTracey Phillips[1]
StaffApproximately 350
Teaching staff248.80 (FTE) (2016–17)[2]
Grades7–12
Enrollment3,918 (2016–17)[2]
Student to teacher ratio15.83∶1 (2016–17)[2]
CampusSuburban
Color(s)  Royal blue
  Gold
AthleticsVHSL 6A, Occoquan Region
Athletics conferencePatriot
MascotRams
NewspaperValor Dictus
YearbookAbove and Beyond
Feeder schoolsFairview Elementary School
Terra Centre Elementary School
Bonnie Brae Elementary School
Oak View Elementary
Laurel Ridge Elementary
Websiterobinsonss.fcps.edu

James W. Robinson, Jr. Secondary School, commonly known as Robinson Secondary School, is a six-year public school in the Fairfax, Virginia, a Northern Virginia suburb southwest of Washington, D.C.

Opened 54 years ago in 1971, Robinson is located south of Braddock Road near George Mason University, and is administered by the Fairfax County Public Schools. It offers the International Baccalaureate program, and has approximately 3,900 students in grades 7–12. Robinson's school colors are royal blue and gold, and the school mascot is a ram.

History

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Robinson was named after Medal of Honor recipient James W. Robinson, Jr., the first resident of Virginia to be awarded the medal during the Vietnam War. Sergeant Robinson, age 25, was fatally wounded under heroic circumstances in South Vietnam fifty-nine years ago in April 1966, while serving in the infantry in the U.S. Army. [3]

Robinson Secondary School

The school opened its doors in September 1971, taking its students from Fairfax, W.T. Woodson, Oakton, and West Springfield high schools. It was the second of Fairfax County's "secondary schools," or "superschools," which housed grades 7–12. Lake Braddock, which opened two years later in 1973, was the third of these schools from this era. The first was Hayfield, near Mount Vernon, which opened in 1968, and the most recent is South County in Lorton, which opened in 2005, taking its students from former Hayfield territory. South County has since reverted to high school status with the opening of South County Middle School near the school's athletic gym.

Awards and recognitions

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Robinson won the 2018–19 Wells Fargo Cup race,[4][5] which is presented annually to Virginia public high schools that have "demonstrated extraordinary success in academic activities throughout the year". This is the first time Robinson has won the Wells Fargo Cup for Academics.[6][7][8]

Demographics

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For the 2018–19 school year, Robinson's grade 9–12 student body was 59.05% White, 13.69% Asian, 14.66% Hispanic, 5.89% Black and 6.71% other races.[9] The grade 7–8 student body was 57.46% White, 13.27% Asian, 14.92% Hispanic, 6.68% Black and 7.67% other races.[10]

Music Department

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Robinson Secondary School has earned a reputation for musical excellence, with its ensembles frequently achieving superior ratings at state and national competitions.

Ensembles and Offerings

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The program includes a variety of ensembles, catering to students with diverse musical interests and skill levels:

  • Bands – The school boasts several concert bands, including Symphonic Band, Concert Band, as well as an award-winning marching band known as the Robinson Marching Rams.
  • Orchestras – Students can participate in multiple string orchestras, such as the Philharmonic Orchestra and Chamber Orchestra, which consistently receive high rankings in competitions.
  • Choirs – The choral program features multiple vocal groups, providing students with opportunities to develop vocal technique and performance skills.
  • Jazz and Contemporary Ensembles – The school offers jazz band and contemporary music groups, allowing students to explore different musical genres.

Achievements and Recognitions

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Robinson's music ensembles have been recognized at state, national, and international levels. The marching band frequently competes in the Virginia Marching Band Cooperative (VMBC) and Bands of America (BOA) events. Robinson has been recognized as a "Thirty Year Virginia Honor Band", earning a membership in the VBODA Hall of Fame. The Robinson Symphonic Band has appeared at five VMEA state conferences, one ASBDA convention, four National Concert Band Festivals and the Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic. Many students earn placements in District, Regional, and All-State Honor Ensembles. Robinson also attended the 79th annual Midwest Clinic.[11]

Music Education and Faculty

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The program is led by a team of experienced music educators who emphasize both technical proficiency and artistic expression. Students have access to private instruction, masterclasses, and workshops led by professional musicians.

Athletics

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Main article: Robinson Rams

LSD scandal

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In 1991, Robinson was the center of an LSD trafficking scandal in which a drug ring sold more than 100,000 doses of LSD over two years.[12] The ring was exposed when a 16-year-old Robinson student shot and wounded a Fairfax police officer.[13] In the course of the investigation it was revealed that six Robinson and Lake Braddock graduates were receiving large quantities of the drug through the mail.[14] One of the men who was facing the harshest penalties faked suicide and fled the area, only to be caught two years later in St. Louis and sentenced to 24 years in prison with no possibility of parole.[15]

Notable alumni

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Entrance to the school

References

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  1. ^ "Secondary School Administration". James W. Robinson Secondary School. Retrieved June 11, 2019 – via robinsonss.fcps.edu.
  2. ^ a b c "Search for Public Schools - Robinson Secondary (510126000561)". National Center for Education Statistics. Institute of Education Sciences. Retrieved June 11, 2019.
  3. ^ "Medal of Honor Recipients". Archived from the original on April 24, 2008. Retrieved September 13, 2023.
  4. ^ "Wells Fargo Cup for Academics Winners Announced". RealRadio804.com. June 11, 2019. Retrieved June 11, 2019.
  5. ^ "Robinson Secondary Wins 2018-19 Wells Fargo Cup for Academics". Fairfax County Public Schools (Press release). June 11, 2019.
  6. ^ "Robinson Secondary Wins 2018-19 Wells Fargo Cup for Academics | James W. Robinson Secondary School". robinsonss.fcps.edu. Retrieved October 23, 2019.
  7. ^ "Virginia High School League - Posts". www.facebook.com. Virginia High School League. June 10, 2019. Archived from the original on February 26, 2022. Retrieved June 11, 2019.
  8. ^ "Wells Fargo Cup". Virginia High School League. Retrieved June 11, 2019.
  9. ^ "FCPS - School Profiles - Robinson SS - High - Demographics". Retrieved February 26, 2020.
  10. ^ "FCPS - School Profiles - Robinson SS - Middle - Demographics". Retrieved February 26, 2020.
  11. ^ "Midwest Clinic Performing Organizations - Jam..." Midwest Clinic. Retrieved February 12, 2025.
  12. ^ "LSD Ring Alleged at Va. School". Archived from the original on February 1, 2013. Retrieved November 30, 2016.
  13. ^ Heath, Thomas (September 21, 1991). "3rd Man Pleads Guilty In Fairfax LSD Case; Defendant Admits He Sold Drug to Juveniles". Archived from the original on August 3, 2009.
  14. ^ Howe, Robert F. (November 15, 1991). "1 CONVICTED, 1 ACQUITTED IN VA. LSD TRIAL". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved February 26, 2020.
  15. ^ "Drug Ring Leader Who Faked Suicide Gets 24 Years". December 18, 1993. Archived from the original on August 3, 2009.
  16. ^ Goff, Steven (June 11, 2015). "Jill Ellis played soccer with boys. Now she leads U.S. in Women's World Cup". Washington Post. Retrieved June 12, 2015.
  17. ^ Buck, Joshua & Bolden, Jay. "NASA, Space Station Partners Announce Future Crew Members". Retrieved August 31, 2013.
  18. ^ "Virginia High School Hall of Fame" (PDF). Virginia Coach. Vol. 23, no. 1. Virginia High School Coaches Association. February 2009. p. 24. Archived (PDF) from the original on August 8, 2019. Retrieved August 8, 2019.
  19. ^ "Head Lacrosse Coach Scott Urick and Associate AD Matt Rienzo Host Lacrosse Clinic at UDC Field". Retrieved August 31, 2013.
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