Williamsburg-James City County Public Schools
Encyclopedia
The Williamsburg-James City County Public Schools (locally known also as WJCC or WJC) is a combined public school division
which serves the independent city
of Williamsburg
and James City County
in the Virginia Peninsula
area of the Hampton Roads
region in southeastern Virginia
.
The system consists approximately 10,000 students in 14 schools, of which there are 8 elementary schools, 3 middle schools, and 3 high schools.
James River Elementary School, located in the Grove Community
in the county's southeastern end, is a magnet school
. It offers the IB Primary Years Programme
, one of only five such schools Virginia as of October, 2006. http://www.ibo.org/school/search/index.cfm?programmes=PYP&country=US®ion=VA&find_schools=Find
The three high schools, all of which are within the County's boundaries, are Jamestown, Lafayette, and Warhill High Schools. All are considered above average institutions. For the 2001-2002 academic year, the public school system was ranked among the top five school systems in the Commonwealth of Virginia
and in the top 15% nationwide by Expansion Management Magazine. There are also two regional Governor's Schools in the area that serve gifted and talented students.
A fourth middle school and a ninth elementary school were in final stages of construction and scheduled to open for the 2010-11 school year beginning in September 2010.
The new schools were formally dedicated on October 2, 2010. An audience of close to 100 people joined the school board, members of the James City County Board of Supervisors and Williamsburg City Council and the families of the namesakes for the ceremony. The new schools are:
The newest middle school, Hornsby, will effectively replace James Blair Middle School. The Blair complex was originally built as a high school, and is one of the school division's older structures. For the 2010-11 school year and the immediate future, the division plans to operate only 3 middle schools, although a newer portion of the Blair complex is scheduled to be modified to accommodate the Academy for Life & Learning, an alternative education program for older students. The school system's central administration will utilize the larger, remaining portion of Blair for its offices. While current facilities will be adequate to meet most of the system's needs, a future renovation of the Blair complex for reuse as a middle school is anticipated, possibly by 2017.
School division
-Canada:In Canada the term is used to the area controlled by a school board and is used interchangeably with school district, including in the formal name of the board. For example, see List of Alberta school boards.-United States:...
which serves the independent city
Independent city
An independent city is a city that does not form part of another general-purpose local government entity. These type of cities should not be confused with city-states , which are fully sovereign cities that are not part of any other sovereign state.-Historical precursors:In the Holy Roman Empire,...
of Williamsburg
Williamsburg, Virginia
Williamsburg is an independent city located on the Virginia Peninsula in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area of Virginia, USA. As of the 2010 Census, the city had an estimated population of 14,068. It is bordered by James City County and York County, and is an independent city...
and James City County
James City County, Virginia
James City County is a county located on the Virginia Peninsula in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area of the Commonwealth of Virginia, a state of the United States. Its population was 67,009 , and it is often associated with Williamsburg, an independent city, and Jamestown which is within the...
in the Virginia Peninsula
Virginia Peninsula
The Virginia Peninsula is a peninsula in southeast Virginia, USA, bounded by the York River, James River, Hampton Roads and Chesapeake Bay.Hampton Roads is the common name for the metropolitan area that surrounds the body of water of the same name...
area of the Hampton Roads
Hampton Roads
Hampton Roads is the name for both a body of water and the Norfolk–Virginia Beach metropolitan area which surrounds it in southeastern Virginia, United States...
region in southeastern Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
.
The system consists approximately 10,000 students in 14 schools, of which there are 8 elementary schools, 3 middle schools, and 3 high schools.
James River Elementary School, located in the Grove Community
Grove, Virginia
Grove is an unincorporated community in the southeastern portion of James City County in the Peninsula subregion of Virginia in the United States. It is located in the center of the Historic Triangle of Colonial Virginia, communities linked by the Colonial Parkway; the area is one of the busiest...
in the county's southeastern end, is a magnet school
Magnet school
In education in the United States, magnet schools are public schools with specialized courses or curricula. "Magnet" refers to how the schools draw students from across the normal boundaries defined by authorities as school zones that feed into certain schools.There are magnet schools at the...
. It offers the IB Primary Years Programme
IB Primary Years Programme
The International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme is an educational programme managed by the International Baccalaureate for students aged 3 to 11. While the programme prepares students for the IB Middle Years Programme, it is not a prerequisite for it...
, one of only five such schools Virginia as of October, 2006. http://www.ibo.org/school/search/index.cfm?programmes=PYP&country=US®ion=VA&find_schools=Find
The three high schools, all of which are within the County's boundaries, are Jamestown, Lafayette, and Warhill High Schools. All are considered above average institutions. For the 2001-2002 academic year, the public school system was ranked among the top five school systems in the Commonwealth of Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
and in the top 15% nationwide by Expansion Management Magazine. There are also two regional Governor's Schools in the area that serve gifted and talented students.
A fourth middle school and a ninth elementary school were in final stages of construction and scheduled to open for the 2010-11 school year beginning in September 2010.
High Schools
All high schools hold students in grades 9-12.- Jamestown High SchoolJamestown High School (Virginia)Jamestown High School is a public secondary school located in James City County, Virginia, just outside Williamsburg, Virginia. The school was opened in 1997, becoming the second of three high schools in the county. It is part of Williamsburg-James City County Public Schools and is located on...
, Williamsburg - Lafayette High SchoolLafayette High School (Williamsburg, Virginia)Lafayette High School is a public secondary school in James City County, Virginia, just outside the city limits of Williamsburg, Virginia. It is part of Williamsburg-James City County Public Schools and is located at 4460 Longhill Road.-History:...
, Williamsburg - Warhill High SchoolWarhill High SchoolWarhill High School is a public high school operated by the Williamsburg-James City County Public Schools . Serving the joint school division of the independent city of Williamsburg and James City County, Virginia, the school is located at 4615 Opportunity Way, in the Lightfoot area of the...
, Williamsburg
Middle Schools
All middle schools hold students in grades 6-8.- Berkeley Middle SchoolBerkeley Middle SchoolBerkeley Middle School was built over 30 years ago as a high school. A few years later it was changed to a middle school then a junior high school. About 10 years ago it became the middle school it is today. The original building has been added to and now makes up four connected buildings.In late...
, Williamsburg - Toano Middle SchoolToano Middle SchoolToano Middle School is a public school located in Toano, Virginia. Toano's mascot is the tiger. It is part of the Williamsburg-James City County Public School system. It offers core classes such as math, science and English as well as foreign languages, Physical Education, music and art. The...
, ToanoToano, VirginiaToano is an unincorporated town in James City County, Virginia, United States.-History:Toano was established in the late 19th century in western James City County at the former site of Burnt Ordinary, which was named in the 18th century for a roadside tavern that had burned down... - Hornsby Middle School Jolly Pond Road,
Elementary Schools
All elementary schools hold students in grades K-5.- Clara Byrd Baker Elementary School, Williamsburg
- D.J. Montague Elementary School, Williamsburg
- James River Elementary School (Williamsburg, Virginia)|James River Elementary School, GroveGrove, VirginiaGrove is an unincorporated community in the southeastern portion of James City County in the Peninsula subregion of Virginia in the United States. It is located in the center of the Historic Triangle of Colonial Virginia, communities linked by the Colonial Parkway; the area is one of the busiest...
- Matoaka Elementary School (Williamsburg, Virginia)|Matoaka Elementary School, Williamsburg
- Norge Elementary School, Williamsburg
- Rawls Byrd Elementary School, Williamsburg
- Stonehouse Elementary School, Western James City County
- Matthew Whaley Elementary School, Williamsburg
- J. Blaine Blayton Elementary School Jolly Pond Road,
Changes for 2010-11 school year
As of the 2010-11 school year, a new 9th elementary and a new middle school (replacing James Blair Middle School) opened. Although planned to operate separately, the two schools are adjacently-located off Jolly Pond Road near the present county school bus garage.The new schools were formally dedicated on October 2, 2010. An audience of close to 100 people joined the school board, members of the James City County Board of Supervisors and Williamsburg City Council and the families of the namesakes for the ceremony. The new schools are:
- J. Blaine Blayton Elementary School, named in honor of Dr. J. Blaine Blayton, an African AmericanAfrican AmericanAfrican Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
physician and civic leader who lived in the GroveGrove, VirginiaGrove is an unincorporated community in the southeastern portion of James City County in the Peninsula subregion of Virginia in the United States. It is located in the center of the Historic Triangle of Colonial Virginia, communities linked by the Colonial Parkway; the area is one of the busiest...
community in James City County. Dr. Blayton was a supporter of public education and the first African American to serve on the James City County school board. His son, Oscar, was the first African American to attend the College of William and MaryCollege of William and MaryThe College of William & Mary in Virginia is a public research university located in Williamsburg, Virginia, United States...
.
- Lois Hornsby Middle School, named for Mrs. Lois Hornsby, a philanthropist who has lived in Williamsburg for more than five decades. Ms. Hornsby is the mother of musician Bruce HornsbyBruce HornsbyBruce Randall Hornsby is an American singer, pianist, accordion player, and songwriter. Known for the spontaneity and creativity of his live performances, Hornsby draws frequently from classical, jazz, bluegrass, folk, Motown, rock, blues, and jam band musical traditions with his songwriting and...
and widow of lawyer and real estate developer Robert Hornsby, Sr.
The newest middle school, Hornsby, will effectively replace James Blair Middle School. The Blair complex was originally built as a high school, and is one of the school division's older structures. For the 2010-11 school year and the immediate future, the division plans to operate only 3 middle schools, although a newer portion of the Blair complex is scheduled to be modified to accommodate the Academy for Life & Learning, an alternative education program for older students. The school system's central administration will utilize the larger, remaining portion of Blair for its offices. While current facilities will be adequate to meet most of the system's needs, a future renovation of the Blair complex for reuse as a middle school is anticipated, possibly by 2017.
External links
- Williamsburg-James City County Public Schools Official Website