Ballou High School facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ballou High School |
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| Address | |
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3401 Fourth Street SE
Ward 8
20032
United States
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| Coordinates | 38°50′25″N 77°0′5″W / 38.84028°N 77.00139°W |
| Information | |
| Other name | Ballou Senior High School |
| School type | Public high school |
| Established | 1960 |
| Status | Open |
| School board | District of Columbia State Board of Education |
| School district | District of Columbia Public Schools |
| NCES District ID | 1100030 |
| School code | DC-001-452 |
| CEEB code | 090078 |
| NCES School ID | 110003000084 |
| Principal | William Haith |
| Faculty | 63.00 (on a FTE basis) |
| Grades | 9–12 |
| Gender | Coeducational |
| Enrollment | 657 (2022–2023) |
| • Grade 9 | 316 |
| • Grade 10 | 156 |
| • Grade 11 | 108 |
| • Grade 12 | 77 |
| Student to teacher ratio | 10.43 |
| Area | 350,000 square feet (33,000 m2) |
| Campus type | Urban |
| Color(s) | Blue and gold |
| Nickname | Knights |
| USNWR ranking | 13,394–17,857 |
Ballou High School is a public school in Washington, D.C., USA. It's part of the District of Columbia Public Schools system. The school is named after Frank Washington Ballou, who was the D.C. public schools superintendent for many years.
Contents
School History and Background
Ballou High School opened in the early 1960s. It was built to serve students in the Southeast part of Washington, D.C. This included areas like Congress Heights, Washington Highlands, and Bellevue.
In 1998, author Ron Suskind wrote a book called "A Hope in the Unseen". This book was about a Ballou High School student named Cedric Jennings. The story followed Cedric's journey to attend an Ivy League university. This was a big goal, especially given his challenging background.
In 2008, a documentary film called Ballou was released. This movie was about the amazing Ballou High School Marching Band. It was shown on BET in 2009.
School Staff Changes
Between August 2016 and May 2017, about 25% of the staff at Ballou High School left. This happened at a time when many teachers in the District of Columbia Public Schools were also leaving their jobs.
Student Admissions and Demographics
Students living near Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling are within Ballou's attendance area. Several elementary and middle schools also feed into Ballou High School.
Feeder Schools
The elementary schools that send students to Ballou include:
- Garfield
- Hendley
- M. L. King
- Leckie
- Malcolm X
- Patterson
- Simon
- Turner
The middle schools that send students to Ballou are:
- Charles Hart Middle School
- John Hayden Johnson Middle School
Student Population
Ballou High School is a diverse school. In the 2020–2021 school year, the student body included:
| Black | Hispanic | American Indian/Alaska Native |
|---|---|---|
| 645 | 18 | 1 |
School Programs and Learning
Ballou High School works hard to help its students succeed. In 2016, a small number of students met the D.C. reading standards on tests.
College Preparation Efforts
In 2017, something amazing happened: all 189 students in Ballou High School's senior class applied to college! This was the first time every senior had applied. The school said this was thanks to their college-prep classes. They also had a school-wide effort to encourage everyone to apply. By the summer of 2017, all 170 students who graduated were accepted into universities. An additional 20 students had graduations planned for August.
School of Mathematics, Science and Technology
In September 1975, Ballou High School opened its School of Mathematics, Science and Technology. This program was considered very advanced for its time. It aimed to prepare students for college and university studies. It also helped students gain skills for technical training or jobs right after high school.
Extracurricular Activities
Ballou High School is well-known for its excellent choirs and bands. The Ballou High School band has traveled to different states like California and Alabama. They have placed in the top three in national competitions. Mr. Darrell Watson directs the band, with help from volunteer alumni.
The marching band has performed in famous parades. They traveled to the 2009 Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, California. They also marched in the 2009 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. Ballou has also had many students become DCIAA City Champions in sports. Many students have also earned NCAA scholarships for college sports.
Notable Alumni
Many successful people have attended Ballou High School. Here are a few:
- Marvin Austin (2007), a college football player who played in the National Football League.
- Michael Fanone, a police officer.
- Wayne Ford (1969), who became an Iowa State Representative.
- Danny Gatton, a famous guitarist.
- Benny Anthony Harley (1981), a trumpet player in the go-go band Rare Essence.
- Essex Hemphill (1975), a poet and activist.
- Earthquake, a radio personality and comedian.
- Mike Locksley (1987), a college football coach.
- Duane A. Moody (1988), a tenor artist and member of the trio Three Mo' Tenors.
- Larry Pinkard (2010), who played college football and in the National Football League.
- Trayon White (2002), a community activist and politician in Washington, D.C.
