Woodberry Forest School facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Woodberry Forest School |
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| Address | |
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898 Woodberry Forest Rd
Woodberry Forest
,
Madison County
,
Virginia
22989-9998
United States
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| Coordinates | 38°17′31.9″N 78°7′19.5″W / 38.292194°N 78.122083°W |
| Information | |
| Type | Independent boarding high school |
| Motto | Latin: A Posse Ad Esse (From Possibility to Actuality) |
| Religious affiliation(s) | Nonsectarian |
| Established | 1889 |
| Founder | Robert Stringfellow Walker |
| Status | Currently operational |
| CEEB code | 472455 |
| NCES School ID | 01433725 |
| Headmaster | Byron Hulsey |
| Faculty | 60.9 (on a FTE basis) |
| Grades | 9-12 |
| Gender | All-boys |
| Enrollment | 403 (2021-2022) |
| • Grade 9 | 94 |
| • Grade 10 | 98 |
| • Grade 11 | 109 |
| • Grade 12 | 102 |
| Average class size | 10 |
| Student to teacher ratio | 6.6:1 |
| Hours in school day | 7.2 |
| Campus size | 1,200 acres (490 ha) |
| Campus type | Fringe rural |
| Color(s) | Orange & Black |
| Nickname | Tigers |
| Teams | 16 interscholastic sports 38 teams |
| Publication | The Talon |
| Newspaper | The Oracle |
| Endowment | $432 million |
| Annual tuition | $65,350 |
| Affiliations | NAIS, TABS |
 A view of the school's Walker Building from Robertson Lake |
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Woodberry Forest School is a special private school just for boys. It's a boarding school, which means students live there during the school year. You can find it in Woodberry Forest, Madison County, Virginia, in the United States.
Currently, about 391 students attend Woodberry Forest. They come from 34 different U.S. states and 36 countries around the world! The school has a large fund of money, about $432 million, which helps it run. Many students, about 41%, get financial help to attend.
Contents
The Story of Woodberry Forest
Woodberry Forest School was started way back in 1889. A man named Captain Robert Stringfellow Walker founded it. He was a soldier during the American Civil War. Captain Walker decided to start the school because there weren't many good schools nearby. He hired a tutor to teach his six sons and other children from the area.
The school is built on a huge piece of land, about 1,200 acres, in Madison, Virginia. One side of the campus is next to the Rapidan River. This land used to belong to William Madison, who was the brother of President James Madison. The house where the school's headmaster lives, called The Residence, was designed by Thomas Jefferson! It's so old and important that it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979.
Today, the campus is known for its beautiful brick buildings, some of which are very old. It also has modern science and arts buildings. Captain Walker's son, J. Carter Walker, became the "head teacher" after his father. He helped the school grow and become what it is today.
Fun Beyond the Classroom
Woodberry Forest School offers many exciting activities outside of regular classes.
Sports and Team Spirit
The school's sports teams are called the Tigers. They play in the Virginia Prep League. Students can join many sports like basketball, soccer, baseball, golf, swimming, lacrosse, wrestling, cross country, tennis, track, and football.
One of the most famous traditions is the football game against Episcopal High School. This is the longest-running high school football rivalry in the Southern United States! They've played over 100 games since 1901. This game, known as "The Game," is a huge event. Many former students come back to watch it. Before the game, Woodberry students build a giant bonfire that can be four stories tall! Students throw torches into the logs, and it's a big celebration.
The school has amazing sports facilities. There's a 9-hole golf course designed by a famous golfer named Donald Ross. There's also an indoor track and pool, turf fields for football and lacrosse, baseball fields, and many other fields for different sports. Many Woodberry athletes go on to play college sports, even at the top NCAA Division I level.
The Honor System
A very important part of life at Woodberry Forest is its student-run honor system. This system helps students learn to be honest and responsible. A group of about 18 senior students, called the Prefect Board, helps manage the honor system.
If a student is accused of not following the honor code (like if they lie, cheat, or steal), the Prefect Board looks into it. They then suggest what should happen to the headmaster. This could be a warning, probation, or even dismissal from the school if the violation is serious.
Students, teachers, and the school leaders all help choose the Prefect Board members. Students vote for who they think would be best, teachers do too, and then the headmaster makes the final decision.
Besides the honor system, the Prefect Board also helps new students get used to the school during orientation. They also act like resident assistants in the dorms, organizing events and sharing important news. The Prefect Board chooses one student to be the Senior Prefect. This student is like the student body president. He gives speeches at the start of the school year and at graduation.
Famous People Who Attended Woodberry
Many interesting people have graduated from Woodberry Forest School. Here are a few:
- Donald Antrim, a novelist
- Marvin P. Bush, the youngest son of former President George H. W. Bush
- Martin Clark, an author and judge
- Bosley Crowther, a famous film critic for The New York Times
- Kendall Gaskins, an NFL running back
- Gordon Gray, who was a National Security Advisor
- Sacha Killeya-Jones, a basketball player
- James McMurtry, a singer-songwriter
- Johnny Mercer, a famous songwriter
- Halsey Minor, who founded CNET Networks
- Beto O'Rourke, a former U.S. Congressman
- Heinz Pagels, a particle physicist
- CJ Prosise, an NFL running back for the Seattle Seahawks
- Randolph Scott, a well-known actor
- Angus Wall, an Oscar-winning film editor
Past Headmasters
Here are the people who have led Woodberry Forest School over the years:
- J. Carter Walker (1898–1948)
- Shaun Kelley Jr. (1948–1952)
- Joseph M. Mercer (1952–1961)
- A. Baker Duncan Jr. (1961–1970)
- Charles W. Sheerin Jr. (1970–1973)
- Gerald L. Cooper (acting) (1973–1974)
- Emmett W. Wright Jr. (1974–1991)
- John S. Grinalds (1991–1997)
- Dennis M. Campbell (1997–2014)
- Byron C. Hulsey (2014–present)
