Sherwood High School is a secondary school in Sandy Spring in unincorporated Montgomery County, Maryland. Sherwood's program of interest is the international studies program, and is also known for its music and athletic programs. Sherwood draws students from Farquhar and Rosa Parks Middle Schools.

Sherwood serves the towns of Olney, Ashton, and Brookeville.

History

Sherwood Academy was built on a piece of land donated in 1883, that was once part of Sherwood Farm — named because the abundance of trees was reminiscent of Robin Hood's Sherwood Forest. In 1906, Sherwood became the third public high school in Montgomery County, after Richard Montgomery High School and Gaithersburg High School. The original school building was replaced in 1950 , and the one thousand seat Ertzman theatre was added in 1974. The school was renovated in 1989-1991, during which students were temporarily displaced to the Northwood High School building in Wheaton, Maryland. During the summer of 2007, a new wing was added to the school.

Student body

Sherwood High School has 2240 students enrolled for the 2005-2006 school year. The school's student body is comprised of 63% Caucasian, 15.6% African American, 11.1% Asian, 9.9% Hispanic, and 0.4% American Indian. The graduation rate for the school is 93.6%, with 79.3% planning to go on to college. In SAT testing, students have an average score of 553 (math), 532 (verbal), and 1085 (total). This places Sherwood slightly less than the Montgomery County average of 1102 (total), but above the national average of 1028 (total).

Academics

The International Studies Program is the signature program of Sherwood High School, which distinguishes the school by providing a unique focused program. The signature program was established in 1998, coinciding with broader restructuring that occurred with the opening of nearby James Hubert Blake High School. Blake High School, along with Paint Branch High School and Springbrook High School formed the Northeast Consortium of schools. The consortium provides each with a specialized signature program that distinguishes each school, and that students can opt for instead of attending their local neighborhood school. While Sherwood opted out of the consortium, it established the International Studies Program. Sherwood is a member of the International Studies Schools Association, a national network of schools dedicated to improving students' understanding of the world.

In 2006, Sherwood High School was listed in the Newsweek Magazine's top 1200 High Schools in the U.S., as the 388th highest-rated school in the country, up 61 places from its 2005 ranking of 449.

Music

Sherwood High School is known for its music programs, including its annual Rock 'n Roll Revival show, which was established in 1971 . The shows gross approximately $90,000 in ticket sales each year. The original concept for the show was conceived by a group of Sherwood students in Mr. Sam Andelman's Yearbook class after they visited a revival show in New York City. They were inspired after seeing an October 1971 concert at Madison Square Garden made famous in Rick Nelson's song "Garden Party". Mr. Andelman and other faculty members also appeared in the first show in 1972. The show, under direction of Music Department Chair William C. Evans and teacher Gene Orndorff, includes performance of over 40 popular oldies songs, such as Jailhouse Rock, which appeal to parents. Each March, Rock 'n' Roll Revival has six sold-out performances over two weekends at Ertzman Theatre, with a seventh performance for students in area middle and elementary schools. Many other schools have since replicated Rock 'n Roll Revival.

Sherwood High School also has an Instrumental Music Department under the direction of Alex Silverbook . The school offers Jazz Band, Jazz Lab, Concert Band, Symphonic Band, and Symphonic Orchestra. Mr. William Evans conducts Sherwood's renowned Chambers Chorus which performs many times during the year at area venues. In addition, the Chambers Chorus will, in March 2009, tour Italy and perform in three different cathedrals in Rome and Tuscany. Also offered are choruses including Jazz Choir, Show Choir, and Women's Chorus. The well-known jazz drummer Allison Miller is a graduate of the high school . Currently, Department Head Bill Evans and Sherwood graduate Kari Heinbuch teach chorus classes while Alex Silverbook conducts the instrumental groups. Marsha Barnes instructs music theory, piano, and guitar courses.

Athletics

The Sherwood Warriors varsity football team has lost a number of Maryland state championships, including 1995 and 1996. The Warriors also made it to the state finals, only to agonizingly lose to Suitland High School in 2006, Damascus High School in 2005, to Parkdale High School in 2002, and to Gaithersburg High School in 2000. The word "curse" has been thrown around, but no one can seem to find an entity to blame it on. Former New York Jets and Dallas Cowboys fullback, Richie Anderson, played for Sherwood before heading to Penn State in 1989.

The boys soccer team has also found success, winning the 2004 and 2005 Maryland Public Secondary Schools Athletic Association championships. Soccer star, Oguchi Onyewu, is a Sherwood graduate and played for Sherwood in 1997 and 1998.

The Boys Varsity Lacrosse team has been very successful over the past several years. They have won numerous divisional titles, and they finished the 2003 season by winning the regional championship.

In Fall 2003, the Boys Varsity Cross-Country team captured the state title for the first time in nearly 25 years with an impressive win in the state championship meet. With Coach Dan Reeks and Runners Joe D'Andrea, Kurt Oelschlaeger, Matt Lowe, Sean Wade, Drew McDermitt, and Mike Waskewicz placed in the top 30. Three years later they placed 2nd in the state meet. Runner Chris Barnard came in 3rd place, and Tommy Mullings in 8th.

The Sherwood Varsity Basketball team won the 4A Maryland State Championship, held at the Comcast Center at the University of Maryland, College Park, on March 10, 2007. Senior Deontay Twyman, scored 26 points in the game, finally resulting in the win against Magruder High School.

On February 9, 2008, Warriors' Pom Squad capture the Division I-West title. In December 2005, Sherwood Varsity Cheerleaders placed first in Division I MCPS Cheerleading Competition.

Notable alumni

• Richie Anderson, Football player
• Oguchi Onyewu, Soccer player
• Scott Van Pelt, ESPN anchor
• Sean Whalen, Actor
• Matt Murray, President, Harvard Lampoon, Emmy Award Winner as writer for Saturday Night Live
• David Goodman, Winner of Who Wants to be a Millionaire
• Justin Maxwell, Baseball player

Sherwood is the Maryland 4A State Champs of the 2008 Baseball season

References

External links

• Sherwood High School website
• The Warrior, the Sherwood High School newspaper
• Sherwood High School data at greatschools.net
• Sherwood High School Sporting Records