Wakefield High School

“A high school visited by two presidents?” you might ask, incredulous. Yes, right here at Wakefield High School, that’s exactly what happened. Wakefield High School isn’t just any high school. It’s a place where history has been made, twice. President Obama chose Wakefield High School as the backdrop for his 2009 “Back to School” address to the nation. He returned in 2011, this time accompanied by Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard. They spoke to a junior class studying AP US History. Wakefield High School, founded in 1952, has a rich history. The original building on South Chesterfield Road served students for 63 years. A brand new, state-of-the-art building opened on South Dinwiddie Street in 2013. The new Wakefield High School boasts 110 classrooms, a spacious gymnasium, and a media center with thousands of books and computers. The school even has 400 geothermal wells to heat and cool the building, part of its LEED Gold certification for sustainability. Wakefield High School has an impressive academic program, including the Freshman Foundations Program and the AP Network. The AP Network earned Wakefield the Inspiration Award from the College Board in 2006. It’s one of only three high schools to receive this honor annually. Wakefield also has a unique graduation requirement: the senior project. Students choose a topic, conduct research, and present their findings to a panel. Wakefield High School is a place of rigor, relationships, resilience, responsibility, and results, as their motto states. It’s a place where students are prepared for the 21st-century global challenge. This school isn’t just bricks and mortar. It’s a testament to the power of education, a stage for presidential addresses, and a launchpad for future leaders. As you stand before Wakefield High School, remember the history made here and the potential it holds for the future.