Charles County has something to celebrate! This year, four Charles County high schools made Newsweek's America's Top High School list, with La Plata High School at 487, Maurice J. McDonough High School at 961, North Point High School at 1,043 and Westlake High School at 1,443.
With its beginnings dating back to 1928, La Plata High School has been around long enough to see the vast social changes the county has gone through in the last hundred years, including desegregation in 1963-4. LPHS’s current building was constructed in 1978, and is located on Radio Station Road. With its theme of Pride and Excellence in Education, LPHS’s mission statement proclaims the schools intent to develop the intellectual, personal, social and emotional aspects of students. This it achieves through a variety of academic and extra-curricular organizations, such as Club Japan, Dance Team, Drama Club and Math Team. The school is organized by department, which is fully staffed by teachers with one acting as a chairperson for each department.
Henry E. Lackey High School, located in Indian Head and built in 1969. Its mission statement is to promote academic excellence in a safe environment. This is evident in its myriad of departments to choose from, including Engineering, World Language and Business Education. HELHS also operates under the Project Lead the Way Program, or PLTW. This educational curriculum fosters learning development and skills in the areas of engineering and biomedical science, and also imparts team building skills, thinking and problem solving. The school also participates in the Air Force Junior ROTC Program.
Maurice J. McDonough High School was built in 1976, and follows the Latin motto, "Docere Cognoscere et Excellere," which means "To Teach, To Learn, To Excel." In order to do this, the school embraces individuality and the various cultural and socio-economic backgrounds represented by its students and its 130 staff members. The school’s educational philosophy focuses on learners as individuals, and concentrates on helping students realize personal responsibility, respect, confidence and pride. Like other Charles County high schools, MJMHS offers traditional courses and JROTC as well as special education programs and world languages.
North Point High School focuses on science, technology and industry. It is Charles County’s newest high school, and strives to foster a sense of community among its students and faculty, while providing a constructive and successful high school experience for students. The school offers unique extra-curricular activities, such as Law Enforcement Explorer Post 1658, Future Educators Association and Environment Club. Over the summer, several students from NPHS recently took place in the 46th Annual SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference in Kansas City, Missouri, with several earning first and second place medals. In addition to national opportunities like the NLSC, NPHS also offers weighted courses and those with college credits, as do other Charles County schools.
Thomas Stone High School opened its doors to students in 1969, making it one of the older high schools in Charles County. With its mission to inspire responsible citizenship, leadership and lifelong learning, TSHS received a Maryland Center for Character Education Award last September, and will be recognized as a Maryland Emerging School of Character this fall. Staff works with the process of Capturing Kid’s Hearts in order to create a culture of mutual respect, caring and dignity among all, and inspire students to be self-disciplined and responsible. These goals are supported by the many extra-curricular activities available to students, such as Mock Trial, Future Business Leaders of America and Destination Imagination. TSHS also offers academics similar to other Charles County schools, including World Language, and programs such as ROTC. Notably, TSHS also offers Family and Consumer Science, which teaches students relevant skills for leading independent lives, such as those needed for finance, child care and merchandising.
Westlake High School was founded in 1992, and offers a wide choice of academic pursuits, including numerous AP courses and Technology Education and Engineering courses. The school also has a Multiple Media Program that uses Avid and Final Cut editing software, and was the recipient of the 2002 and 2004 International Film Festival’s Film Class Award. WHS also offers Teacher Academy of Maryland courses for interested students, as well as NJROTC. Like other county schools, it has a career center, and also has a resourceful counseling center whose mission is to assist students and parents with academic and career planning.
