Denbigh High School

Denbigh High School is located in Newport News, Virginia, a medium-sized city with a large military presence. The school has a diverse enrollment of more than 1,640 students, of whom 52 percent are African American, 6 percent are Hispanic, and 6 percent are Asian; 45 percent qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. The school is constantly adapting... to the needs of its students through various activities focusing on preparation for college. Denbigh High School engages a student before he or she attends high school by partnering with "feeder" middle schools to provide a five-week summer transition program for rising freshmen, including courses in English, writing, algebra, and character development. The school's Patriot Passport Program was created to help decrease the dropout rate and help students through their ninth-grade transition. This includes providing students with mentors and other means of support throughout their first year in high school. "Denbigh High aimed well beyond the Standards of Learning and challenged students to reach higher, to strive for more, and to achieve more, and they have met that challenge," Kaine said. "I want to thank Principal Michael Evans and his outstanding faculty and staff for providing excellent instruction and support. I would also like to thank the College Board for recognizing hard-working schools that defy the odds, increasing the number of students participating in Advanced Placement Program® (AP®) and go on to attend institutions of high education." In addition to the Patriot Passport Program, Denbigh High School created the First Generation Project, again with the help of middle schools. Working in tandem, the schools identify rising freshmen who are the first in their immediate families on track to graduate from high school or apply to college. The program provides much-needed guidance and direction on the college application process through after-school and evening programs. Parents and students of all grade levels meet with school officials to discuss ...Read More