Herndon High School is a four-year public high school in Herndon, Virginia, United States. The school serves grades 9-12 and is a part of the Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) system. Founded in 1911, Herndon High School has approximately 2 300 students.
Contents
History
Herndon High School first opened in 1911 on Locust Street in Herndon, Virginia. In 1914, Herndon High School became the first fully-accredited high school in Fairfax County, and was the only accredited high school in the county until 1920.
In 1930, seventy-one students enrolled, with classes such as economics, agriculture, and business education offered, with classes in industrial arts later offered. In 1942, the school opened the first school cafeteria in Fairfax County. Back then, meals costed five cents. Also in 1945, the first football team was organized, and played its first game against Leesburg High School. The following year, the first high school band in Fairfax County was formed at the school.
In the early 1950s, the building was expanded to support more students; and in 1961, Herndon Intermediate School began within the Herndon High School building.
In 1967, the High School moved to its current Bennett Street location, leaving Herndon Intermediate School at Locust Street with 650 students and 39 teachers.
Sport and extracurricular activities
In 2009, the school's baseball field was named Alan McCullock Field for retiring baseball coach Alan McCullock, whose father has the same honor at Falls Church High School.
State champions
Basketball (boys): 1951
Cross Country (girls): 2003
Football: 1965 (1B)
Gymnastics (boys): 1977, 1990, 1991, 2000
Soccer (boys): 1986, 2025
Track & Field (boys): 1965, 1966, 1967
Co-Ed Cheerleading: 2012
Marching Band
The program has been a part of Northern Virginia since 1947, making it the oldest established high school band in Fairfax County. The program began when dedicated parents and citizens convinced Vladamir Johnson, a Russian interpreter and part-time music teacher from Washington, D.C., to rehearse a group of fledgling musicians in the rural town of Herndon.
Today, the band program at Herndon High School grown considerably, increasing from that original group of fifteen musicians to more than 100 instrumentalists comprising the following ensembles: Marching Band, Guard, Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band, Jazz Band, and Indoor Drumline.
Herndon High School Band represented Virginia at the 2023 Pearl Harbor Memorial Parade in Honolulu, Hawaii.
Valdemar Johnson, 1947 – 1958
Fritz Velke, 1958 – 1964
James Swiney, 1964 - 1968
Larry Willis, 1968 – 1971
George Duman, 1971 – 1978
Richard Bergman, 1978 - 2008
Kathleen Jacoby, 2008-2024
Brian Fisher. 2024 - Present
Notable alumni
Tanya Biank (1989), journalist, author, Army Wives
Ronnie Dove (1954), former pop music singer
Angie Goff (1997), television news anchor, WTTG, formerly on Today
Don Handfield (1989), filmmaker, producer, and author
Pat Cassidy, film producer and music manager
Mark Riddick (1994), illustrator and musician
Bill Butler (1965), former professional baseball player, Kansas City Royals, Cleveland Indians, and Minnesota Twins
Jon Carman (1994), former professional football player, Buffalo Bills
Brandon Guyer (2004), college baseball player, University of Virginia
Austin Miller (born 1993), pole vaulter
Scottie Reynolds (2006), former point guard for the Villanova University Wildcats, McDonald's All-American, and 2006-07 Big East Rookie of the Year
Duncan G. Stroik (1980), architect and academic
Dave Lavery (1977), NASA program executive and member, FIRST Robotics executive advisory board