High school graduation rates decline rapidly
By Hannah Zozobrado, Arts Editor
June 4, 2019
For the past 3 years, graduation rates among Montgomery County Public Schools have experienced a gradual decline. The statistics in the 2017-2018 school year have decreased to 88.4%, the lowest in graduation rates since the class of 2013. The public education throughout Montgomery County high schools...
Elections offer new opportunities for WCHS students
By Charley Hutton, Advertising & Subscription Manager
June 4, 2019
“Do More Than Vote”, and get paid while doing it. Teens are constantly being urged to get involved in the community, and becoming an Election Worker is a great way to do so. With the close proximity to D.C, WCHS students are right near the heart of politics. What students may not know is that...
MCPS votes for new SMOB
By Sophie Liss, Senior Writer
May 17, 2019
Junior Nate Tinbite of Kennedy High School was elected to be the 42nd Student Member of the Board (SMOB) April 24. The SMOB provides a connection between MCPS students and the Montgomery County Board of Education by representing students’ issues at board meetings. Sophomores and juniors are eligi...
ASVAB test guides WCHS students towards their calling
By Jeremy Fredricks, Assistant Opinions Editor
May 10, 2019
Many students immediately think of college as life after high school; however, what is often overlooked is the option of enrolling in the military. The Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) Test is a multiple choice placement test that helps prospective military recruits find what career...
Md. Minimum wage increases beginning 2020
By Brandon Li, Senior Writer
May 9, 2019
When looking for a part time job, most will value salary over enjoyment and experience. However, with the new increase in minimum wage, that tradeoff may not exist anymore. The Maryland General Assembly (MGA) approved a bill March 20 that would increase the state’s minimum wage to $15 an hour over...
Scholars go for gold in Russian Olympiada in Baltimore
By Victoria Park, Opinions Editor
May 9, 2019
Zdrastvuyte! That is Russian for “hello,” and if you think that is difficult to pronounce, just ask one of the many WCHS students taking Russian to help you. Their skills were recently tested on Apr. 2, when 11 students participated in the Olympiada of Spoken Russian at the Friends School of Baltimore. The...
MCPS redistricting considered to quell inequity issues
By Fatima Yazdi, Editor-in-Chief
May 8, 2019
Montgomery County Public Schools such as WCHS have consistently ranked among the best in the country and are growing at high speeds, though a great divide exists between schools in wealthy areas and schools in less wealthy ones. Recently, this divide has sparked debate over whether or not Montgomery...
Montgomery county school’s start date sparks debate
By Ohio Meshanko, Promotions manager
April 5, 2019
From Feb. 19 to April 16, MCPS will not have any days off from school. This is the longest period with no days off in the entire year, beating the strait from Sept. 20 to Nov. 6 by more than two weeks. The situation has been accepted as ‘how it works’ by most, but that needs to change as it depr...
New Ride On bus initiative to transport students for free
By Max Kandel, News Editor
April 1, 2019
As of now, the Montgomery County Council has a plan in place to expand the Kids Ride Free program. However, they must wait to see if Montgomery County allocated enough money to allow expansion. Currently, the Kids Ride Free program allows students 18 and under to ride the Ride On buses for free with...
MCPS student activists walk out for gun reform
By Riley Hurr, News Editor
April 1, 2019
Thousands of high schoolers walked out of their classrooms and onto Pennsylvania Avenue March 14 to protest gun violence. With posters reading “Enough is Enough” and “Policy and Change” which caught the eyes of many, students from all over Montgomery County and beyond exercised their First Amendment...
Legalization of marijuana lessens strict negative stigma
By Nora Holland, Opinions Editor
February 8, 2019
Marijuana has historically been labeled as a “gateway drug” by health classes all over the world. Recently, about 33 states have legalized the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes and 10 of those states, including the District of Columbia, have adopted laws allowing recreational use. Marijuana...
New boundary changes proposed for schools in district
By Ohio Meshanko, Promotions Manager
February 8, 2019
The Montgomery County Board of Education held a hearing Jan. 7 to discuss potentially changing the boundaries for each of its 206 schools. The move was proposed as a solution to the disparity in socioeconomic status between various schools and clusters. However, some are worried that it will have several...