| Background
Buildings
Student body
Teachers
International Baccalaureate Program
Middle Years Program
Extracurricular activities
Athletics
Student publications
Performing Arts
Clubs
Student government
Feeder School Links
Background
Bethesda-Chevy Chase (B-CC) High School is located in the
heart of Bethesda, Maryland (on East-West Highway, near
the intersection with Wisconsin Avenue) and serves the communities
of Bethesda, Chevy Chase, Kensington and Silver Spring in
Montgomery County (B-CC’s
service area 
,
MPCS
school boundary map
).
Established in 1926 (see History
of B-CC), B-CC is a comprehensive public senior high
school with a full complement of challenging academics
and innovative programs, including learning and academic
disabilities education and English as a Second Language.
B-CC has an Honors program, an Advanced
Placement (AP) program, and a signature program – the
International
Baccalaureate (IB) program. B-CC is accredited by the
Middle States Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools
and by the Maryland State Department of Education.
Buildings
Begun as a two-story, 14-room facility on Wilson Lane, B-CC
High School opened in its current location on East-West
Highway in 1935. New buildings or additions to existing
buildings were constructed in 1937, 1952, 1959, 1966, 1970,
and 1976 (see History of
B-CC High School for more information).
Then, in the summer of 1994, parents, teachers, administrators,
business people, and other supporters of B-CC High School
formed the Community Coalition for Bethesda-Chevy Chase
High School (CC-B-CC). Its charge was to re-engineer and
refocus the high school in an increasingly urbanized and
cosmopolitan area. CC-B-CC representatives were encouraged
to think broadly and innovatively to create programs that
would lead B-CC High School and Montgomery County Public
Schools into the next century.
Because of this effort, in February 2002, B-CC High School
re-opened its doors after a two-and-a-half year, multi-million
dollar, comprehensive modernization that, among other things,
combined the historic 1935 and 1937 structures into one
building.
The school now boasts 70 classrooms (67 regular classrooms
and 3 special or alternative education classrooms), a media
center with 30 computer workstations and TV studio and media
production facilities, a greenhouse, a music laboratory
and choral room, 2 gymnasiums and a weight training room,
a 900-seat auditorium, and a cafeteria that serves breakfast
and lunch (map of the school).
B-CC also has two "firsts" among Montgomery County
Public Schools — a Cyber
Café, opened in March 2003, and a state-of-the-art
Language Lab, installed in
the summer of 2004.
The Cyber Café and the Language Lab resulted from
two major initiatives launched by the Bethesda-Chevy
Chase High School Educational Foundation
.
Founded in 1996 by a group of parents, alumni, teachers,
and business and civic leaders in the B-CC community, the
Foundation raises funds for projects that further the tradition
of excellence for students at B-CC, now and in the future.
Student body
For the 2005-2006 school year, there were 1,691 students
enrolled at B-CC: 409 seniors, 443 juniors, 439 sophomores,
and 400 freshman. Students came from more than 55 countries.
About 63 percent of the students were White, 16 percent
were African-American, 14 percent were Hispanic, 6 percent
were Asian, and 0.4 percent were American Indian. 8.7% of
the students received free and reduced meals.
Approximately 75 percent of students go on to attend a
four-year college; 20 percent attend a two-year college
(complete B-CC High School
Profile).
Teachers
For the 2005-2006 school year, B-CC has 108 teachers , 9
instructional assistants, 4 administrators, and numerous
other support staff, including counselors, a media specialist,
and building services and security personnel (see
Meet the Teachers and staff). B-CC’s annual budget
is about $13.7 million (more
B-CC school data
).
International Baccalaureate Program
B-CC has been participating in the International Baccalaureate
Program since 1996. The program provides students a liberal
arts, interdisciplinary education leading to a diploma recognized
throughout the world. Instead of pursuing a full IB diploma,
students at B-CC may choose to take one or more IB courses
(except Theory of Knowledge) and obtain a certificate for
the successful completion of the requirements for each course
(more on B-CC's
IB program).
IB Middle Years Program
The IB Middle Years Program is a coherent and comprehensive
curriculum that provides a framework of academic challenge
and life skills appropriate to students ages 11-16. Students
come to B-CC from Westland Middle School to complete their
final two years of the program. Here in the ninth and tenth
grades, the MYP curriculum emphasizes developing learning
skills, attitudes and knowledge needed to participate in
an increasingly global society (more
on B-CC's MYP).
Extracurricular
activities
The extracurricular activity
program at B–CC High School offers many opportunities
for students to develop and expand their interests, talents,
service to the school and community and active participation
in school life. Information regarding eligibility for participation
in extracurricular activities is contained in the Student
Handbook in the B-CC information section. To participate
in after-school activities, students can use their student
ID cards for free transportation
on Ride-on and Metro buses from 2:00pm to 7:00pm, Monday
through Friday.
Athletics
The B-CC Athletic Department has teams in 13 different
sports. In the past
three years, fall 2003 to spring 2006, they have won four
state championships, eleven regional championships, ten
division championships, and five county championships.
In the fall of 2002, B-CC won more division, regional, and
state championships than any other school in the State of
Maryland. Approximately 50 percent of the student body
is involved in athletics; of the female athletes, over 90
percent are on the school’s Honor Roll.
Student
publications
B-CC has several student publications:
-
The Tattler,
the oldest student-run newspaper in the county (begun
in the 1920s) and, for the 2000 – 2001 school year,
winner of a gold medal awarded by the Columbia School
of Journalism;
-
The
Pine Tree, B-CC’s yearbook, first organized
by B-CC Class of 1932 as a 4-page insert to The Tattler;
and
-
Chips,
a student-run literary magazine and winner of the Gold
Award from Columbia Scholastic Press Association in
2001 and 2002 and the Best in Show award from the Journalism
Education Association in 2002.
Performing Arts
B-CC has an extensive performing arts program as well, with
theater
productions, and choral
and instrumental
music arenas such as Symphonic Band and Symphonic Orchestra,
the Jazz Ensemble, Madrigals, and other groups that develop
and challenge acting and musical skills.
Clubs
Students also have the opportunity to join or form
their own special interest club or activity. There
are more than 75 active clubs at the start of the 2006-2007
school year. Most meet weekly at lunch and were formed
to pursue academic interests such as It’s Academic and Math
Club/Mathletes, or hobbies such as the Equestrian and Photography
clubs, or service to the community such as Students Against
Drunk Driving (SADD), SOME (So Others Might Eat), and Youth
Engaged in Service (YES). In addition, students participate
in support programs in which students help other students.
Examples are Welcoming Diversity, peer counselors, and peer
mediation.
Student government
B-CC’s Student
Government Association (SGA) is led by officers elected
by the student body as a whole. Representatives of each
class, first period classes, and all student organizations
are also part of the SGA. The SGA Executive Board (the
officers) meets weekly, and the SGA has monthly general
assembly meetings. The SGA serves as a liaison between
students and the administration about issues concerning
students such as student parking and attendance policies.
Feeder School Links
Westland
Middle School
Bethesda
ES (K-5)
Chevy
Chase ES (3-6)
North
Chevy Chase ES (3-6)
Rock
Creek Forest ES (PreK-5)
Rosemary
Hills ES (PreK-2)
Somerset
ES (K-5)
Westbrook
ES (K-5)
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