Frank W. Cox High School is a secondary school located in the Great Neck subdivision of Virginia Beach, Virginia. It was founded in 1961 as the Northeast Junior High School, but upon opening, it was named after a former superintendent of Virginia Beach City Public Schools, Frank Woodard Cox, who led the school division from 1933 to 1968. A replacement building, also designated as a primary hurricane shelter, was built nearby, at 2425 Shorehaven Drive. The high school was moved into the new building in the fall of 1983. The original building at 1848 N. Great Neck Road became Great Neck Junior High and then Great Neck Middle School. The original building was demolished in 2012.
The current administration at Cox includes former principal of Kemps Landing Magnet School and Lynnhaven Middle School, Dr. Randi R. Riesbeck.
Academic and athletic honors
Frank W. Cox has an academically advanced student body with an 80% annual passing rate on Advanced Placement Tests. Also, two out of three diplomas awarded each year are advanced diplomas. The school has been recognized by major organizations such as Newsweek, which named the high school as a "top" public high school. As far as extracurricular activities go, Cox has an excellent array of sports teams to choose from. It has won 3 state athletic titles so far in the year 07-08 school year. Also, its music program, student newspaper, and student yearbook all won Blue ribbon awards in 2006.
The high school, which has won 35 state athletic titles, has been awarded the Virginia High School League Wachovia Cup for outstanding academic and athletic achievement eight out of 17 times, more than any other school.
Cox High School is also known for its ModelUN and World Affairs Clubs. Their WorldQuest team has won the regional WorldQuest competition (a competition in geopolitical knowledge, current events, and geography) more than any other school in Hampton Roads, most recently the 2011 WorldQuest competition hosted by the World Affairs Council of Greater Hampton Roads.
Cox is one of five Virginia Beach high schools ranked in the top 2600 in Newsweek's 2006 ranking of American high schools.
Music honors
The Wind Ensemble (higher band) at Cox has had all superiors at assessment except for one grade in sight reading, that they earned a 2(2012รข€"13)
The school's marching band competed in the 2011 USSBA (now known as U.S. Bands) Group II open national championships, and placed 1st overall with a score of 95.738, with captions in visual performance, overall effect, and colorguard. The band is also a current three-time state championship program, winning the 2010 USSBA group I open Virginia state championships, as well as the 2011 USSBA group II open Virginia state championships,and the 2012 USBANDS group III open Virginia state championships, and the 2015 USBANDS Group 3 State Championships. In addition, they received 7th place at nationals with their show entitled "The Mission".
Notable alumni
- Felicia Barton - American Idol finalist
- Jason Dubois - baseball player
- Genesis the Greykid aka Russ - poet, artist, creative
- Bubba Jenkins - wrestler; professional fighter
- Zachary Knighton - actor
- Jared MacEachern - Machine Head bassist/backing vocals
- Chris Taylor - baseball player
- Brinson Paolini - professional golfer
- Ross Burbank - NFL Football Player
- Todd Schnitt - longtime nationally syndicated radio personality
See also
- AAA Eastern Region
- AAA Beach District
Footnotes
External links
- Virginia Beach City Public Schools
- FWCHS Home Website
- Fran Cox Football @ VHSL-Reference