Accomplishments

It is sometimes difficult to gauge the effectiveness of the Westminster program from “close range.” However, Westminster students participate in a number of activities and contests each year which provide a profile of their achievements in comparison with those of other students in the region and across the nation. Below is an overview of Westminster student achievement in recent years.

Johns Hopkins Recognition

The Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth (CTY) sponsors an academic talent search each year, based on student achievement on standardized tests. Qualifying students must score in the 95th percentile or above on either a math or verbal reasoning section of their most recent or next-most-recent test. Westminster results since 2007 are shown below. These results reflect the average percentage of students over the last two years who have qualified for CTY.

  • 5th Graders: 71%
  • 6th Graders: 40%
  • 7th Graders: 61%
  • 8th Graders: 61%

President's Education Award Winners

President’s Education Award Winners 31% of the 8th grade class of 2010 qualified for the President’s Education Award.  This award, sponsored by the President of the United States, recognizes students who achieve standardized test scores on math or reading in the 85th percentile or higher AND maintain an average GPA of 90 or above in the 7th grade and the first semester of the 8th Grade.

National Latin Contest

Each year, Westminster’s 7th and 8th grade students take this exam, sponsored by the American Classical League. On average, more than 10,000 students in Virginia and more than 130,000 nationwide, are eligible, and high scorers are recognized with awards.  During the last three years, on average, 81% of Westminster 7th graders won awards, with 52% awarded Outstanding Achievement Certificates and Ribbons. Among Westminster 8th graders, on average, 98% were recognized, with 33% earning Silver Medals and 32% taking top-scoring Gold Medals.

National French Contest

Each year, approximately 100,000 students across the country, including about 2,500 from the Northern Virginia area, participate in Le Grand Concours, or National French Contest. The test assesses skills in vocabulary, grammar, listening and reading, and knowledge of French culture. In the last five years, 25% of Westminster 7th and 8th graders have consistently ranked in 10th through 1st place at the chapter level, and 33% of students have ranked in the top 20th percentile nationwide.

National Mythology Exam

This nation-wide contest, sponsored by the American Classical League, tests students on Roman and Greek mythology, with optional exams on a literary epic, such as The Iliad, The Odyssey, and The Aeneid, as well as Norse myths, all of which are part of Westminster’s classical curriculum. Each year, Westminster’s 5th grade students take this exam and, by electing to take the literary subtest, effectively compete on an 8th grade level. On average, for the last five years, 40% of Westminster students scored 85 or higher on the exam. An average of 8% scored 93 or higher each year.

Athletics

Westminster School is a founding member of the Capital Athletic Conference, a league of independent schools who field teams in soccer, basketball, softball, and track and field. The league also awards a banner each year for outstanding sportsmanship. 

2008-2009 Accomplishments:

  • 3rd Varsity Girls Soccer Regular Season
  • 2nd Varsity Girls Soccer Tournament
  • 2nd Regular Season Varsity Girls Basketball
  • 2nd Varsity Girls Basketball Tournament
  • 3rd JV Girls Basketball Regular Season
  • 2nd Place JV girls Softball
  • 3rd Varsity Girls Softball
  • 2nd Boys Varsity Basketball
Championship Banners awarded to Westminster teams since 2000:
  • Varsity Girls Softball 2000 Track and Field- 2002
  • Sportsmanship- 2001, 2004, 2006
  • Varsity Girls Soccer 2007
  • Varsity Girls Basketball 2008

Builder's Club

This community service club is open to 7th and 8th grade students. Westminster is proud that, almost every year, 100% of eligible students join the club and devote many hours of service to a wide variety of projects: tutoring underprivileged children; visiting the elderly; collecting food, clothing, and supplies for immigrant families; raising money to help the homeless; and cleaning neighborhood streets. The Westminster Builders Club has been recognized by the following organizations for its outstanding record of community service:

  • JC Penny Golden Rule Award 1998
  • Presidential Point of Light Award 2002
  • Fairfax County Volunteer Group of the Year 1997, 1998, 2002
  • Fairfax Bar Association Outstanding Service Award 2002
  • Virginia Department of Highways 2000-2009 Award of Excellence for Outstanding Performance in Adopt-a Highway Program
  • Timberlake Elementary Outstanding Service Award 2000-2009
  • Volunteer Benchmark Award Fairfax County 2009

Chess

Since its founding in 2001, the Westminster Chess Club, open to students in grades 3–8, has competed against teams from the greater Washington area.  Westminster honors include:

    2001     D.C. Scholastic Open 3rd Place
    2004     D.C. Scholastic Open 4th Place
    2005     D.C. Scholastic Open 4th Place
    2005     D.C. Charity Team Tournament 1st place
    2006     D.C. Charity Team Tournament 4th Place
    2006     Spring Hill Elementary Tournament 3rd Place
    2007     D.C. Scholastic Kick-Offs 1st Place
    2009     D.C. Charity Team Tournament 2nd place