AP COURSES + HONORS

My life at Woodlawn is central to my identity, and I wouldn’t be the same had it not been for this small community where teachers and classmates become a second family. Woodlawn is unique. Where else would you find students playing basketball in a gym designed to look like a traditional red barn or see middle schoolers studying about plants in the campus gardens? As students and teachers we are athletes, artists, musicians, and much more. Sometimes a bit quirky - one friend created a business designing bow ties and a favorite teacher, a former Apple executive, enjoys flying his drone around campus.

At a small school, with ten seniors, there’s no place for exclusion. We support each other and embrace our differences. It’s amazing what you can do in a small, hands-on community that encourages creativity and individuality. Performing a Frozen dance and music number in front of the entire school, creating a PSA on mental health issues, or playing a sport you've never played before — these are the types of things that have given me confidence and determination. I have no hesitation or fear of being myself and shooting for my goals. Being the only girl on the varsity cross country team? No problem! Winning the soccer state championship by beating the undefeated, number one seed? We got this! Woodlawn gave me that belief and conviction, and provided me with the desire to go beyond expectations.

Taylor is currently a junior at Rice University.

Hi, everybody! My name’s Jules Winkle and I’m a Junior here at Woodlawn. If you’re considering coming to school here, I know exactly how you feel because I just transferred to Woodlawn this past year. After visiting Woodlawn’s beautiful campus and meeting a few of the students and teachers, I knew it was the right school for me.

Before coming to Woodlawn, I spent most of my free time dreading the next time I had to go to school. Now that I’m at Woodlawn, that feeling has completely disappeared. Everybody, (students, teachers, and staff), is excited and happy to be here! Most importantly, the teachers love their subjects and their enthusiasm rubs off on the students. The opportunities and experiences at Woodlawn are truly rare and unique.

In just a few short months at Woodlawn I have had the most exciting volleyball experience of my life, scaled a mountain during our annual Upper School hike, hosted a Romanian orphan to speak at our school, and am currently hosting a Guatemalan exchange student. I have also learned how to square dance and have met some truly unique and wonderful people. I highly recommend you take a look at Woodlawn School; It’s one of the best choices I ever made!

Jules is a recent graduate of Belmont University in Nashville, TN.

Hey, everyone! I’m Mary Rood Cunningham, and this is my sixth and final year at Woodlawn. That’s right, I’m a senior! I don’t know where I want to go to college yet, but I am so excited to make the most of my senior year at Woodlawn. One of the best parts of Woodlawn is all of the fun things we do here. I mean, where else would you square dance to celebrate the school’s history or have your class pet be a komodo dragon?

Of course, there are many other advantages of going to Woodlawn – too many to count - but one in particular is the faculty. The relationships that students are able to build with their teachers are remarkable. I remember comparing my favorite Greek yogurt flavors with my history teacher and participating in the Gatsby dance contest against my teachers, while in 1920s costume. I know that if I am ever confused about anything, I can go to any of the faculty with a question and get immediate help.

Whether running up and down the soccer field, singing in the a cappella group or digging deeply into a novel for English, Woodlawn has really made me who I am. I know I am going to be so sad to leave my second family here at Woodlawn in the spring, but I can’t wait to see what the future holds!

Mary Rood is a recent graduate of Davidson College.

Hello! My name is David Keener and this is my eighth year at Woodlawn. I've stayed at Woodlawn all these years because it offers opportunities that cannot be found elsewhere.

One of the greatest things about Woodlawn is the focus on both national and international travel; there are international trips every year and week long class trips for every grade to places like Washington DC, Atlanta GA, and Saint Augustine FL. My favorite trip was a spring break school trip to Greece a couple years ago; I ate the best food of my life and had an amazing time learning about ancient Greek architecture.

Woodlawn allows students, especially juniors and seniors, to enjoy some unusual freedoms. For example, I really enjoy teaching middle school electives because I can focus on my interests in the classes I teach and expose middle schools students to different ideas. I co-taught a Sports 101 elective last year that focused on more obscure sports like Futsol and Parkour. This year I am co-teaching Intro to Prototyping, which involves designing and building a radio-controlled vehicle. Teaching Intro to Prototyping also lets me apply concepts that I have learned through my self-study, Intro to Engineering.

I also like that many classes at Woodlawn are fairly low-key about test taking and instead emphasize the learning process. It is really evident in my senior class: I am a National Merit Commended Scholar and every student in the Class of 2013 has received the designation of AP Scholar.