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Francis C. Hammond Middle School in Alexandria, Virginia, is located at 4646 Seminary Road in the west end of the city. Opened as a four-year high school in 1956, it was named after Alexandria native Francis Hammond (1931–1953), a U.S. Navy hospital corpsman who was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions in the Korean War.

Francis C. Hammond Middle School applied to be part of the International Baccalaureate program in 2010. It has since ended its involvement.

History

In 1971, Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS) changed to a 6-2-2-2 system, and reassigned its three high schools from four-year to two-year campuses. The newest and most geographically central, T.C. Williams, took all of the city's juniors and seniors, while Hammond and George Washington split the freshmen and sophomores. Prior to the consolidation, the city was approximately one-fifth black, but Hammond High School's student body in the spring of 1971 was nearly all white. Both Hammond and George Washington became junior high schools in 1979, with grades 7-9, and middle schools in 1993, with grades 6-8.

In 2009, Morton Sherman, superintendent for ACPS, introduced a new plan for the school system's two middle schools, to have numerous schools inside one building. This was designed to allow students to have a more personalized education in smaller schools. Hammond had 3 schools (e.g., FCH 1, FCH2, FCH3), while George Washington Middle School had two schools (e.g. GW1, GW2). Starting in the 2014–15 school year the schools were unified again, with students either attending Francis C. Hammond or George Washington.

Demographics

As of June 2024, the 1413 students at Francis C. Hammond are 33% Black or African American, 43% Hispanic, 14% White, 8% Asian, 2% Multi-racial, <1% Native American, and <1% Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander.

Notable alumni

• Jack Fisk, production designer and director, Class of 1964
• Angus King, Senator from Maine, Class of 1962
• David Lynch, filmmaker, Class of 1964

References

1. Cressey, Pamela (May 1997). "Alexandrians remember Hammond". City of Alexandria. Historic Alexandria. Archived from the original on December 20, 2016. Retrieved April 6, 2014.
2. "Hero's son gets his medal". Spartanburg (SC) Herald-Journal. AP photo. January 1, 1954. p. 9.
3. ^ "Alexandria school plan to be offered". Free-Lance Star. Fredericksburg, VA. Associated Press. May 1, 1971. p. 10.
4. ^ "Francis C. Hammond High School, Alexandria, VA - Class of '64". Archived from the original on February 15, 2006. Retrieved November 4, 2022.
5. L’Hommedieu, Andrea (November 3, 2009). "Interview with Angus King by Andrea L'Hommedieu \". George J. Mitchell Oral History Project. Bowdoin College Digital Commons. Retrieved November 1, 2018.

External links

• Official website
• "Alexandria City School Board Votes on New Future for Middle Schools
• Francis C. Hammond High School Alumni Association

38°49′34″N 77°06′40″W / 38.826°N 77.111°W / 38.826; -77.111

• Public middle schools in Virginia
• Educational institutions established in 1956
• Schools in Alexandria, Virginia
• 1956 establishments in Virginia
• Brick buildings and structures in Virginia