Kevin Greata, principal of Carter G. Woodson High School in Fairfax, Virginia, shared insights recently. The responses have been lightly edited for length and clarity.
Karen Bolt|FCPS
Principal Kevin Greata of Carter G. Woodson High School.
U.S. News: If I were a principal looking to increase my students’ college application success rate, what are some steps I could or should take? Is there a secret sauce?
Kevin Greata: At Carter G. Woodson High School, sustaining a long tradition of college readiness requires a continuous, deliberate strategy that spans a student’s entire high school career.
- Our overarching goal is to ensure every graduate is fully prepared for whichever path they choose.
- Our Student Services department demystifies the process through targeted programming, community outreach and signature events like Junior Focus Day, an in-house “field trip” for juniors where they have the opportunity to attend sessions on post-secondary planning led by four-year university and community college admissions officials, essay tutors, standardized testing company representatives, workforce professionals, military recruiters and more.
Ultimately, college success is a byproduct of a holistic school ecosystem. The academic rigor, skill-building and character development provided by classroom teachers is seamlessly coupled with opportunities for students to further explore their extracurricular passions and interests in our fine and performing arts and career and technical education programs.
U.S. News: Did you set out with the goal of boosting college admissions? Or was it the byproduct of other policies?
Greata: We believe that when you focus on building capable and resilient individuals, high college acceptance rates follow as a natural byproduct.
- This approach is guided by the Fairfax County Public Schools Portrait of a Graduate framework, which intentionally integrates five core skills into our daily curriculum: communication, collaboration, global citizenship, critical thinking and goal orientation.
- Our participation in the FCPS Academy program allows students to engage in hands-on experiential learning as well as earn valuable industry certifications. This technical preparation gives our graduates immediate workforce viability, which serves them equally well whether they choose to launch a career right away or use those skills to stand out as college applicants at any point in their future.
- We supplement this academic foundation by deliberately developing the whole student, as guided by the FCPS 2023-30 Strategic Plan’s goals that aim for every student to acquire critical thinking skills, meet/exceed high academic standards and achieve their highest academic potential.
- By prioritizing comprehensive skill-building over standardized outcomes, we ensure our graduates are equipped to succeed on whichever path they choose.
U.S. News: What, generally, do the kids from your school who do not go on to college do instead?
Greata: For graduates who choose a path other than a traditional four-year college immediately after graduation, we focus on providing structured, high-value pipelines into direct workforce entry, military enlistment and specialized trade apprenticeships.
- Right here on our campus, students can engage in rigorous, practical courses such as marketing, business and accounting, and engineering.
- Our enrollment in the specialized academy programs opens doors to immersive, industry-standard training in fields ranging from cosmetology, nursing and automotive mechanics, to advanced world language and performing arts courses, as well as myriad STEM fields.
- These programs give our students a distinct advantage, equipping them with the tangible skills and certifications needed to enter high-demand industries immediately.
By blending technical academy pathways, comprehensive special education support, early career exposure, and school-wide celebration, we ensure that every post-secondary goal is treated with equal prestige, preparing well-rounded graduates for an ever-changing economy.
U.S. News: How do you ensure that the drive for college prestige doesn’t come at the expense of student well-being and mental health?
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Greata: Ensuring that students maintain a healthy balance as they pursue ambitious post-secondary goals is an ongoing, community-wide conversation. Our students are incredibly driven and goal-oriented, which makes it our responsibility to protect their well-being and prevent burnout.
- Our Student Services department (consisting of our school counselors, psychologists and social workers) works in tandem with our student-led organizations and our Parent Teacher Student Organization to continually reinforce the value of a balanced, well-rounded high school experience.
- To protect student mental health structurally, we review our course-selection messaging annually with our department chairs and school counseling staff, ensuring we are actively guiding students against taking on unmanageable academic loads.
- We engage with our parents/guardians regularly around this topic as well. We also bring in collegiate experts to demystify the admissions process, helping families understand that higher education institutions value authentic engagement and personal well-being over sheer volume of advanced courses.
U.S. News: While AP courses are a staple, high schoolers in FCPS are increasingly participating in Dual Enrollment and Academy programs. How do these paths benefit students differently when it comes to college credits and career readiness?
Greata: The strength of our curriculum lies in a student’s ability to build a hybrid schedule that perfectly aligns with their unique aspirations.
While both AP and Dual Enrollment paths offer invaluable opportunities to secure early college credit, they serve different learning styles and goals.
- Our AP courses offer a traditional, nationally standardized curriculum that prepares students for high-stakes end-of-year exams.
- Conversely, our Dual Enrollment courses – in partnership with Northern Virginia Community College and offered both on-campus and online – assess students using collegiate criteria across the entire semester, mirroring the actual rhythm of a college semester without the singular pressure of a final AP exam.
For students focused on specialized passions or immediate career readiness, our Academy programs provide hands-on and immersive training in fields not typically available in a standard high school building. These courses frequently lead to industry-recognized certifications, giving graduates a distinct edge in the modern workforce and the college application process.
