The 1960s saw the creation of many new institutions, but for the teenagers of southern Fairfax County, no such inception topped that of West Springfield High School. The building did not open until January 30, 1967, over halfway through the school year, but it did include such innovative designs as a gigantic 912 person cafeteria, a medium-sized literature library, and 2,065 undersized student lockers. A new location, a new building, new classmates, and new teachers all greeted the incoming classes. As these student blazed through the close of this decade, one thing was certain—this community would become their own.

Memories

In this video, West Springfield alumni Michael and Bonnie (Moss) Stafford, members of the first graduating class, reminisce about the founding of the school.

As early as 1963, the Fairfax County School Board foresaw the need for a high school in the West Springfield community, but it was not until March 1966, that S. John Davis was appointed as principal, many months before ground was actually broken for the campus complex on Rolling Road. Classes met at Lee High School on a staggered schedule for the first semester from 10:30 a.m. until 4:45 p.m. Clubs were organized, athletic teams formed, and musical groups assembled which held their practices sessions at 7:30 a.m. [The] most challenging task of the new student body was choosing a school emblem, colors, and theme that would become an integral part of the sixteenth high school in the county. Navy blue and burnt orange exemplifies the Spartan Spirit which already manifests itself in the student body as they adopt the Greek letters TRUTH, WISDOM, AND HONOR as their motto. Literally brick by brick progress on the new school was reported daily by students as they rode by the site. Anticipation ran high as word was spread that [students] would move on January 30, 1967! And so, in 1966, a school is born . . . may it grow in wisdom, stature, and honor, and in favor with God and man.
~ WSHS Olympian, Volume I, 1967