ADMINISTRATIVE TEAM

Principal: Tara Drouhard

Assistant Principal for A-D: Kimberly Carter

Assistant Principal for E-K: Stephen Ausley

Assistant Principal for L-Ra: Trenton Brown

Assistant Principal for Rb-Z: Katherine Pendergraft

STUDENT SERVICES TEAM

Dean of Student Services:  Durenda Johnson Ward

Counselor for A-D: Jessica Martz

Counselor for E-K: Emma Bumgardner

Counselor for L-Ra: Jill Toborowsky

Counselor for Re-Z: Dentra Keith

SAP Counselor: Rashunda Jennings

Career Development Coordinator: Traci Claiborne

FACULTY AND STAFF

Our professional staff of 139 is committed to excellence as they work to prepare our students to achieve their future educational and career goals. 100% of our faculty is certified in their subject area(s). Twenty-two of our teachers are National Board Certified. 

SCHOOL AND COMMUNITY

Jesse O. Sanderson High School, established in 1968, is one of 32 high schools in the Wake County Public School System. It is accredited by the Southern Association of Schools and Colleges and the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction. The school is located in a predominantly middle-income community in the north central part of the capital city; students have immediate access to a major land-grant university, five liberal arts colleges, and a community college and within a thirty-mile radius we have access to  two major universities, and the Research Triangle Park. 

ATHLETIC PROGRAM

Sanderson is a member of the CAP 6 Conference.  Students have the opportunity to participate in cross-country, golf, lacrosse, soccer, swimming and diving, tennis, track and field, football, baseball, cheerleading, softball, volleyball, and wrestling.

CLUBS AND EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES

Sanderson offers an array of extracurricular activities in which students may become involved: AFJROTC, Marching Band, Vocal Music, Theater, Academy of Finance, Student Council, academic clubs and competitions, DECA, Equity Team, FCA, National Honor Society, National Art Honor Society, Key Club, to name a few. 

STUDENT BODY DATA

Our student body is a culturally diverse population of 1718 that is approximately 50% White, 23% African-American, 21% Hispanic, 3% Asian, 3% Multi-Racial, .3% American Indian/Alaskan Native, 0% Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander. The Senior Class of 2022 graduated 315 students; 77% matriculated to a four year college or university, 18% to a community college or trade school, and 4% into the military or the workforce.  The current Senior Class of 2023 has approximately 381 students. 

STANDARDIZED TEST RESULTS 

For the Class of 2022:

SAT: Mean score 1148; Critical Reading & Writing Mean – 577; Math Mean – 572.

ACT: Mean Composite score 19.8; English Mean 18.6; Math 19.7; Reading 20.6; Science 20.0.

CURRICULUM

The academic program is organized on a 4 X 4 block schedule with four credits per semester, with every student having the opportunity to earn 8 credits annually.  AP courses offered: Biology, Calculus AB and BC, Chemistry, English Language and Composition, English Literature and Composition, Environmental Science, Human Geography, Music Theory, Physics, Psychology, Spanish Language & Culture, Statistics, Studio Art – 2D & 3D Design & Drawing, United States Government and Politics, United States History, and World History (1st time offered in 22-23). Over 70 Honors classes are offered in English, Math, Science, Social studies, the arts, AFJROTC, Career and Technical education, and World languages. Scholarship totals for the class of 2022 entailed over $1,191,074. Including the NCSU Park Scholarship: $116,000 and JROTC $180,000.

GRADING SYSTEM

Quality points for students entering 9th grade in 2015-16 and beyond are as follows:  

***Honors courses carry one-half (0.5 extra quality point) and Advanced Placement, Community College courses included on the most recent Comprehensive Articulation Agreement Transfer List, and courses taught at a four-year university and college carry one (1.0) extra quality point. 

CLASS RANK AND HONORS

Transcripts include both weighted and unweighted cumulative grade-point averages. Rank is determined by cumulative weighted GPA and is calculated at the end of each semester. Beginning in the 2018-19 school year, WCPSS began designating the following senior honors in lieu of naming a Valedictorian or Salutatorian:

• Students with a 3.75 - 3.99 weighted grade point average shall receive the distinction of Cum Laude.  

• Students with a 4.0 - 4.249 weighted grade point average shall receive the distinction of Magna Cum Laude.  

• Students with a 4.25 or higher weighted grade point average shall receive the distinction of Summa Cum Laude.

GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS 26 credits 

^Students entering HS 2019 or Before