John Randolph Tucker High School is a public high school in the West End of Henrico County, Virginia, United States. It is named after lawyer and judge John Randolph Tucker. Its students and faculty often refer to themselves as “Tigers", and locals around the area often refer to the school as "Tucker". The school had approximately 1600 students and over 150 faculty members, 135 being teachers, during the 2014-15 school year. The school, being a magnet high school, attracts students from around Henrico County to participate in its International Baccalaureate Programme, Advanced College Academy, and immersive World Language Center. The school is undergoing a renovation process. A new building, similar to Glen Allen High School, will be built on the athletic fields. Once that has completed, the current buildings will be demolished and athletic fields put in their place.
Specialty centers
Of all nine high schools in Henrico, Tucker is the only one that has three specialty centers.
Advanced College Academy
The Advanced College Academy is designed for students within the program to earn an associate degree in Social Sciences from J. Sergeant Reynolds Community College, accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, in addition to an advanced high school diploma from J. R. Tucker. The students are simultaneously enrolled in both institutions without cost. The program is founded upon the National Alliance of Concurrent Enrollment Partnerships standards. The 60 college credits earned through the program are earned in the last two years of high school. The students beginning learning the college level material starting their junior year.
at Tucker was first authorized in the 2008-09 school year for the first class of 9th grade IB Middle Years Programme students and, two years later, expanded to include the diploma programs. Tucker's I.B. program is a member of the Mid-Atlantic Regional Conference of IB World Schools. Students at Tucker have to complete Creativity, Action, and Service projects throughout all four years of high school to explore their community and identity, the Personal Project in the summer after ninth grade to partake in creating a final product of the student's interests, and the Extended Essay-a university level paper under 4,000 words with a topic of choice-during eleventh grade. The middle years certificate is awarded based on CAS projects in the ninth and tenth grade, meeting certain International Baccalaureate assessment scores in classes, and the personal project score. The International Baccalaureate Diploma requires doing well in CAS projects, International Baccalaureate assessments, and an extended essay.
World Language Center
The World Language Center, known commonly as 'immersion', was founded in the 1993-1994 school year. Most immersion students have already had one year of study of Spanish. To apply, students be prepared to take an entrance exam in addition to submitting their transcript and application essay. The program consists of continuing Spanish in immersive classes through high school, taking at least one year of a supplemental language, and opportunities such as studying abroad for credit, gaining entrance with guest speakers, field trips, and cultural events. The students take approximately 2-3 center classes in a seven block schedule, focusing on oral and written Spanish as well as the culture, literature, and art of Spanish-speaking countries. Once the program is completed, a special seal is placed onto the graduating student's diploma.
