# Will C. Wood High School

Will C. Wood High School is a high school in the Vacaville Unified School District located in Vacaville, California, serving the south side of the city and the unincorporated community of Elmira. First opening its doors in September 1969, it was a middle school until the 1988–1989 school year. That was when the conversion to a high school began and had its first graduating class in 1992. The school has seen two major improvement projects, based on funding from Measure V passed in 2003, improving physical education facilities and adding the science wing, and Measure A passed in 2014, which finally gave Will C. Wood their own stadium.

## School history

Will C. Wood first opened its doors in September 1969. At that time it was planned to be Vacaville's second comprehensive high school. Growth was not as fast as anticipated and plans were modified. From 1969 to 1973 Will C. Wood was a satellite campus for Vacaville High School. Ninth and tenth grades for science and math and all classes for ninth graders were two combinations that were used. In the fall of 1974, Wood became a junior high school (grades 7 - 9) servicing the south side of Vacaville while Willis Jepson Junior High School serviced the north side of Vacaville. Wood remained in this format until the 1988–1989 school year.
A new intermediate school, Vaca Pena Middle School, was built on the south side of Vacaville. Seventh graders went to Vaca Pena rather than to Wood. In 1988 Wood began its transition into a four-year high school. That year Wood had 8th, 9th, and 10th graders. Construction was started to complete Wood as a high school. A new gymnasium, locker room, classroom wing, office complex, cafeteria, and theater were added. Each year a new class was added. The 1991–1992 school year was the first year that Will C. Wood was a complete four year high school. However, the facility was never completed. The class of 1992 was its first graduating class. In 2012 Will C Wood celebrated its first 20 years of graduates.

## Principals

History of Principals at Will C Wood High School :
| Name: | Years Served: | Notes: |
| Nancy Klees | 1969-1977 | First Serving Principal of Will C Wood High School |
| Frank Molina | 1977-1991 | Oversaw the conversion of Wood into a Middle school, Gymnasium named after him |
| Mike Donnoe | 1991-1994 | Principal of the first graduating class of Will C Wood High School |
| Garlon Prewitt | 1994-1995 | Shortest Serving Principal in School History |
| Enriqueta Newland | 1995-2005 | Promoted Vacaville's bond measure Meausre V in 2003 for school improvements and expansion |
| Chris Strong | 2006-2011 | Oversaw the building and opening of many Measure V projects, including the opening of the state-of-the-art Science wing. Father of Carson Strong. |
| Cliff De Graw | 2011-2016 | Promoted the passage of Vacaville's Measure A, acquired funding of the school's much-sought-after stadium |
| Adam Rich | 2016–2022 | Principal of first graduating class on Will C Wood's campus, frontman of band Pressure 4-5 |
| Charleston Brown | 2022–present | Most recent principal in school history |

## Notable alumni

* Carson Strong (Class of 2018, quarterback for the Nevada Wolf Pack)
* Jarrett Bush (Class of 2002, Super Bowl XLV Champion with the Green Bay Packers)
* Jermaine Dye (Class of 1992, 2005 World Series MVP with the Chicago White Sox)