Located
on
thirty-three
acres
of
land,
which
formerly
was
part
of
the
historic
estate
of
Rippon
Lodge
is
Rippon
Middle
School.
The
site
is
at
the
southern
extreme
of
the
community
of
Woodbridge,
Virginia,
and
is
approximately
one-half
mile
west
of
the
Potomac
River.
Rippon
Lodge
was
built
by,
Richard
Blackburn,
who
in
1725,
left
his
home
in
Rippon
(now
Ripon)
in
Yorkshire,
England,
and
settled
in
northern
Virginia.
He
built
his
home,
which
he
named
"Rippon
Lodge,"
on
a
high
knoll
overlooking
the
mouth
of
Neabsco
Creek
and
the
Potomac
River.
Crossing
the
property
was
King's
Highway,
once
known
as
the
Potomac
Path,
which
was
the
main
post
road
between
the
northern
and
southern
colonies.
This
historic
road
was
often
traveled
by
George
Washington,
General
Lafayette,
and
French
and
American
troops
during
the
Revolutionary
War.
Tea
bushes
which
were
planted
in
colonial
times
can
still
be
found
growing
on
the
lawn
at
Rippon
Lodge.
These
bushes
could
be
found
throughout
the
colonies
as
a
protest
against
the
tea
taxes
levied
by
Great
Britain.
Two of the daughters of Rippon Lodge became mistresses of Mt. Vernon. In 1785, the granddaughter of Richard Blackburn and daughter of Thomas, married Bushrod Washington, a nephew of George Washington. Later, a nephew of Bushrod, John Augustine Washington, married Jane Charlotte Blackburn. These two women are buried with their husbands at Mt. Vernon.
Many romantic legends are connected with Rippon Lodge. Two duelists fought in its drawing room, and a few people maintain that even today there are supernatural happenings at the Lodge. Two of the more recent residents, the late Rear Admiral Richard Blackburn Black, and a fifth great grandson of Richard Blackburn, were never disturbed by such spirits as they lived comfortably in the carefully restored Rippon Lodge.
The building of the Rippon school was completed in August, 1966, and included an elementary school adjacent to and integral with the facilities occupied by the middle school. In 1996, the entire facility became Rippon Middle School as Rippon Elementary School was moved to a new elementary school in the Leesylvania area. The school draws from five elementary schools - Henderson, Featherstone, Marumsco Hills, River Oaks, Leesylvania (formerly Rippon Elementary). From Rippon Middle School, students advance to Potomac Senior High School, or a variety of other county wide specialty programs.
Today, over thirteen hundred - sixth, seventh, and eighth grader students attend Rippon Middle School. They are greeted by a professional staff of full-time classroom teachers, Guidance Counselors, Library and Media Specialists, secretaries, classroom assistants, cafeteria personnel, support staff, custodians and county specialists.
Rippon Middle School students wear their Raider pride on the playing field. The school participates in all the athletics the county offers: football, basketball, wrestling, soccer, track, baseball, soccer and tennis. The step team and cheerleaders boost school spirit. Our trophy case in the front hall shows off our achievements.
Raiders have the opportunity to enhance their school experience through a variety of extra-curricular activities. The Ecology Club, Foreign Language Club, the Science Club, the Drama Club, as well as Yearbook, Photography Club, and the Chess Club allow our students to explore a range of interests. In addition, outstanding Raiders are inducted into the National Junior Honor Society.
One of the strengths of our school is the involvement of parents and parent volunteers. Everyone works together to provide a safety net for the students by actively involving the parents in both the academic and the behavioral progress of their children.
At Rippon Middle School, we are all working together to be the very best. RAIDER PRIDE!