Damascus High School
Damascus High School is a public high school in Damascus, Maryland, United States. It is part of the Montgomery County [Public Schools (Maryland)|Montgomery County Public Schools] system.
History
Damascus High School was first established in 1909. The current building was constructed in 1950 and renovated in 1978.In 2020, MCPS approved a $127 million renovation of the high school. The renovation was originally planned for a 2025 completion date, but it was delayed repeatedly due to county budget concerns, and now has an indefinite timeline.
Athletics
Damascus' school colors are green and gold, and their mascot is the Swarmin' Hornet. The school's biggest rivalries are with the neighboring Clarksburg, Sherwood, and Seneca Valley high schools.Damascus has a prestigious football program which has won twelve Maryland state championships. This is a state record that they share with Seneca Valley High School. The team's dominance from 2015 to 2017 earned them a 53-game winning streak, which is also a state record, and was a national record at the time.
In 2018, the football program came under scrutiny after it was discovered that four players on the junior varsity team were sexually assaulted with broomsticks by teammates in the locker room. The school administration waited twelve hours after learning about the hazing before contacting the police. The team members who were accused were initially tried as adults before having their cases moved to juvenile court. As a result, the students were found guilty but later released on bond. The victims' families received a settlement of $9.7 million from MCPS in 2023.
Notable alumni
- Bryan Bresee, NFL player
- Jake Funk, NFL player and Super Bowl LVI champion
- Michael Jurgens, NFL player
- Joel Ross, CFL player
- Brian Stelter, political commentator
- Kevin Thompson, NFL player
- Joe Tippett, actor