Stephen F. Austin High School (Austin, Texas) Explained

Stephen F. Austin High School
Address:1715 West Cesar Chavez Street
Country:United States
Motto:Loyal Forever[1]
Colors: Maroon
White
Conference:UIL 25-AAAAAA
Principal:Melvin Bedford[2]
Mascot:Mr. Maroo[3]
Team Name:Maroons
Enrollment:2,360 (2019–2020)
Teaching Staff:133.87 (FTE)
Ratio:17.63
Coordinates:30.2739°N -97.7664°W

Stephen F. Austin High School, more commonly known as Austin High, is a public high school in Austin, Texas, United States, and part of the Austin Independent School District (AISD). Founded in 1881, it is one of the oldest public high schools west of the Mississippi River, and was one of the first public high schools in the state of Texas.

The campus is located near Downtown Austin along the Colorado River (Lady Bird Lake). The school, originally known simply as Austin High School, was renamed in 1953 after Stephen F. Austin, locally revered as the "Father of Texas".[4] It is one of thirteen high schools in the Austin Independent School District.

Roughly 2,300 students attend the school in grades nine through twelve. The school's current building is its seventh, following four 19th-century and two 20th-century locations in other buildings.[5]

Austin High's official motto is Mens Agitat Molem (Latin: The Mind Moves the Masses) or, "Mind Over Matter". The official mascot is Mr. Maroo.

History

Austin High School opened in September 1881, with classes held on the third floor of the West Austin School building at 11th Street and Rio Grande Street. Due to population growth, instruction was held at the First Baptist Church, the temporary State Capitol, and the Smith Opera House.[5] The first dedicated Austin High School campus, located at 9th and Trinity Streets, opened in 1900. In 1925, Austin High School moved to 1212 Rio Grande Street, the former building of John T. Allan Junior High School ( 1916), which had relocated to 9th at Trinity.[6] Allan would relocate to East Austin in 1957, later convert to an elementary school, and close in 2013.[7]

In 1956, the first seven African-American students began attending Austin High School as part of desegregation; a total of 13 black students attended white high schools in AISD at that time.[8]

In 1975, Austin High School moved to its current building, designed by Jay W. Barnes II. The first classes at the Cesar Chavez campus commenced on August 25, 1975.[6]

The Mr. Maroo mascot was officially adopted by the student council in the 1965–66 school year.

Campus

The current campus is bounded by Lady Bird Lake (formerly Town Lake) to the south and a controlled-access portion of Cesar Chavez Street to the north. Because of the school's relative isolation and the campus's relative newness, Amy Wells, author of Both Sides Now: The Story of School Desegregation's Graduates, wrote that the school "has a somewhat suburban feel".[9]

Academics

As of the late 1970s the school was considered to be the best in its area, according to Wells. It was known for having a university preparatory curriculum.[9]

Austin High was called a National Blue Ribbon School in 1982–83.[10]

Neighborhoods served

Downtown Austin, portions of Oak Hill, and the family apartment complexes of the University of Texas at Austin are zoned to Austin High School. Other Austin High neighborhoods include Zilker, Westcreek, Barton Hills, Travis Country, and Tarrytown.[11]

Austin High School historically had a reputation as an elite school as it was associated with wealthy neighborhoods in the western part of Austin.[12]

Student body

As of November 2020, Austin High School is 54% non-Hispanic White, 35.3% Hispanic, 3.7% Black, and 2.3% Asian. The school is 23.5% economically disadvantaged and 7.2% of students are English Language Learners.[13]

In 2000 the school was 54% non-Hispanic White, 37% Hispanic and Latino, 8% black, and 2% Asian, reflecting the overall demographics of Austin. As of 1980 most of the White students originated from west Austin, including Tarrytown. There were also middle class and poor students. Some black students originated from Clarksville, an area housing servants' quarters that, until school desegregation, was served by segregated black schools. By 1980, court-ordered desegregation added a heavily Hispanic and Latino section of South Austin, and a black section of northeast Austin to the student population.[14]

As of the late 1970s the school was 66% White, 19% Hispanic, and 15% African-American, making it one of the more racially balanced AISD schools; at the time there was less Hispanic representation and more White representation than the district average. In 1980 the federal court system forced AISD to begin desegregation busing.[15]

Athletics

Austin High School offers many different athletic programs for students: football, basketball, tennis, golf, mountain biking, swimming, baseball, volleyball, soccer, track and field, cross country, lacrosse, ultimate frisbee, and cheerleading. The Austin High football team won the 1942 state championship.[16]

Notable alumni

Notes and References

  1. Web site: History of AHS . Austin High School . austin.austinschools.org . December 1, 2023.
  2. Web site: Administration . Austin High School . www.austinhighmaroons.org . September 12, 2021.
  3. Web site: History of AHS . Austin High School . austin.austinschools.org . December 1, 2023.
  4. Book: Gregg Cantrell. Stephen F. Austin: Empresario of Texas. 1 August 2001. Yale University Press. 0-300-09093-5. 2. ...generations of Texans have come to revere Austin as the Father of Texas....
  5. Web site: Austin High School Historical Marker Text. Texas Historical Commission. 2007-07-05.
  6. Web site: History. Austin High School. January 12, 2009. August 14, 2009. https://web.archive.org/web/20090814130843/http://www.austinschools.org/campus/austin/history.htm. dead.
  7. Web site: 2013-06-06. Last Day of School Means No More Students at Allan Elementary Campus. 2021-10-08. KUT Radio, Austin's NPR Station. en.
  8. "Five Decades of Social Change: A Timeline". Austin Public Library. Retrieved on June 6, 2016.
  9. Wells, Amy. Both Sides Now: The Story of School Desegregation's Graduates. University of California Press, January 20, 2009., 9780520942486. p. 48.
  10. Web site: Blue Ribbon Schools Program, Schools Recognized 1982-1983 Through 1999-2002 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140630091138/http://www2.ed.gov/programs/nclbbrs/list-1982.pdf . U.S. Department of Education . June 30, 2014 .
  11. Web site: dead . School Assignment by Residential Address . . October 2, 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110811024606/https://access.austinisd.org/school_boundaries/index.php . Aug 11, 2011 .
  12. Wells, Amy. Both Sides Now: The Story of School Desegregation's Graduates. University of California Press, January 20, 2009., 9780520942486. p. 49.
  13. Web site: Austin High School. 2021-10-08. Austin ISD. en.
  14. Wells, Amy. Both Sides Now: The Story of School Desegregation's Graduates. University of California Press, January 20, 2009., 9780520942486. p. 50.
  15. Wells, Amy. Both Sides Now: The Story of School Desegregation's Graduates. University of California Press, January 20, 2009., 9780520942486. p. 47-48.
  16. https://www.uiltexas.org/football/archives/P528 Football 1942 state championship
  17. Web site: Jay Davis Named Livermore Lab's First National Security Fellow . March 12, 2001 . Lawrence Livermore Laboratories.
  18. Web site: SXSW Interview: Austin High School Alum Marshall Allman Discusses his New Film 'Blue Like Jazz' and the Meaning of Life • Austin Daze. April 25, 2012.
  19. Web site: Former MVP, Austin High alumni Don Baylor remembered. 2020-06-24. kvue.com. en-US.
  20. News: Bush used private school option. Associated Press. April 4, 2000. August 22, 2006. https://web.archive.org/web/20070523053244/http://quest.cjonline.com/stories/040400/gen_private.shtml. May 23, 2007. dead.
  21. Web site: The Life and Legacy of Liz Carpenter. lbjlibrary.org. March 22, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20100328230949/http://www.lbjlibrary.org/carpenter/biography/. March 28, 2010. dead.
  22. News: GTT. Michael Hoinski. The New York Times. January 21, 2016. July 10, 2014.
  23. Web site: Biography. 2020-06-24. Ben Crenshaw. en.
  24. Web site: Meet the 112th. 111th.illumen.org. January 7, 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20110726172926/http://111th.illumen.org/leg.jsf?legMemId=31850. July 26, 2011. dead.
  25. Web site: Former Austin High Maroon athletes . LadyMaroons.com . https://web.archive.org/web/20090414140258/http://ladymaroons.com/wherearetheynow.htm . April 14, 2009 . dead.
  26. News: Kinky Friedman's Life Reads Like a Book With a Most Unlikely Plot. David B. Green. Haaretz. January 3, 2024. November 1, 2015.
  27. News: GTT. Michael Hoinski. The New York Times. January 21, 2016. July 10, 2014.
  28. News: 1950 Austin High Net Squad Is Strongest in Recent Years. Hilley. Lewis. 1951-04-08. 44. The Austin American. 2023-09-06.
  29. News: NFL Draft 2017: Bills move up to get record-breaking Zay Jones. 2017-04-28. Sporting News. 2017-06-28.
  30. News: Edmund Perry Kuempel . 16 September 2020 . cemetery.tspb.texas.gov.
  31. News: Ramsey . Ross . TribBlog: Kuempel Dead [Updated] ]. 16 September 2020 . The Texas Tribune . 4 November 2010 . en.
  32. News: Eaton . Tim . Rep. Edmund Kuempel of Seguin dies . 16 September 2020 . Austin American-Statesman . 31 August 2012 . en.
  33. News: Austin's Lundquist to call his 26th Masters for CBS . Smith . Doug . September 23, 2012 . . July 14, 2019.
  34. Book: Nominations of Dr. Mark B. McClellan, Brian Roseboro, Donald Korb, and Mark J. Warshawsky: Hearing Before the Committee on Finance, United States Senate, One Hundred Eighth Congress, Second Session, on the Nominations of Mark B. McClellan, to be Administrator, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Department of Health and Human Services; Brian Roseboro, to be Under Secretary, Department of the Treasury; Donald Korb, to be Chief Counsel, Internal Revenue Service and Assistant General Counsel, Department of the Treasury; and Mark J. Warshawsky, to be Assistant Secretary, U.S. Department of the Treasury, March 8, 2004. March 8, 2004. U.S. Government Printing Office. 9780160717772. 91. en.
  35. Web site: June 20, 2008. Scott McClellan and Family. 2020-06-24. www.austinchronicle.com. en-US.
  36. News: Ben McKenzie on Uncle Robert. Messer. Kate X. The Austin Chronicle. November 4, 2005. October 22, 2008.
  37. Web site: Homesick Texan Q&A;: Julie Powell . Fain . Lisa . November 28, 2006 . Homesick Texan . www.homesicktexan.com . July 14, 2019.
  38. Web site: Cantu. Rick. For second straight season, state tournament on deck for Hyde Park. 2020-06-24. Austin American-Statesman. en.
  39. News: NBA father son pair host youth basketball camp . Sophia . Beausoleil . June 24, 2014 . . https://web.archive.org/web/20170828061850/http://kxan.com/2014/06/27/nba-father-son-pair-host-youth-basketball-camp/ . August 28, 2017 . dead.
  40. Web site: Django Walker debuts new album. 2020-06-24. edmondlifeandleisure.com.

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