Westlake High School (Texas) Explained

Westlake High School
Streetaddress:4100 Westbank Drive
City:Austin
State:Texas
County:Travis County
Zipcode:78746
Country:United States
Coordinates:30.2758°N -97.8156°W
Pushpin Map:Texas#USA
District:Eanes Independent School District
Superintendent:Jeff Arnett[1]
Principal:Steve Ramsey[2]
Opened:1971
Type:Public high school
Gender:Coeducational
Grades:9–12
Team Name:Chaparrals
Colors:
Red, Blue and White
Conference:UIL 6A
Enrollment:2,825 (2022–23)[3]
Ratio:14.16
Teaching Staff:199.50 (FTE)
Newspaper:Featherduster
Yearbook:El Paisano
Website:Official Website

Westlake High School is a public high school in unincorporated territory of Travis County, Texas, west of and adjacent to Austin.[4] [5] The school is a part of the Eanes Independent School District. Westlake High School is the only high school in the Eanes ISD and serves West Lake Hills, Rollingwood, parts of Southwest Austin, as well as parts of unincorporated Travis County. The school was established in 1969 and opened in 1970.

In Newsweek Magazine's list of America's top High Schools Westlake was ranked #72 in 2011,[6] #160 in 2012,[7] #93 in 2013,[8] and #117 in 2014.[9]

In high school rankings by The Washington Post, Westlake was #52 in 2010,[10] #59 in 2011,[11] #106 in 2012,[12] #136 in 2013,[13] and #136 in 2014.[14]

In the U.S. News & World Report's 2023-2024 rankings, Westlake is listed as #299 out of 17,680 schools.[15]

Extracurricular activities

Westlake was moved to the state's highest classification in 2014 when Texas added a 6A classification.[16]

Academics

Athletics

The Westlake Chaparrals compete in volleyball, cross country, football, basketball, powerlifting, wrestling, swimming, soccer, lacrosse, golf, tennis, track, water polo, baseball, softball, dance, and cheerleading.[18]

State titles

Orchestra

The orchestra program currently has three full orchestras competing in UIL each year.

Band

The Westlake High School Chaparral Band has been named the Texas State Honor Band three times (AA, AAA, and AAAA) in its 30-year history.[40] A select group of Chap Band student musicians performed at the bi-annual conference of the internationally recognized World Association for Symphonic Bands (WASBE) in Cincinnati, OH in July 2009. The invitation to perform at WASBE is the first ever extended to a high school band organization.

State titles

Cheerleading

The Westlake Cheer Program's Red Team has won the 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2019 UCA Super Varsity Division 1 National High School Cheerleading Championships.[42] [43]

Notable alumni

Controversies

On the morning of Oct. 13, 1989, an effigy was found hanging by a noose from a tree on campus. The effigy was dressed in a football jersey that read "fish." That same day, Westlake High School was set to play the Homecoming football game against Lyndon B. Johnson High School, who had a Black quarterback named "Fish." Controversy over the meaning of the effigy ensued. Some insisted that the lynched effigy was racially motivated. Others thought the word "fish" on the jersey was an unfortunate coincidence, drawing parallels to the nickname "fish" that was often given to freshmen at the school. Another scandal would ensue the same day as the words "Go Home, N——" were found painted on the bleachers for the visiting team. Following the incidents on October 13, the University Interscholastic League put Westlake High School on probation for the 1990-91 school year. The school was also required to institute a plan to improve diversity, inclusion, and sensitivity.[58]

Public controversy around racism at Westlake High School resurfaced in 2020 with the creation of the Instagram account @racismatwestlake. The account documents firsthand experiences with discrimination at Westlake High School. Media attention garnered by the account has led to conversations surrounding diversity at the school, the actions of administrators, and the general culture at Westlake.[59] [60]

In popular culture

Neptune High, the high school in Veronica Mars, is partially based on Westlake, where the father of writer-producer Rob Thomas once served as vice-principal.[61]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Eanes ISD Superintendent . eanesisd.net . December 21, 2023.
  2. Web site: Westlake High School Principal . eanesisd.net . December 21, 2023.
  3. Web site: WESTLAKE H S. National Center for Education Statistics. June 21, 2024.
  4. "Home." Westlake High School. Retrieved December 31, 2012. "4100 Westbank Drive, Austin, TX 78746"
  5. Web site: Jurisdiction Map. City of Austin. 2018-01-01. 2019-05-21. - Also see: "2010 CENSUS - CENSUS BLOCK MAP: West Lake Hills city, TX." U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved December 31, 2012. (Archive)
  6. http://www.newsweek.com/feature/2011/americas-best-high-schools.html "Newsweek: America's Best High Schools"
  7. http://www.newsweek.com/2012/05/20/america-s-best-high-schools.html "America's Best High Schools 2012"
  8. http://www.newsweek.com/2013/05/06/america-s-best-high-schools.html "2013 America's Best High Schools"
  9. http://www.newsweek.com/high-schools/americas-top-schools-2014 "Newsweek 2014 America's High Schools"
  10. Web site: High School Challenge 2010 . apps.washingtonpost.com . February 9, 2015.
  11. Web site: High School Challenge 2011 . apps.washingtonpost.com . February 9, 2015.
  12. Web site: High School Challenge 2012 . apps.washingtonpost.com . February 9, 2015.
  13. Web site: High School Challenge 2013 . apps.washingtonpost.com . February 9, 2015.
  14. Web site: High School Challenge 2014 . apps.washingtonpost.com . February 9, 2015.
  15. Web site: 2023-2024 Best U.S. High Schools . . December 21, 2023.
  16. Web site: UIL officially approves changes that add 6A classification, expand playoffs . 27 February 2013 .
  17. http://uil100.org/archives/academics/academic-meet-overall.php UIL Academic Meet Champions
  18. http://www.theathleticsdepartment.com/schools/Austin-Westlake/ The Athletics Department
  19. Web site: 1979-1980 3A Baseball State Results . uiltexas.org . December 20, 2023.
  20. Web site: 1983-1984 4A Baseball State Results . uiltexas.org . December 20, 2023.
  21. Web site: 1992-1993 4A Girls Basketball State Results . uiltexas.org . December 20, 2023.
  22. Web site: 1994-1995 5A Girls Basketball State Results . uiltexas.org . December 20, 2023.
  23. Web site: 1995-1996 5A Girls Basketball State Results . uiltexas.org . December 20, 2023.
  24. Web site: 1979-1980 B Boys Results . uiltexas.org . December 20, 2023.
  25. Web site: 1981-1982 4A Boys Results . uiltexas.org . December 20, 2023.
  26. Web site: 1975-1976 Cross Country - Girls . uiltexas.org . December 20, 2023.
  27. Web site: 1976-1977 Cross Country - Girls . uiltexas.org . December 20, 2023.
  28. Web site: 1977-1978 Cross Country - Girls . uiltexas.org . December 20, 2023.
  29. Web site: 1985-1986 Cross Country - Girls . uiltexas.org . December 20, 2023.
  30. Web site: 1985-1986 Cross Country - Girls . uiltexas.org . December 20, 2023.
  31. Web site: 1996 Football Conference 5A . uiltexas.org . December 20, 2023.
  32. Web site: 2019-2020 Football State Championship Results . University Interscholastic League . December 22, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191222095158/https://www.uiltexas.org/football/state/results . December 22, 2019 . live.
  33. Web site: 2021-01-17. Texas high school football championships: No. 4 Westlake takes down No. 10 Southlake Carroll as father beats son for 6A Division I title - MaxPreps. 2021-01-20. MaxPreps.com. en.
  34. Web site: 2021-12-19. Westlake secures third straight state championship after topping Denton Guyer . 2023-09-28. kvue.com/. en.
  35. http://uil100.org/archives/athletics/golf-boys.php UIL Centennial webpage
  36. http://uil100.org/archives/athletics/swimming-diving-event-team.php?event==Team+Overall&boys_girls=Boys UIL Boys Swimming Archives
  37. http://uil100.org/archives/athletics/swimming-diving-event-team.php?event==Team+Overall&boys_girls=Girls UIL Girls Swimming Archives
  38. http://uil100.org/archives/athletics/team-tennis.php UIL Centennial webpage
  39. http://uil100.org/archives/athletics/volleyball.php UIL Volleyball Archives
  40. Web site: Texas Honor Band Search History.
  41. http://uil100.org/archives/music/tssec-sweepstakes.php UIL Marching Band Archives
  42. Web site: Westlake Red Cheerleading wins national championship for second year. KXAN-TV. February 2014.
  43. Web site: Super Varsity Division I Final Results.
  44. Web site: Bears bring back Kyle Adams, dump Jonathan Scott . Florio . Mike . September 3, 2013 . . September 4, 2013.
  45. News: How Ben lived with his heart condition . Cargile . Erin . December 29, 2011 . KXAN.com . December 28, 2011 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120107222455/http://www.kxan.com/dpp/news/local/austin/how-ben-breedlove-handled-his-disease . January 7, 2012.
  46. We Love the Westlake Chaps. No, Really. . Hall . Michael . October 1999 . . December 9, 2023.
  47. Web site: Ethan Burke - Football . texassports.com . December 11, 2023 . en.
  48. Web site: Sam Ehlinger . rivals.com . December 9, 2023.
  49. News: QB hotbed: Brees, Foles share high school . Mike . Triplett . January 2, 2014 . . December 9, 2023.
  50. News: Westlake graduate Theo Gillen drafted by Tampa Bay Rays in first round of MLB draft . Colby . Gordon . July 14, 2024 . . July 15, 2024.
  51. News: No Time to Rest for Westlake Multi-Sport Standout . Travis . Recek . January 29, 2021 . . April 27, 2024 . en.
  52. News: USA TODAY High School Sports Awards Offensive Football Player of the Year Cade Klubnik embraces team-first mindset . Clark . Douglas . September 7, 2021 . . May 28, 2022.
  53. News: Little Athletes, Big Dreams . Bill . Crawford . June 10, 2005 . . December 12, 2023.
  54. News: Westlake's QB honor roll. Austin American-Statesman. October 7, 2011.
  55. https://web.archive.org/web/20100504093935/http://swimming.teamusa.org/athletes/scott-spann "Scott Spann"
  56. News: Westlake High School graduate and Penn swimmer Thomas becomes first transgender woman to win NCAAs . KXAN . March 17, 2022 . August 23, 2023.
  57. News: Westlake HS grad convicted of operating underground website Silk Road . Austin American-Statesman . September 24, 2016 . August 23, 2023.
  58. Web site: Sperling . Shelby . Westlake takes action after ’89 homecoming’s racist stunt . 2023-11-28 . THE FEATHERDUSTER.
  59. Web site: 2020-08-19 . ‘Racism at Westlake’: Students share painful experiences in common . 2023-11-28 . KXAN Austin . en-US.
  60. Web site: 2020-08-20 . ‘Racism at Westlake’: Athletes report offensive behaviors within powerhouse program . 2023-11-28 . KXAN Austin . en-US.
  61. Web site: Acosta. Belinda. From Austin to Neptune. The Austin Chronicle. 26 September 2017.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Westlake High School (Texas)".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2024, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.