Westlake High School (Texas)

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Westlake High School's Fine Arts Facility
Westlake High School's Fine Arts Facility

Westlake High School is a school in Austin, Texas in the Eanes Independent School District. In 2004, it was ranked 72nd on Newsweek Magazine's Top 1000 Schools list [1].

Though located outside the limits of the surrounding cities by a matter of yards,[2] Westlake High School is the lone high school in the Eanes Independent School District and serves Westlake Hills, Rollingwood, parts of Austin, and parts of unincorporated Travis County. The school was opened in 1969.

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[edit] Statistics

Westlake has successfully prepared students for excellence in their respective fields of choice. Under the College Board Advanced Placement (AP) annual ranking, Westlake consistently ranks in the top 50. In 2005, 82% of Westlake students taking AP tests scored a 3 or higher[3]. Of the 2005 senior class, 84% of students went on to attend a four year university, and another 10% attended a 2-year community, or junior, college/technical school. It is uncertain as to what happened to the other 6%.[4]

Its music and theater programs have won All-State honors repeatedly.[citation needed] According to the school's website, the "bands, orchestra, and chorale consistenly receive the highest ratings each year and have the largest number of students in the region selected for all-district honors."[5]

The band program performed at the American Bandmasters' Association in 2006 and also organized the annual Westlake Marching Festival in 1977, at which high school bands from all over Central Texas participate.[citation needed] The Westlake band traveled to the United Kingdom in June 2000, performed at the prestigious Midwest Band and Orchestra clinic in December 2002, and marched in the January 2003 Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, California. [6]

[edit] Rigor, Relevance, Relationships

"Rigor, Relevance, Relationships" is Westlake's new motto brought about by principal Linda Rawlings and based on the Model Schools Initiative.

Westlake's academic programs include an extensive list of AP courses, as well as courses such as graphic design,journalism, technical theater, choir, band, jazz band, orchestra, computer science, Spanish, Latin, French, German, and soon to come, Chinese.

Along with these accredited courses, Westlake also offers many extracurricular activities. Some of these specific programs include, Cheerleading, Band, Athletics, Chess Club, UIL Academic Competitions, Young Life, Future Entrepreneurs of America, Young Republicans, Old Republicans, Young Democrats, Off Road Club, Fashion Club, Christian Athletes, Eco-Action Club, and AV Club.

[edit] School Newspaper

The Westlake Featherduster is an award winning student newspaper of Westlake High School. The Featherduster was founded in 1969. The Westlake Featherduster and the journalism program at Westlake High School is widely acknowledged as a leader in scholastic journalism. Many former students of the program have continued into careers in professional journalism, including Andrew Loehman (photography) [7], Corrie MacLaggan (print journalism) [8], and Kevin Dunn (radio) [9].

[edit] Athletic program

Westlake's football team has experienced much success. When Ron Schroeder took over in the mid 1980s, the team emerged as a perennial power in Texas high school football. The team made the UIL 4A State Title Game in 1990, and after moving to Class 5A, made the State Title Game in that class in 1994, 1996, 2000, 2001, and 2006. Westlake won the 1996 5A Division II State Championship against Abilene Cooper by a score of 55-15 in Texas Stadium in Dallas, TX. That 16-0 season was Westlake's only undefeated season. The team was led by future Purdue standout and eventual Pro Bowl selection Drew Brees at quarterback. The current head coach is Derek Long, a former defensive coordinator under Ron Schroeder. The 2006 team advanced to state finals. The Westlake Football team plays at Westlake Chaparral Stadium at Ebbie Neptune Field.

Tennis, Volleyball, B-ball, Swimming, Golf, Wrestling, and other sports consistently perform at the state level.

Westlake High alumni include:

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