Robert E. Lee High School (Baytown, Texas)

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Robert E. Lee High School (often referred to as Baytown Lee) is a secondary school in Baytown, Texas, that serves grades 9 through 12. Lee is one of two high schools in the Goose Creek Consolidated Independent School District, which serves all of Baytown and Highlands, Texas. The other is Ross S. Sterling High School. As of 2008 the school's ethnic breakdown is 38 percent White, 42 percent Hispanic, 19 percent African-American, and 1 percent other.^[1]

1 School founding and traditions
2 History
- 2.1 The Lee Brigadiers
3 Academics
4 Notes
5 External links

[edit] School founding and traditions

Founded in 1928, Lee High School sits on the banks of Goose Creek in the southern part of Baytown. As such, the school adopted the Gander as its mascot, the only school in Texas to do so. In 2007, the Gander was voted as the best mascot in Texas.^[2] The school's colors are maroon and white. Over the years, REL has garnered several fight songs. The school's official fight song is "Dull Razor Blues", a foxtrot that is played up-tempo at the mid point of each half. The other unofficial fight song is "Southern Special", a swing version of the traditional song "Dixie", played at a very fast tempo after the team scores. The final school song is commonly referred to as the 'medley', is played by the Lee Band while marching parade style. It consists of a compilation of three songs: "Are You From Dixie?", "Waitin' on the Robert E. Lee", and "Washington and Lee Swing".

The Robert E. Lee High School Alma Mater is an original composition not shared by any other school. The lyrics are:^[3]

Set our hearts in tune with thee
Let wisdom be our light.
Thy strength and thy beauty
Shall make our pathway bright forever.
Glory, laude, and honor
We would ever bring to thee.
And lift our voices in thy praise;
Let other thy spirit see.
Alma Mater, Alma Mater,
Give to us the key.
That through our days will open wide
The truth that makes us free.
May we ever forward march
And faithful, loyal be-
Victorious maroon and white,
The banners of R. E. LEE.

[edit] History

On April 29, 1987, a three-alarm fire destroyed the main building. Initially thought the be accidental, the fire was eventually ruled arson. The main building was rebuilt and formally rededicated in 1988.

[edit] The Lee Brigadiers

From the early 1930s to 2001, REL High School was also home to a unique and famous tradition. The Lee Brigadiers were an all-female drum and bugle corps that marched military style in football games and parades. While a more common group in the middle of the 20th century, all-female drum and bugle corps were all but extinct by the 1980s, having been replaced by dance teams and pep squads. The Lee Brigadiers continued their traditions of marching in maroon military uniforms with boots and skirts until they were the last group of its kind, finally succumbing to lack of student interest. Now the school is home to a dance team, the Lee Celebrities.

[edit] Academics

Alongside the typical core courses offered at all high school, Lee also offers some advanced courses in various fields. The school offers Advanced Placement courses for Calculus AB, Calculus BC, Statistics, Physics, Art History, World History, U.S. History, European History, English Language, English Literature, American Government, Computer Science A, and Computer Science AB. In 2007, the school produced twenty five AP Scholars^[4], and twenty nine in 2006.^[5] Lee also participates, annually, in the UIL competitions.