Waxahachie High School

Waxahachie High School
Location
1000 Highway 77 North
Waxahachie, Texas 75165
Information
Type Public High School
Established 1864
School district Waxahachie Independent School District
Principal Al Benskin
Grades 10–12
Enrollment 1722 (2013-14)
Campus type Suburban
Color(s)          
Athletics conference UIL Class AAAAA
Mascot Indian
Information 972-923-4600
Website http://www.hs.wisd.org/

Waxahachie High School is a public high school in Waxahachie, Texas with an enrollment of 1,722 students in the 2013-14 school year. Waxahachie Ninth Grade Academy, with an additional 709 students, is a nearby branch of the high school attended by all freshman. Waxahachie High School offers Advanced Placement college preparatory courses in biology, calculus, chemistry, computer science, English language, English literature, environmental science, French language, macroeconomics, music theory, psychology, Spanish language, Spanish literature, statistics, U.S. government, U.S. history, and world history.[1] The school also is home to the Billy Bates Career and Technology Center were students acquire career-specific and technical training in various trades and disciplines. As of 2013, Waxahachie High School offers American Sign Language as an optional language class.

The high school's athletic teams compete in baseball, dodgeball, basketball, cross country, American football, golf, soccer, tennis, track, softball, and volleyball. The school is in the 5A division of the University Interscholastic League (UIL).[1] WHS offers several CTSOs to its students including FFA, Skills USA and TSA. Waxahachie High School also has DI, Interact, and NHS as some of their clubs. Also, known for the state-of-the-art football stadium known as Lumpkins Stadium.

Billy Bates Career and Technology Center

The Career and Technology Center (named after a former WISD superintendent of schools) serves area students in grades 9–12 by offering quality instructional partnerships with business and industry to successfully prepare students for the challenges of post-secondary education and a global workplace. The center embraces a philosophy of involvement and teamwork, providing career pathways through "Achieve Texas," a college and career initiative.

Notable alumni

Waxahachie Indians Athletics and Arts

Waxahachie High School has successful athletic and arts programs, including football, basketball, baseball, soccer, band, chorus, and theater. The football team won the Texas State 4A High School Football Championship in 1992, and the Lady Indians basketball team won the Texas State 4A High School Women's Basketball Championship in 2006.

List of Football Accomplishments

The Spirit of Waxahachie Indian Band

Directors: Rich Armstrong, Director of Bands, Justin Bell, Associate Director of Bands, Paul Jaso, Associate Director of Bands

The Waxahachie High School marching band is the largest organization on campus and maintains a high standard of excellence among its members. For over 20 years, the band has received numerous awards both locally and around the nation. The band competed in the 2009 4A UIL State Marching Contest and placed 8th in finals with their show "A Kinetic Mind". Also, the band placed 6th in finals at the 2011 4A UIL State Marching Contest with their show "unREAL."

In concert literature, the Waxahachie High School Wind Ensemble was named the 2011 4A Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA) Honor Band and performed at the association's 2012 convention, one of the world's largest music conventions. The Foundation for Music Education (TFME) named the ensemble a Class 4A "Commended Winner" in 2013 and a "National Winner" in 2014 in the Mark of Excellence Wind Band Honors project.[4]

Accomplishments (only 2006–present)[5]

2006-2007

Marching straight I's at UIL

6th place - HEB Marching Festival

5th place - Area Marching Contest

11th place - State Marching Contest

Concert band - Wind Ensemble & Symphonic Band straight I's at UIL

Concert band - 2nd place at South Coast Music Festival

2007-2008

Marching straight I's at UIL

3rd place - Desoto Classic Marching Festival

5th place - Little Elm Classic on the Lake

8th place - Area Marching Contest

Concert band - WE & Symphonic straight I's at UIL

Concert band - Best in Class at South Coast Music Festival

2008-2009

Marching straight I's at UIL

2nd place - Midlothian Marching Showcase

3rd place - Desoto Classic Marching Festival

7th place - HEB Marching Festival

9th place - Duncanville Marching Invitational

Concert band - WE & Symphonic straight I's at UIL

Concert band - Best in Class 4A and Grand Champion at Winter Park Music Festival

Concert band - Region 20 Honor Band

Concert band - Area Honor Band

Concert band - 3rd at State Honor Band

UTA Jazz Festival - 1st in Class 4A

TCU Jazz Festival - 1st in Class 4A

Winter Park Music Festival - Superior Rating, Best in Class 4A & Grand Champion Jazz Band

2009-2010

Midlothian Marching Showcase

First Place Overall

Best in Class

Best Marching Overall

Best Winds Overall

UIL Contest straight I's

DeSoto Classic Marching Contest

Third Place Overall

Best in Class

Outstanding Drum Majors in Class

Outstanding Percussion in Class

Outstanding Winds in Class

Outstanding Marching in Class

Outstanding General Effect in Class

Area Marching Contest

Finalist - 3rd Place

UIL State 4A Marching Contest

State Finalist - 8th Place

2010-2011

Midlothian Marching Showcase

Grand Champions

DeSoto Classic Marching Contest

1st Runner Up

1st in Music

1st in Guard

2nd in Percussion

Best in Class

Best Guard in Class

Best Music in Class

Best Marching in Class

Best Percussion in Class

Best Drum Majors in Class

Best General Effect

UIL Region Marching Contest

Straight I's

Duncanville Marching Invitational

3rd Place

Wind Ensemble

Sweepstakes UIL Concert & Sight Reading

1 Rating - Peak Music Festival - Eisemann Center

Best in Class - Peak Music Festival - Eisemann Center

Most Outstanding Band - Peak Music Festival - Eisemann Center

TMEA 2011 4A Honor Band

Jazz

1st at UTA Jazz Festival

3rd at TCU Jazz Festival

2011-2012

DeSoto Marching Classic

Overall - 2nd Place & Best Guard

Class AAA - Best in Class

Best Drum Majors, Best Winds

Best General Effect & Best Guard

UIL Region 20 Contest

Straight I's

Midlothian Marching Showcase

1st Runner Up

1st in Class

1st in Marching

UIL Area C Contest

1st Place - Advance to State

UIL State 4A Marching Contest

Finalist - 6th Place

2012-2013

Musical Theater

Waxahachie's Musical Theater Department has put on many shows such as: Anything Goes, The Wizard of Oz, Beauty and the Beast, Frankenstein, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Grease and many others. In the fall of 2011, the Department began piecing together the popular musical "Hairspray". Waxahachie entered a musical contest with DSM (Dallas Summer Musicals) and was nominated for 8 out of 15 awards:

Best Featured Performer: Collin Stephenson as Wilbur Turnblad

Best Scenic Design

Best Lighting Design

Best Crew & Technical Execution

Best Musical Direction

Best Supporting Actor: Sterling Horning as Link Larkin

Best Leading Actress: Bailey Venable as Tracy Turnblad

Best Musical

Sadly Waxahachie did not receive any of the awards they were nominated for.

Big Black Was also an award

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Waxahachie High School, retrieved June 6, 2009.
  2. ↑ Brian Waters, Kansas City Chiefs, retrieved June 6, 2009.
  3. ↑
  4. ↑ http://www.foundationformusiceducation.org
  5. ↑ http://www.spiritofwaxahachie.com/

External links