The Woodlands High School

The Woodlands High School
A Tradition of Excellence
Address
6101 Research Forest Drive The Woodlands, Texas 77381-6028 United States
Coordinates	30°11′39″N 95°30′12″W / 30.19421°N 95.50339°WCoordinates: 30°11′39″N 95°30′12″W / 30.19421°N 95.50339°W
Information
School type	Public high school
Established	1996
School district	Conroe Independent School District
Grades	10-12
Enrollment	4,147 (Total 9-12)[1] (2013)
Campus	Suburban
Color(s)	Green, Red & White
Athletics conference	UIL Class AAAAAA
Nickname	Highlanders
Newspaper	The Caledonian
Website	The Woodlands High School

The Woodlands High School is a public high school in The Woodlands CDP, unincorporated Montgomery County, Texas, United States and is a part of the Conroe Independent School District. The Montgomery County portion of The Woodlands and portion of the city of Shenandoah are served by The Woodlands High School. In 2011, the school was rated "Recognized" by the Texas Education Agency.^[2]

Campuses

TWHS takes pupils in grades 9 to 12, divided between the two campuses:

• The Woodlands High School: grades 10–12
• The Woodlands High School Ninth Grade Campus (formerly Branch Crossing Junior High School): grade 9 ^[3]

From 1976 until the opening of The Woodlands High School in 1996, McCullough High School served The Woodlands community. McCullough High School, named after J.L. McCullough, also housed seventh and eighth graders until Knox Junior High opened its doors in 1978. When The Woodlands High School opened on August 12, 1996, McCullough served The Woodlands community as a junior high school. From 2000 to 2005, McCullough was known as The Woodlands High School: McCullough Campus, housing freshmen and sophomores. Since 2005, with the opening of The Woodlands College Park High School, McCullough has once again served the community as a junior high school.

Demographics

In 2010, The Woodlands High School had 3,787 students (including students at the 9th Grade Campus).^[4]

• (2.3%) were African-American
• (79.7%) were White
• (12.4%) were Hispanic
• (0.6%) were Native American
• (5.1%) were Asian-American

Academics

The Woodlands High School has received numerous exemplary ratings from the Texas Education Agency and in 1998 was named a Blue Ribbon School by the U.S. Department of Education.^[5] The Woodlands High School was ranked 295 in Newsweek’s 2011 list of the Best High Schools in the United States.^[6] The school was ranked based on graduation rate, college matriculation rate, AP tests taken per graduate, average SAT/ACT scores, average AP scores, and AP courses offered. Newsweek has ranked the school among America's top 1,000 high schools on several occasions. Additionally, in its 2013 ranking of America's Best High Schools, U.S. News & World Report awarded a Gold Medal to The Woodlands High School. This means The Woodlands High School ranked among the top 500 schools nationally (out of 21,035 schools) using a College Readiness Index heavily weighted on success on Advanced Placement examinations.^[7] The Woodlands High School has also been awarded the University Interscholastic League Class 5A Lone Star Cup on five occasions (2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2011).^[8] This award is intended to honor the best overall academic and athletic program in the state of Texas, as determined by success at UIL-sanctioned activities.

The Woodlands High School has a relatively extensive College Board Advanced Placement program that includes the following courses: Art History, Biology, Calculus AB and BC, Chemistry, Chinese Language and Culture, Computer Science A, English Language and Literature, Environmental Science, European History, French Language, German Language, Human Geography, Japanese Language and Culture, Macroeconomics, Music Theory, Physics C, Psychology, Spanish Language, Statistics, Studio Art, U.S. History, U.S. Government & Politics, and World History.^[9]

Athletics

The Woodlands Highlanders compete in Swimming, Cross Country, Volleyball, Football, Basketball, Wrestling, Powerlifting, Soccer, Golf, Tennis, Track, Softball, Lacrosse, and Baseball.

In 2006 The Woodlands baseball team finished the season with a 38-1 record and won the Texas UIL 5A State Championship. They were also named National Champions by Baseball America. The 2006 team included future Major League Players Kyle Drabek (Toronto Blue Jays) and Paul Goldschmidt (Arizona Diamondbacks)

In 2011 The Woodlands Fastpitch team finished the season with a 44-1 record and won the Texas UIL 5A State Championship. They were also named National Champions by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association/USA Today and ESPN/Rise. The coaching staff, led by Head Coach Richard Jorgensen, was named NFCA National Coaching Staff of the year.

Athletic teams at The Woodlands High School have earned the following state and national athletic titles:

State titles

• Baseball ^[10]
  • 2000(5A), 2006(5A), 2013(5A)
• Boys Cross Country ^[11]
  • 1999(5A), 2000(5A), 2003(5A), 2004(5A), 2006(5A), 2007(5A), 2008(5A), 2009(5A), 2010(5A), 2015(6A)
• Boys Golf ^[12]
  • 2002(5A), 2005(5A), 2012(5A)
• Girls Golf ^[13]
  • 2001(5A), 2002(5A), 2003(5A)
• Girls Soccer ^[14]
  • 2010(5A)
• Boys Swimming ^[15]
  • 1990, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2004 (5A), 2010(5A)
• Girls Swimming ^[16]
  • 1989, 1990, 1991, 1993, 2006(5A), 2009(5A)
• Girls Softball ^[17]
  • 2011 (5A)
• Girls Volleyball ^[18]
  • 2013(5A), 2014(6A)
• Boys U19 Rugby
  • 2012(5A)

National titles

• Boys Cross Country
  • 2003
• Baseball
  • 2006
• Girls Fastpitch Softball
  • 2011
• Girls Swimming and Diving
  • 2005
  • 2008^[19]
• Boys Swimming and Diving
  • 2008^[19]
• Volleyball
  • 2013

Band

The Woodlands High School Band was honored by the John Philip Sousa Foundation with the Sudler Flag of Honor in 2003 to recognize its high standards of excellence in its concert activities over several years. The band was honored again by the John Philip Sousa Foundation in 2009 with the Sudler Shield to recognize its excellence in marching band activities.^[20] This makes The Woodlands High School one of only a handful of high schools internationally to have received both the Sudler Flag and the Sudler Shield. In 2003, and again in 2012, The Woodlands High School's Wind Ensemble was invited to perform at the prestigious Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago, Illinois (aka The Midwest Clinic). In 2012, the Wind Ensemble was named a National Winner in The Foundation for Music Education's National Wind Band Honors Project.^[21] Members of The Woodlands High School Band have placed in the TMEA All-State Bands and Orchestras every year since the school has opened, routinely placing well.^[22]

Since the opening of The Woodlands High School in 1996, the band has never missed a Bands of America regional finals. The band has won Regional, Super-Regional and Grand National BOA competitions ^[23] In 2006, the band won the Bands of America class AAA National title.^[24] In 2013, the band was named the Bands of America Grand National Champion, scoring a 96.8 and winning caption awards for Outstanding Music Performance and Outstanding General Effect.^[25] The band has placed in the Bands of America Grand National Championship Finals the past seven times it has attended. The band has been a UIL state finalist on multiple occasions.

Extracurricular activities

The school offers more than 80 different clubs and organizations. Students have the opportunity to participate in band, choir, speech, debate, drama, drill team, orchestra, cheerleading, and UIL academic activities.^[5]

In 2004, the school's newspaper, The Caledonian, was awarded the Silver Star for Excellence in Journalism by the University Interscholastic League. Various journalism awards have been given to the paper's staff including former editors Carolyn Kayes, Alison Conklin, and Trenton Horne. The Caledonian experienced a period of peak success under the leadership of Barbara Frazier, under whose administration the staff received numerous awards and accolades from the Interscholastic League Press Conference, a division of the University Interscholastic League. Frazier's successor, Laura Landsbaum, took over sponsorship of the staff during the 2004-2005 school year. Under Landsbaum's tutelage, the highest award garnered by The Caledonian was the Lone Star Award. Various students under Landsbaum received UIL honors including district placement by section editors Denny Staples and Michelle Johnston, a regional placement by section editor Katy McDowall, and state placements by Managing Editor Jenna Greengold in 2007 and section editor Kirsten Romaguera in 2009.

The Woodlands High School Winter Guard program has achieved success in both the Texas Color Guard Circuit and the Winter Guard International circuit. Winter guards from The Woodlands High School have won numerous regional and state championships, and in 2004 The Woodlands High School Winter Guard took home the WGI Scholastic Open Class World Championship title. This was the first time a Texas group took home a title.^[26]

The Woodlands High School Theatre Department has succeeded in advancing to the state finals of the UIL One-Act Play contest six times and won the state title in 2000.^[27] The theatre department has also been invited to perform on the main stage of the International Thespian Festival four times. In 2003, the theatre department performed at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.^[28] Two students, Vic Shuttee and Megan Kane, have won the coveted National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts YoungArts Grant.^[29]

The Woodlands High School choirs perform at UIL and private competitions and festivals, garnering "Sweepstakes" awards as well as "Best of Class" and "Grand Champion" awards from as far away as New York City, and as close to home as San Antonio and Houston. Large numbers of TWHS choir students have sung in all-region choirs, and many have gone on to sing in the Texas All-State choir.^[30]

The school hosted Texas French Symposium in 2007.^[31]

Feeder patterns

Elementary schools that feed into The Woodlands High School include:^[32]

• Buckalew
• Bush
• Galatas
• Glen Loch
• Powell (excluding Harper's Landing).
• Coulson Tough
• Deretchin

Combined elementary and intermediate schools include Deretchin and Coulson Tough.

Intermediate schools include Mitchell, and Wilkerson (Glen Loch ES zoning only).

McCullough Junior High School is the sole feeder junior high school into The Woodlands High School.

Notable alumni

• Scott Atchison, professional baseball player^[33]
• Rusty Pierce, former MLS player^[34]
• Danny Amendola, NFL player, New England Patriots^[35]
• Lance Blanks, former NBA player^[36]
• Kyle Drabek, MLB player, Toronto Blue Jays^[37]
• Paul Goldschmidt, MLB Player, Arizona Diamondbacks^[38]
• Jack Ingram, country singer^[39]
• Larry Izzo NFL Player, New England Patriots^[40]
• Stacy Lewis, LPGA Tour golfer^[41]
• Jeff Maggert, PGA Tour golfer^[42]
• Michael McBroom, An American swimmer who specializes in long-distance freestyle events. He is a FINA World Championships silver medalist in the 800-meter freestyle and is the current American Record holder in the 800-meter freestyle.
• Jameson Taillon, Drafted 2nd overall by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 2010 MLB Draft.^[43]

References

1. Texas Tribune
2. "2011 Accountability Rating System". Texas Education Agency.
3. "TWHS 9th Grade Center". Twhs9.conroeisd.net. 2010-09-10. Retrieved 2010-09-22.
4. "TWHS Demographics". 2012-12-21. Retrieved 2012-12-21.
5. "Campus Programs" (PDF). The Woodlands High School. Retrieved 9 September 2009.
6. "America's Best High Schools - Newsweek - Newsweek Education - Newsweek America's Best High Schools - thedailybeast.com". The Daily Beast. 2011-06-19. Retrieved 2011-12-04.
7. "Best High Schools Ranking- US News & World Report". US News & World Report. 2013-05-14. Retrieved 2013-05-14.
8. "Lone Star Cup". 2012-12-21. Retrieved 2012-12-21.
9. "CISD" (PDF). Retrieved 2010-09-22.
10. "UIL Centennial Webpage". Uil100.org. Retrieved 2010-09-22.
11. "UIL Centennial Webpage". Uil100.org. Retrieved 2010-09-22.
12. "UIL Centennial Webpage". Uil100.org. Retrieved 2010-09-22.
13. "UIL Centennial Webpage". Uil100.org. Retrieved 2010-09-22.
14. "UIL Centennial Webpage". Uil100.org. Retrieved 2010-09-22.
15. "UIL Centennial Webpage". Uil100.org. Retrieved 2010-09-22.
16. "UIL Centennial Webpage". Uil100.org. Retrieved 2010-09-22.
17. "TWHS Fastpitch". TWHS Fastpitch. Retrieved 2011-11-01.
18. "UIL Volleyball State Champions". Retrieved 25 March 2016.
19. http://niscaonline.org/Portals/0/Documents/All%20America/Natl%20Dual%20Meet/Results/2008%20natl%20dual%20final%20results.pdf
20. "Sousa Foundation Sudler Shield". Sousafoundation.org. 2007-08-05. Retrieved 2010-09-22.
21. "National Wind Band Honors". Foundationformusiceducation.org. 2012-12-22. Retrieved 2012-12-22.
22. "TMEA all-state". tmea.org. 2012-12-22. Retrieved 2012-12-22.
23. "BOA results". musicforall.org. 2012-12-22. Retrieved 2012-12-22.
24. "BOA results". musicforall.org. 2012-12-22. Retrieved 2012-12-22.
25. "2013 Grand National Champion Results". musicforall.org. 2013-11-16. Retrieved 2013-11-16.
26. "For Immediate Release". Twhsband.com. Retrieved 2010-09-22.
27. "UIL One Act Play State Champions". Retrieved 25 March 2016.
28. "Drama students to perform in Scotland". chron.com. Retrieved 2013-05-30.
31. 51^e Texas French Symposium guide.
32. "Conroe Independent School District" (PDF). Retrieved 25 March 2016.
33. "McCullough grad Scott Atchison still fighting for MLB spot". ASP Westward. Associated Press. March 6, 2011. Retrieved August 20, 2014.
34. Richardson, Kim (January 26, 2006). "Rusty Pierce comes home to help with soccer clinics". Houston Community Newspapers. Retrieved March 11, 2014.
35. Stephens, Matt (September 27, 2012). "Amendola proving heart every bit as important as athleticism". The Villiager. Retrieved March 11, 2014.
36. Marshall, John (November 20, 2010). "McCullough grad Lance Blanks new GM of Phoenix Suns". The Courier. Retrieved March 11, 2014.
37. Crasnick, Jerry (July 12, 2009). "Drabek stands out among Futures stars". ESPN.com. Retrieved March 11, 2014.
38. Young, Bob (July 9, 2013). "Arizona Diamondbacks' Paul Goldschmidt no fan of spotlight". Arizona Republic. Retrieved March 11, 2014.
39. Walzel, Brian (October 16, 2012). "Ingram returns home for stirring Dosey Doe performance". Community Impact Newspaper. Retrieved March 11, 2014.
40. Sudhalter, Michael (December 15, 2011). "The Woodlands McCullough alum, Izzo, begins coaching after a remarkable NFL career". Houston Community Newspapers. Retrieved March 11, 2014.
41. Bailey, Mike (April 6, 2011). "The Woodlands' golfer adds another chapter to story". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved March 11, 2014.
42. MacPherson, Keith (March 31, 2011). "Former Highlanders Maggert, Thatcher pair up at SHO". The Courier. Retrieved March 11, 2014.
43. Langosch, Jennifer (June 7, 2010). "Bucs draft high school arm Taillon at No. 2". MLB.com. Retrieved March 11, 2014.

External links

• The Woodlands High School
• The Woodlands High School Band
• The Caledonian - newspaper for The Woodlands High School