Westchester Academy for International Studies
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| Westchester Academy for International Studies | |
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| Location | |
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| 901 Yorkchester, Houston, TX United States |
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| Coordinates | 29°46′N 95°34′W / 29.767°N 95.567°W |
| Information | |
| Type | Public |
| Established | 1967 - 1985; 1987 - 2000; 2001 - present |
| School district | Spring Branch Independent School District |
| Principal | Dr. Natalie Blasingame |
| Staff | 35 |
| Faculty | 70 |
| Grades | 6-12 |
| Number of students | 960 |
| Color(s) | Blue, orange, green |
| Mascot | Wildcat |
| Newspaper | The Cat Tales |
The Westchester Academy for International Studies (WAIS) is a public charter school in the Spring Branch Independent School District in Houston, Texas. It serves grades 6-12 and is a part of the International Baccalaureate program. The principal (called the "director") of WAIS is Dr. Natalie Blasingame, and the assistant principals are Kathy Menotti and Richard Gonzales.
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[edit] History
[edit] Westchester High School (1967-1985)
Due to the expanding enrollment of Memorial High School the school district built Westchester High School in 1967. The school opened with an enrollment of one thousand eight hundred students. After seven years the school had increased to nearly four thousand students. The campus could not support the numbers, and as such Stratford High School was built in close proximity to Westchester, opening in 1974.
Due to the oil bust in the early '80s, the destruction of nearby apartment complexes, and many original home owners keeping their homes after their children had grown, enrollment in all SBISD high schools dropped dramatically. By 1985, the resulting decreases in enrollment forced the school board to close Westchester and relocate its former students to Memorial and Stratford High Schools. Most Westchester students ended up attending Stratford High School, which for many years kept a permanent display case dedicated to Westchester memorabilia.
[edit] Westchester Campus of Houston Community College (1987-2000)
During a thirteen-year period the campus was leased to Houston Community College.
[edit] Westchester Academy for International Studies (2001-Present)
After this duration Spring Branch ISD made plans for the campus that resulted in a massive amount of construction and improvement on the pre-existing campus. In 2001 it reopened its doors as Westchester Academy for International Studies. The school would eventually cap at one thousand students spanning across grades 6-12th. During the 2004-05 school year, the campus was shared with Stratford, due to renovations occurring on Stratford's campus. It is notable for being the only high school in Spring Branch ISD to offer the International Baccalaureate Diploma program for high school students and will soon begin the Middle Years IB Program for grades 6-8.
The campus of WAIS is divided into two wings with courtyards, auditorium, and a cafeteria, with classrooms on each side of the campus.
[edit] Famous Alumni
Matthew McMullin (Astronaut)
Nathan van Arkel-Priest (NASCAR Driver)
[edit] External links
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