Westwood High School (Williamson County, Texas)

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Westwood High School
Location
12400 Mellow Meadow
Austin, Texas 78750
United States
Information
Type Public high school
Established 1981
School district Round Rock Independent School District
Principal Rebecca Donald
Grades 9 - 12
Enrollment 2,551 (as of 2006-07) [1]
Campus Suburban
Color(s)           Burnt orange & White
Mascot Warriors
Website www.roundrockisd.org/westwood

Westwood High School is a public high school in Anderson Mill, unincorporated Williamson County, Texas, United States, and is part of the Round Rock Independent School District. It is located approximately 17 miles (27 km) north of downtown Austin and 12 miles (19 km) west of downtown Round Rock, Texas. As of the 2006-07 school year, the school had an enrollment of 2,551 students and 155 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student-teacher ratio of 16.5.[1]

Texas Monthly as well as US News & World Report in recent years have listed Westwood amongst their top 10 high schools for the state of Texas and top 100 in the nation, respectively. This is a result of the school’s robust college matriculation rate, as well as honors, Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate programs. Westwood was named a National Blue Ribbon School in 1994-96[2] and it is well-renowned for attracting and keeping some of the best teachers in the area. In 2008-09, Westwood was rated Exemplary by the Texas Education Agency.[3]

Contents

[edit] Academics

In the class of 2009, 53.7% of Westwood seniors took at least one Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) exam, averaging 5.1 exams per test taker, with a participant pass rate of 91.2%.[4] For the class of 2007, the mean composite SAT score was 1156 out of 1600, and the mean ACT score was 25.2.[5] Westwood also produces many National Merit Scholars, as well as numerous winners of major American math and science competitions. For example, a Westwood student became a National Finalist in the 2007 Siemens Competition and eventually won 4th place.[6] Westwood has also produced USAMO qualifiers.

[edit] Block Schedules

Westwood uses a type of academic scheduling in which each student has fewer classes per day for a longer period of time. This results in more time for teaching due to less time wasted due to class switching and preparation. Each class is called a block. On Orange days students have blocks 1 through 4 and on White days students have block 5 through 8. Orange and White days alternate each day. This is also an advantage for students who have off blocks or free periods, as it allows them a longer free period. School hours at Westwood last from 9:05 a.m. to 4:10 p.m.

[edit] International Baccalaureate

Westwood also houses an independent, district wide International Baccalaureate academy that operates under a selective admissions system. In recent years, the program has achieved a perfect or near perfect pass rate amongst those sitting for the Diploma examinations, with many scoring in the highest levels of the point schema (including perfect scores). Hence, it has frequently placed amongst the best IB programs in North America by median score (although this rate is bolstered by a majority attrition process over the four years of study). Almost all students who receive the IB Diploma also receive the AP Scholar Award with varying degrees of additional attainment, with the school having several AP National Scholars each year. In general, the graduates from the program each year make up the highest ranked graduates in each class, and go on either to attend state flagship honors programs on merit scholarships (primarily at the University of Texas in Austin), or selective, private colleges (Rice University and Ivy League institutions being the most popular). In the class of 2009, all 60 IB Diploma candidates graduated with IB Diplomas.

However, Westwood's IB academy also has what some consider to be negative effects on the student population. As highly talented and gifted students transfer to Westwood from across the Round Rock Independent School District to join the IB program, a distinct disadvantage drops on to regular students since their class rank is not disaggregated from these magnet enrollees. As a result, the class ranks of many otherwise strong students (often carrying a significant number of honors or AP courses) drop dramatically in relation to where they would place in nearby local schools given their performance. This topic has been highly debated in light of state colleges such as the University of Texas and Texas A&M University rarely accepting students outside of their top quartile of class rank, largely due the legal limits imposed by the Texas State Legislature's mandated Top Ten Percent Rule.

[edit] Extracurricular activities

[edit] Athletics

The athletics department at Westwood has dominated many sports in the past, winning multiple district, bi-district, area and so on championships including two volleyball state championships. The Westwood Warrior football team has won a handful of district championships, most recently when the 2006 Warriors qualified as area finalists after winning the first playoff game in school history. The Warrior basketball team has also had success throughout the years, obtaining a record of above .500 since the team began in 1981. The Warriors baseball team has made the state playoffs almost every year in the team's existence. The Warriors Swimming and Diving Team continues to dominate the district and consistently produce state champions. Between 1999 and 2008 Warriors Swimming and Diving dominated 9 consecutive district meets and had multiple perfect regular season records. The Warrior Athletic site is operated by the football booster club and can be found here.

[edit] Band

The Westwood Marching Band advanced to the finals at the Westlake Marching Festival in 2005 and won 4th prize for its show, "Rhythms of a New Era." They won the contest in 1999. In 2006, the band took 4th place at the Cedar Park Marching Festival with their show, "Chain Reaction." Also in 2006, the Westwood Drumline won 1st place in the CBS 42/Rudy's Country Store and Bar-B-Q Marching Band Challenge. This was a competition that featured 15 other high school drumlines throughout the area. The Westwood Band also consistently places members into the Texas All-State Band, including a first chair e-flat clarinet player. It also performed in conjunction with the Westwood Orchestra to gain the title of 2010 State Honor Orchestra award.[7]

[edit] Chess Club

Westwood's serious appearance at the competitive chess scene is relatively new, but its chess team instantly leaped to the top. From 2007 to 2009, Westwood has ranked amongst the top three high schools in the state in the annual Texas Scholastic Chess Championships, the largest such tournament in Texas; in 2007 Westwood tied for first. In the 2005 Texas State Grade & Collegiate chess tournament, a Westwood student tied for first in the 12th grade sections, while the 6th and 8th grade sections were both won by students from Canyon Vista Middle School, which feeds into Westwood. Westwood won first place in the 11th grade section of the 2008 Texas State Grade & Collegiate tournament.

In 2009 Westwood traveled to the National Scholastic K-12 Championship, where the 10th grade team won first and the 12th grade team tied for first; the 9th and 11th grade teams placed third and fourth in their sections respectively.[8]

[edit] Choir

The Westwood Choral program has long since proved itself to be one of the most outstanding high school choral ensembles in the State of Texas. Currently directed by Dr. David Means who came on board in 2007, the choir regularly places students into the highly competitive All-State Choir, and the choir itself has achieved high marks in nearly every state singing and sightreading contest. The choir has been selected to tour nationally to several cities including Boston, San Francisco, and Washington D.C. The entire choral department (some 200 singers) has also been asked to perform at festivals in the United Kingdom (1998) as well as Germany and Austria (2004). Every year for the last six years, Westwood has boasted at least one student as one of the top five singers in the state.

[edit] Debate

Westwood High School Speech and Debate has long been a part of school life and offers events in Lincoln Douglas Debate, Policy Debate, Extemporaneous Speaking, and Original Oratory, as well as other events. Westwood is actively involved in the Texas Forensic Association (TFA), where participants compete against debaters from other schools. Many students have received multiple awards through success at the tournaments, including qualification to attend the most prestigious national tournament, the Tournament of Champions, in 05-06 for CX debate.

The team went through a particularly strong period in the late 1990s through early 2000s when several students dominated the national LD circuit. Three students repeatedly qualified and placed at the Tournament of Champions and took finishing places at significant national tournaments. The Westwood Policy Debate team qualified the maximum of two teams for the 2007 UIL State Tournament. The teams placed 3rd and 1st in the 5A league. In 2008, the Westwood Policy Debate team once again qualified the maximum two teams for the UIL State Tournament. Westwood once again won fifth and first place to complete the back to back championships.

[edit] German Club

Under the leadership of Frau Evelyn Saucier, the Westwood German Club has consistently dominated statewide competitions. The overwhelming success of this club has led to it often being referred to as "Das Vierte Reich" by students and teachers alike. In the spring of 2008, German students became regional champions at Sprachfest for the 17th year in a row and state champions at German State Competition for the 10th year in a row, competing in such events as plays, skits, prose, poetry, written exams, quizbowl, and folk dancing.

[edit] Journalism Department

Westwood's journalism department includes newspaper, yearbook, photojournalism, and Journalism 1 class. Judy Gaines serves as adviser to the department. The 2006 yearbook won the top Columbia Scholastic Press Association award, the first time in Westwood history. Also, four journalism students founded Candid Austin Teen Magazine in the summer of 2006.

[edit] Orchestra

The Westwood Orchestra has earned several statewide distinctions, the most recent of which has been the title of 2010 State Honor Orchestra award,[7] given to the top Texas high school full orchestra each year by the Texas Music Educators Association. The Westwood High School orchestra consistently ranks among the top student groups in the state; it also held the State Honor Orchestra title in 2000 and 2006. Since Susan Williams took the podium in 2001, it has continuously been a finalist in the State Honor Orchestra contest and received full sweepstakes at UIL.

Also, participating student musicians have earned places in region and state orchestras. Each year, Westwood students number nearly a third of the local all-region orchestra, an ensemble determined by an audition process. In addition to the several students each year who qualify for and perform in the prestigious all-state orchestras, Westwood students have recently held the titles of statewide first-chair viola and violin players. In 2009, a Westwood junior was the first chair violinist and concertmaster of the Texas All State Symphony Orchestra.

[edit] UIL Academics

Westwood has a remarkable performance in several academic contests of the University Interscholastic League. The school usually does exceptionally well in Computer Science. In 2006 a Westwood junior won first place in the state, and in 2009 the team ranked third. In other subjects Westwood is still able to produce state qualifiers, notably in Mathematics and Science.

[edit] List of clubs

Westwood offers the following clubs:[9]

  • AFJROTC
  • ASL
  • Band
  • Cheerleading
  • Chess Club
  • Choral Music
  • Copastetics
  • Culture Club
  • Cube Club
  • DECA
  • Diamonds
  • Drama Club
  • Dugout Dawgs
  • Environmental Club
  • FCA
  • FCCLA
  • Film Club
  • French Club
  • Frontage Roads
  • German Club
  • GSA
  • HOPE
  • HOSA
  • IBSO
  • Indian Culture Association
  • Interact
  • Interfaith
  • Japanese Club
  • JCL-Latin
  • JSA
  • KIT
  • MIC
  • Movie Watchers Club
  • Mu Alpha Theta
  • National Honor Society
  • National French Honor Society
  • National Latin Honor Society
  • National Spanish Honor Society
  • Newspaper
  • Orchestra
  • Outreach
  • PDA
  • Ping Pong Club
  • PROS
  • Random Acts of Kindness
  • Robotics Club
  • School Store
  • Science Club
  • Scrabble Club
  • Skills USA
  • Soccer Sweethearts
  • Speech and Debate Club
  • STAND
  • Student Council
  • Sun Dancers
  • The Tribe
  • UFO
  • UIL Academics
  • Westwood AFE
  • WHO
  • Warrior Pride
  • Warriors For Christ
  • World Affairs Club
  • Yearbook
  • Yoga Club
  • Youth Alive

[edit] Feeder Patterns

Two middle schools feed into this school:[10]

Six elementary schools feed into this school:[10]

It is also possible for students attending other schools in the district to enroll in this high school through the IB Academy.

[edit] Notable alumni

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b Westwood High School, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed August 21, 2009.
  2. ^ Blue Ribbon Schools Program, Schools Recognized 1982-1983 Through 1999-2002 (PDF)
  3. ^ "2009 Accountability: List of All Ratings"
  4. ^ Westwood High School, US News and World Report. Accessed August 21, 2009.
  5. ^ School Report Card, Texas Education Agency. Accessed August 21, 2009.
  6. ^ Siemens Foundation - 2007 Winners, Siemens Foundation. Accessed August 21, 2009.
  7. ^ a b "2009-2010 Honor Orchestra Results"
  8. ^ ""2009 National Scholastic K-12 Championship Results"
  9. ^ Organizations, Westwood High School, Accessed 8/26/2009
  10. ^ a b School Tracking Chart, Round Rock ISD.
  11. ^ "Clevlen cold, hungry", The Austin American-Statesman, Chuck Licata, June 19, 2003

[edit] External links

Coordinates: 30°27′20″N 97°47′51″W / 30.4556°N 97.7976°W / 30.4556; -97.7976

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