Plano West Senior High School
| Plano West Senior High School | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Address | |
 | |
5601 West Parker Road , 75093 | |
| Information | |
| Type | Public high school |
| Motto | Leading With Pride |
| Established | 1999 |
| School district | Plano Independent School District |
| Superintendent | Richard Matkin |
| Principal | Kathy King |
| Grades | 11–12 |
| Enrollment | 2,160 |
| Capacity | 2,600 |
| Campus | Suburban |
| Color(s) | Royal blue, black, and white |
| Mascot | Wolf |
| Rivals | Plano Senior High School, Plano East Senior High School |
| Website | Official website |
Plano West Senior High School (commonly West, Plano West, or PWSH) is a public secondary school in Plano, Texas (USA) serving high school juniors and seniors. The school is part of the Plano Independent School District, and enrolls students based on the locations of students' homes. Students at Plano West attended one of two high schools: Jasper or Shepton. Plano West is accredited by the Texas Education Agency, which designates the school as "Recognized". The school colors are royal blue, black, and white, and the mascot is the Wolf. The school is ranked as 63rd in the nation, 12th in national comprehensive high schools, and 2nd in Texas comprehensive high schools, according to Newsweek's 2012 list of best high schools.[1]
Academics
Plano West operates on a 9:00 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. schedule, which includes seven periods and a break for off-campus lunch during which all students may leave campus to eat lunch. There is one period from 8:00 a.m. to 8:50 a.m. called "Zero Hour" which students can opt to attend, thus enabling an 8:00-to-3:19 school day.[2]
Plano West offers all Advanced Placement courses except Japanese Language and Culture and Italian Language and Culture; Human Geography and World History are offered at the 9-10 feeder schools. Plano West additionally offers concurrent enrollment courses through Collin College.[3] 56% percent of Plano West students are enrolled in at least one Advanced Placement course, above the Plano ISD average of 32% and Texas average of 20%.[4] The school currently offers many vocational courses in agriculture, early childhood education, home economics, journalism, fashion design, advertising design, drafting, automotive technology, and clinical rotation.[5]
Students in the class of 2010 achieved an average composite SAT score of 1748 out of 2400 and a mean ACT score of 26.3 out of 36.[5][6] Both scores are the highest out of all three PISD senior high schools.[7][8] Many Plano West students have received National Merit Scholarship accolades; 48 seniors were named as National Merit Semifinalists in the 2012-2013 school year.[9]
Plano West was ranked 98 in Newsweek's Top Public High Schools 2011, and rose to 63 in the 2012 list.[1][10]
Campus and Facilities
In keeping with Plano ISD’s senior high model, Plano West is an open campus comprised of several buildings, similar to a junior college. Following the completion of current additions and renovations, the school will be made up of seven buildings, “A”-“G”.[11] Building “A” houses the Social Studies, English, and Foreign Language departments. Additionally, the building contains school offices, computer labs, an early childhood school partly staffed by Plano West students, and the school cafeteria (students are allowed to eat lunch either on or off campus). Building “B” contains the Science department and the school library. Building “C” houses performing arts classes (including music theory courses), practice facilities, and the school auditorium. Building “D” consists of the main competition gym, with additional athletic practice facilities in buildings “A” and “F”. Building “E” contains the Mathematics department, including computer science courses. Upon completion, building “G” will house Career Technology labs and Visual Arts courses, along with collaboration rooms for student use.
Buildings A, B, and C (as well as G upon completion) form a main courtyard that includes a fountain.[11]
Athletics
Championships
| Girls Soccer State Championship Games[12] | ||||||
| Year | Winning Team | Losing Team | Location (all in Texas) | Class | ||
| 2000 | Plano West | 2 | Katy Taylor | 1 | Round Rock ISD Stadium, Round Rock | 5A |
| 2001 | Plano West | 3 | Katy Taylor | 0 | Round Rock ISD Stadium, Round Rock | 5A |
| 2002 | Plano West | 3 | Humble Kingwood | 0 | Round Rock ISD Stadium, Round Rock | 5A |
| 2007 | Plano West | 3 | Deer Park | 0 | Round Rock ISD Stadium, Round Rock | 5A |
| 2012 | Plano West | 1 | Katy Seven Lakes | 0 | Birkelbach Field, Georgetown | 5A |
| Boys Soccer State Championship Games | ||||||
| Year | Winning Team | Losing Team | Location (all in Texas) | Class | ||
| 2007 | Flower Mound Marcus | 3 | Plano West | 2 (SO) | Round Rock ISD Stadium, Round Rock | 5A |
| Girls Basketball State Championship Games[13] | ||||||
| Year | Winning Team | Losing Team | Location (all in Texas) | Class | ||
| 2006 | Plano West | 54 | Rockwall | 47 | Frank Erwin Center, Austin | 5A |
| Hockey State Championship Games[14] | ||||||
| Year | Winning Team | Losing Team | Location (all in Texas) | |||
| 2000 | Grapevine | 1 | Plano West | 2 | StarsCenter, Valley Ranch | |
| 2002 | Southlake Carroll | 2 | Plano West | 3 | Aerodrome, Houston | |
| 2004 | Plano West | 2 | Clear Lake High School | 1 | Deja Blue Arena, Frisco | |
| 2005 | Plano West | 1 | Highland Park High School | 0 | Deja Blue Arena, Frisco | |
| 2007 | Plano West | 2 | Allen High School | 1 (OT) | Deja Blue Arena, Frisco | |
| 2011 | Plano West | 4 | Southlake Carroll | 2 | Starscenter, Farmers Branch | |
| 2012 | Plano West | 4 (OT) | Arlington High School | 3 | Starscenter, Farmers Branch | |
| Team Tennis State Championship Matches[15] | ||||||
| Year | Winning Team | Losing Team | Location (all in Texas) | Class | ||
| 2001 | Plano West | 10 | El Paso Coronado | 8 | Lakeway World of Tennis, Austin | 5A |
| 2003 | Lubbock Coronado | 10 | Plano West | 6 | Fairway Oaks Country Club, Abilene | 5A |
| 2004 | Plano West | 10 | Austin Westlake | 5 | Lakeway World of Tennis, Austin | 5A |
| 2005 | Plano West | 11 | San Antonio Churchill | 5 | Lakeway World of Tennis, Austin | 5A |
| 2006 | Plano West | 11 | Austin Westlake | 6 | Lakeway World of Tennis, Austin | 5A |
| Baseball State Championship Games | ||||||
| Year | Winning Team | Losing Team | Location (all in Texas) | Class | ||
| 2008 | Plano West[16] | 10 | Southlake Carroll | 8 | Dell Diamond, Round Rock | 5A |
Football
The Plano West Wolves have made the state football playoffs in 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, and 2012. Prior to the 2012 season, their only playoff wins in school history occurred in 2004 against DeSoto High School. At playoffs in the fall of 2012, Plano West Football won their first round against Lake Highlands High School, the second against South Garland High School, and the third against Lufkin High School. They made school history, but the run ended losing to Austin Westlake. Annually, Plano West plays against the Plano Senior High School Wildcats and the Plano East Senior High School Panthers for the title of Plano City Champions, a title it won in 2004, 2011 and 2012.
Basketball
Under coach Anthony Morgan, the Plano West Wolves boys' basketball team has won district titles back to back in 2007-2008 and 2008-2009. The 2008-2009 won 30 games, more than any other in school history, but ended up falling in the area round to Duncanville High School, which was #1 in the nation at one point earlier that season. In 2009-2010, the Plano West Lady Wolves basketball team went undefeated in district to claim their second straight district title and third in the last four years. Despite only returning one starter from the 2008-2009 team, the Wolves advanced to the Region 1 finals before losing to Marcus High School of Flower Mound
Other
The Plano West hockey team won back-to-back state championships in the Southwestern Bell High School Hockey League for the years of 2004 and 2005. However, during the 2004 Southwestern Bell High School Hockey Championship (Texas Cup) Plano West had to forfeit all games due to ineligible players. The 2004 Texas Cup was not awarded to any team. The team has played in the state championship game in four of the six years of its existence.[1]
In addition, the women's soccer team was ranked #1 in the nation and claimed the Texas state championship the first three years in the school's existence.
The men's lacrosse team for Plano West also won state title honors in 2005. Plano West completed a 10-3 season in the Texas Division 2 North conference with the only losses coming to Division 1 teams. West then went 5-0 in the playoffs, including two riveting games against rival Plano East. West defeated East 15-14 in overtime in the conference finals, and 13-12 in the state finals to capture its first state championship in only its fourth season of existence.
The Plano West Wolves have also competed in a UIL Record four consecutive State 5A High School Tennis Championships at the Lakeway World of Tennis, Austin, Texas, (2003, 2004, 2005, 2006) winning the UIL State Championship 5A Title in 2004, 2005 and 2006. Plano West made it to the Final Four in each of its seven years of existence, to the State Championship Match five times, and won the championship title four of those years, 2001, 2004, 2005 and 2006.
The Plano West Runnin Wolves Cross Country team swept the 9-5A district meet in 2002,2003,2006, 2007, and 2008 placing first in all four races. Both varsity teams advanced to regionals. The Plano West Women's Cross Country team qualified for state for the third time in school history. They placed first at regionals for the first time in 2006. The Plano West Men's Cross Country team qualified for the state meet for the first time in school history in 2006. The Women's team finished in 4th place, while the Men's team finished 6th. The Plano West Cross Country team won the district 9-5A again in 2007, placing first in all four races once again. In 2008 the Plano West Women's cross country team came in third place at the state meet. The Men's team qualified for state again in 2012 and placed 6th of 12 teams.
The Plano West Swim team completed a stellar 2006-2007 campaign with the guy's team finishing higher at state than ever before. Led by senior Jordan Hawley, the Wolves were able to place 8 swims at the state meet. Two unfortunate disqualifications in a second place and winning relay negated a chance to place in the top three overall for the boys team. The DQs were a result of Vadim K. leaving early on both relays, one of which was by .01 of a second. Sophomore Brendan McIntee was named by coach Kris Jones as Plano West Male Swimmer of the Year based on his leadership and performance throughout the season. The award follows up his award from the 2005-2006 academic year of Newcomer of the Year.
In 2007, both the Plano West Boys and Girls Soccer Teams advanced to the State Final. The Plano West Girls defeated previously undefeated Deer Park 3-0 to win its 4th state championship. Sophomore Lauren LaGro was named the Championship Match MVP.[17] Meanwhile, the Boys team lost to undefeated Flower Mound Marcus in a shootout, 3-2, despite having the lead with less than 2 minutes remaining.[18]
At the end of the 2007 school year, West was awarded with the Texas Dodge Dealers Lone Star Cup, given to the top sports high school in the state due to how far high schools went or final rank in all district, regional, and state playoff competitions. West tied with Humble Kingwood, but won the tie breaker with 2 overall state championships (Girls Soccer and Team Tennis) to Kingwood's 1 (Boys Swimming).
In 2007, Plano West won the Dallas Morning News SportsDay's All-Sports High School Award as the top athletic program in North Texas.[19]
The boys baseball team finished #1 in the country after winning the Texas state championship in 2008, ending the season with a 40-2 record.
In June 2011, 223 Plano ISD teachers will be laid off at the end of the school year and another 121 members of the Plano ISD support staff will also be let go with speculation that extracurriculars will be cut back or eliminated all together.[20]
In 2012 the Girls soccer team won a state-record 5th state title defeating Katy Seven Lakes 1-0 in the state championship game.
Music
The Plano West Chamber Orchestra has been named the outstanding string orchestra for the state of Texas by the Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA) 5 consecutive times. Directed by Mrs. Jo Wallace-Abbie, the orchestra is made up of approximately 40 musicians. TMEA rules prohibit a school from entering the competition the year after it has won, so the title of Texas "Honor Orchestra" was won in 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008, and 2010.[21] The orchestra has been featured on the Disney Channel series "Totally in Tune" which aired in 2001. In 2005, the orchestra won a Cappie Award for Outstanding Pit Orchestra in a musical, (for the school production of) Les Misérables.
The Plano West Mighty Wolf Band has a marching and concert season and also has a winterguard program. In the 2009–2010 school year, the band had approximately 95 members; by 2012-2013, this had increased to about 140. The band's 2009 Marching show was "Rising Dragons" by Robert W. Smith; in 2010-2011 it was "The Natural" (based on the movie of the same name), in 2011-2012 it was "Global Illuminations," and in 2012-2013 it was "Postcards from Texas."
In 2011, The Plano West Music Program was named 'Gold' GRAMMY® Signature School. Plano West was one of only seven "Gold" level award recipients. The award recognizes top U.S. public high schools making an outstanding commitment to music education.[22]
Theatre
The Plano West Theatre Department was previously under the direction of Ms. Carla Ford-Rich, who has been named the Secondary Teacher of the Year by the Texas Educational Theater Association.[23]
The Theatre program consists of regular Theatre I-IV classes, as well as the Honors Theatre Productions classes that take up 6th and 7th period hours.
Past theatrical productions include Beauty and the Beast, West Side Story, Les Misérables, The Laramie Project, To Kill a Mockingbird, Little Shop of Horrors, Spring Awakening, Into the Woods, and Awesome 80s Prom. In 2009, Plano West advanced to Area for their performance The Imaginary Ivalid for the UIL One Act Play competition.[24] In the past, they were a runner up at the State contest, with their production The Sisterhood.
Mr. Grant Goble, the current director who started in the 2010-2011 school year, his past productions at PWSH include And Then There Were None, Jekyll & Hyde The Musical, and Electra by Sophocles set in Nazi Germany. In 2012, After the Fall by Arthur Miller for the 2012 UIL One Act Play Competition advanced to the District Contest, and they were named Alternate Play.
For the 2012-2013 school year, Goble is directing Metamorphoses and Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street.
Technical Theatre is led by Norval Sykes. West has been a recurring name in the UIL Theatrical Design Competition. Plano West was named State Champions in 2008, have been State qualifiers in 2001, 2009, 2010, and had four State qualifiers in 2012.
Notable alumni
- David Lofton (Class of 2002) — NFL defensive back with the Miami Dolphins, formerly at Stanford University.[25]
- Vickiel Vaughn (Class of 2002) — NFL defensive back with the Denver Broncos, formerly at the University of Arkansas.[26]
- Taylor Hooton - drew national attention due to steroid use and suicide.
- Spencer Wadsworth (Class of 2004) — Soccer player for FC Dallas of Major League Soccer, formerly at Duke University.
- Jordan Pugh (Class of 2006) — NFL defensive back with the Washington Redskins. Drafted in the 6th round out of Texas A&M University.[27]
- Jackson Jeffcoat (Class of 2010) — Current defense lineman for the Texas Longhorns. Formerly the number one high school football player in the nation.[28]
See also
References
- ^ a b "America's Best High Schools". Newsweek. 20 May 2012. Retrieved 21 May 2012.
- ^ "Plano West Bell Schedule". Plano West Senior High School Website. Archived from the original on 2006-09-10. Retrieved 2012-05-10.
- ^ "Plano West Academics". Retrieved 2012-05-10.
- ^ "Plano West Senior HS - ProPublica". Retrieved 2012-05-10.
- ^ a b "Plano West Senior High School - Campus Profile". Retrieved 2012-05-10.
- ^ "Plano West AEIS Report" (PDF). Texas Education Agency. Retrieved 10 March 2012.
- ^ "PESH AEIS Report" (PDF). Texas Education Agency. Retrieved 10 March 2012.
- ^ "PSHS AEIS Report" (PDF). Texas Education Agency. Retrieved 10 March 2012.
- ^ "Plano ISD National Merit Semifinalists". Plano ISD. Retrieved 12 September 2012.
- ^ http://www.newsweek.com/feature/2011/americas-best-high-schools.html
- ^ a b "Plano West HS Addition". WRA Portfolios. WRA Architects. Retrieved 27 December 2012.
- ^ Staff Reports. "UIL Girls Soccer Champions". Dallas Morning News.
- ^ Staff Reports. "UIL Girls Basketball Champions". Dallas Morning News.
- ^ "AT&T Metroplex High School Hockey Stats/Schedules". Retrieved 2006-10-06.
- ^ "UIL State Team Tennis Tournament Records". Retrieved 2006-10-19.
- ^ Plano West Baseball
- ^ "?". Dallas Morning News Website. Retrieved 2007-04-14.
- ^ "?". Dallas Morning News Website. Retrieved 2007-04-14.
- ^ "?". Dallas Morning News Website. Retrieved 2007-05-25.
- ^ "?". WFAA-TV Website. Retrieved 2011-04-05.
- ^ "Plano West Campus Profile". Plano Independent School District. Retrieved 27 September 2011.
- ^ "Plano West Music Program Named 'Gold' GRAMMY® Signature School". Plando Independent School District. Retrieved 2011-09-10.
- ^ "Awards Committee of TETA, Inc". Texas Educational Theatre Association Website. Retrieved 2007-09-11.
- ^ "UIL One-Act Play Competitions". pisd.edu. June 5, 2009.
- ^ "David Lofton". ESPN.com NFL Player Cards. Retrieved 2006-10-19.
- ^ "#32 Vickiel Vaughn". ESPN.com NFL Player Cards. Retrieved 2006-10-19.
- ^ "Carolina Panthers: Jordan Pugh". Carolina Panthers Roster. Retrieved 2010-04-25.
- ^ "MackBrown-TexasFootball.com". Texas Longhorns Roster. Retrieved 2010-01-07.