Judson High School
| Judson High School | |
|---|---|
| Location | |
 | |
United States | |
| Coordinates | 29°30′35″N 98°18′24″W / 29.509634°N 98.306707°W |
| Information | |
| Type | Free public |
| Established | 1959 |
| School district | Judson Independent School District |
| Principal | Jesus Hernandez III |
| Grades | 9 - 12 |
| Enrollment | 4670 (as of 2013) |
| Color(s) | Red & Grey |
| Athletics conference | District 27-5A |
| Mascot | Rockets |
| Website | Judson High School |
Judson High School is a public, co-educational secondary school in Converse, Texas. It was established in 1959 and is part of the Judson Independent School District. The school was named after Moses Judson, who served on the Bexar County School Board from 1918 to 1939. His nephew Jack Judson was on the board when the decision was made to name the new rural high school Judson.
For a portion of its history up through 2010, Judson High School used a dual campus system wherein juniors and seniors attended the "Red Campus" and freshmen and sophomores attended the "Gray Campus." Previous to this dual campus system, Judson also had an atypical structure because it only housed grades 10-12 with the middle schools supporting grades 7-9. These structural departures from a typical high school system were due to efforts to accommodate the area's rapid population growth.
However, a single new school building now houses all the facilities with the exception of the agriculture facilities. The numerous original buildings which constituted the Red Campus were razed in 2011 to make way for the new athletic fields and tennis courts. The Gray Campus has been repurposed into the Judson Middle School. The Performing Arts Center (PAC), which was constructed in 1998, houses the band, choir, orchestra, and drama classes. The PAC facility has an auditorium that seats 500 and has an orchestra pit, stage, and fly loft. The auditorium and recital hall are used by the entire district for special events. The PAC is physically connected to Judson High School via vestibule.
The school newspaper is "The Satellite" and the yearbook is "The Rocket."
Judson was named a National Blue Ribbon School in 1999-2000.[1]
Up until 2005, Judson was the sole high school within the Judson Independent School District (JISD). In 2005, the new Karen Wagner High School was launched which drew students from Judson. With Judson and Wagner, there are currently two main high schools in the JISD.
Athletics
Playing in the highest classification of the University Interscholastic League, the Judson Rocket football program emerged as a perennial power in the 1977 season under coach Jerry Sanders. Under his successor Frank Arnold, Judson won its first state championship. Arnold was succeeded by his former defensive coordinator D.W. Rutledge in 1984. D.W. Rutledge coached the Rockets until 2000 amassing a record of 198-31-5 and winning four state titles. In honor of D.W. Rutledge, the football stadium is named after him. Jim Rackley, a longtime assistant to Arnold and Rutledge for sixteen years, took over the program after the 2000 season. Rackley led the team to the state playoffs in nine of his eleven seasons and made three title appearances while winning one state championship. Mark Smith, formerly of Kerrville Tivy High School where he coached Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Manziel, assumed head coaching duties at Judson in 2012.
Judson has made it to the state title game eleven (11) times: 1983, 1988, 1990, 1992-1993, 1995-1996, 1998, 2002, 2005, and 2007. Of these opportunities, Judson has claimed six (6) state titles by winning in 1983, 1988, 1992-1993, 1995, and 2002. With six (6) 5A state titles, Judson is tied with Katy High School for the most 5A state titles (5A being Texas' largest public school classification).
Currently, Judson is tied with Plano Senior High School for recording the most consecutive winning seasons at thirty-six (36) years. Whereas Plano's record is no longer active, Judson's record is still ongoing, and the 2013 season could set an all-time Texas record. From 1977 through 2013, Judson has recorded an 81.4% winning percentage with the worse full season record being 7-5 and the worse regular season record being 6-4 (this has happened 3 times).
The following list details Judson's season records during the current streak (head coach noted in parentheses):
1977 10-1 (Sanders)
1978 10-2 (Sanders)
1979 10-1 (Sanders)
1980 6-4 (Arnold)
1981 7-3 (Arnold)
1982 14-1 (Arnold)
1983 15-1 (Arnold)
1984 11-2-1 (Rutledge)
1985 12-2 (Rutledge)
1986 12-1 (Rutledge)
1987 9-1-1 (Rutledge)
1988 15-1 (Rutledge)
1989 14-1 (Rutledge)
1990 14-2 (Rutledge)
1991 11-3 (Rutledge)
1992 14-1 (Rutledge)
1993 13-0-2 (Rutledge)
1994 10-3-1 (Rutledge)
1995 14-1 (Rutledge)
1996 13-2 (Rutledge)
1997 7-4 (Rutledge)
1998 14-1 (Rutledge)
1999 7-3 (Rutledge)
2000 8-3 (Rutledge)
2001 9-3 (Rackley)
2002 14-1 (Rackley)
2003 6-4 (Rackley)
2004 13-1 (Rackley)
2005 10-5 (Rackley)
2006 6-4 (Rackley)
2007 11-5 (Rackley)
2008 8-3 (Rackley)
2009 9-3 (Rackley)
2010 7-5 (Rackley)
2011 8-3 (Rackley)
2012 8-4 (Smith)
2013 5-1 (Smith)
Totals 385-86-5 for an 81.4% winning percentage
The wrestling program has also seen recent success and has garnered an individual state title in the 140 lbs. weight class through Aaron Walker (2010-5th, 2011-1st, 2012-1st).
Last, Judson is the 2013 Texas 5A state track meet champion.
Notable alumni
- Mike Azzaro, American professional polo player
- Eric Brown, Denver Broncos and Houston Texans player
- Derwin Gray, Indianapolis Colts player and evangelist
- Otis Grigsby, Miami Dolphins player Minnesota Vikings player
- Rob Housler, Arizona Cardinals player
- Corey Sears, Houston Texans player
- Mike Jinks, [Texas Tech Red Raiders football|Texas Tech]] assistant coach
- Anthony Hutchinson Texas Tech Red Raiders, Chicago Bears, New England Patriots