Willis High School

Last updated

Willis High School
Willis High School.jpg
Address
Willis High School
1201 FM 830

Willis
,
Texas
77378

United States
Information
School type Public high school
Motto"One Team, One Purpose"
Established1995
School district Willis Independent School District
CEEB code 447565
NCES School ID 484590005228 [1]
PrincipalEric King
Faculty128.48 (on an FTE basis)
Grades9-12
Enrollment2,521 [1]  (2022–2023)
Student to teacher ratio19.62
Campus Rural: Fringe
Color(s)   Purple & White
Athletics conference UIL Class 6A
Mascot Wildkat
Website Willis High School

Willis High School is a public high school in Montgomery County, Texas. [2] [3] It is a part of the Willis Independent School District. In 2022, the school received a C grade from the Texas Education Agency. [4]

Contents

History

The school was opened in 1995 and replaced the previous Willis High School now known as Lynn Lucas Middle School. [5] In 2004 the school had about 1,440 students. [6] Ben Cooper was the principal until 2006. That year, Tim Patton became the principal. [7] On June 10, 2010, he was reassigned to a position in the district's headquarters. [8] In 2023 the school had an enrollment of 2,496. [9]

Demographics

In the 2022–2023 school year, there were 2,521 students enrolled at Willis High School. The ethnic distribution of students was as follows: [1]

57.3% of students were eligible for free or reduced-price lunch. The school received Title I funding.

Academics

For each academic year, the Texas Education Agency rates school performance using an A–F grading system based on statistical data. For the 2021–2022 school year, the school received a score of 77 out of 100, resulting in a C grade. [10] Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, every school received a label of Not Rated for the 2019-2020 and 2020-2021 school years. [11] [12] For the 2018-2019 school year, the school received a score of 81. [13]

Programs

The district offered a "Kats at Night" (KAN) night school program. The State of Texas provided a $80,000 grant to Willis ISD to establish the program. The first students graduated in October 2004. [6] At an unknown date, this program was removed.[ citation needed ]

Fine Arts

The school offers the fine arts programs of Band, Choir, Theatre, Dance, and Visual Arts [14]

Marching Band

The Willis Wildkat Band has appeared in two UIL State Marching Band Championships. In 2017, Willis placed 7th in their area competition with their show entitled "Aurora," and finished 25th at State in conference 5A. [15] In 2019, Willis placed 1st in their area competition and finished 26th at State in conference 5A. Both performances were under the direction of Band Director Chris Allen and Assistant Band Director Andrew Hicks.

Advanced Academics

Advanced Placement and Dual Credit (AP/DC)

AP and DC are the most challenging advanced class type offered in the school. These classes are college classes designed to be taken by high school students. If a student wants to earn college credit for AP classes, they are required to pass the AP exam offered by the College Board. However, students in DC classes can earn Lone Star College (LSC) course credit by passing DC classes, which are transferable to all public 4-year colleges and universities in Texas. Students in DC classes have the option to take AP exam to earn credit through that as well as LSC. [16] Some DC classes require the student to pass the TSI exam.[ citation needed ]

Athletics

Willis competes athletically in District 13-6A of the University Interscholastic League.

Football

Rick Cullum served as the head American football coach until May 2006. Mack Malone, who was already a part of the athletic staff, replaced him as coach. By 2007 the school was looking for a new coach, and Malone was given a new job. [17]

In 2023, Willis finished first in their district with an 8-0 record under Head Coach Trent Miller and nationally-ranked quarterback DJ Lagway. [18] Willis reached the third round of the UIL 6A Division 2 playoffs. Willis finished their 2023 season with a 12-1 record, and was ranked 65th in MaxPreps national football rankings. [19]

Basketball

Danny Freeman served as the varsity baseball team coach until 2000, when he became the American football defense coordinator at Montgomery High School. [20]

Softball

As of 2004 Amanda Bussell served as the varsity softball coach; she graduated from Oak Ridge High School and previously was an assistant at Montgomery High School. [21]

For UIL events, Willis High School will compete in class 6A, the classification for the largest schools, for the 2020–2022 cycle. The school was only three students above the threshold for entering class 6A. For athletics, the school will compete in District 13 with five Conroe ISD schools as part of the smallest 6A district in Texas. [22]

Controversies

After a local drag queen was invited as a guest speaker for a cosmetology class, community backlash resulted in more stringent regulations regarding school speakers. [23]

In December 2023, a Willis High School student was arrested for assaulting his coach after he was benched for unsportsmanlike conduct. [24] [25]

Notable Alumni

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Woodlands High School</span> Public high school in The Woodlands, Texas

The Woodlands High School is a public high school located in The Woodlands CDP in Montgomery County, Texas, and is a part of the Conroe Independent School District. A section of the Montgomery County portion of The Woodlands and unincorporated areas south of the city of Conroe are served by The Woodlands High School. In 2019, the school received an A grade from the Texas Education Agency.

Tomball High School is an accredited public high school in the city of Tomball, Texas. It was the only high school in the Tomball Independent School District before the construction of Tomball Memorial High School in 2011.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Clements High School</span> Public school in Sugar Land, Texas, United States

William P. Clements High School, more commonly known as Clements High School, is a public high school in Sugar Land, Texas. Named after former Texas governor Bill Clements, Clements High School is a part of the Fort Bend Independent School District. The school serves most of First Colony and a portion of Telfair. It previously served sections of Riverstone until district rezoning prior to the 2014–2015 school year.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Seven Lakes High School</span> Public school in Katy, Texas, United States

Seven Lakes High School (SLHS) is a public senior high school located in Fort Bend County, Texas, United States, inside the Cinco Ranch area south of the city of Katy. Many communities such as Seven Meadows, Grand Lakes, and Cinco Ranch are zoned to the school. While the school has a Katy address, it is within the extraterritorial jurisdiction of Houston, and is a high school of the Katy Independent School District (KISD).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Conroe Independent School District</span> School district in Texas

Conroe Independent School District (CISD) is a school district in Montgomery County, Texas. The current superintendent has been Dr. Curtis Null since June of 2018. As of April 2024, Conroe ISD was the 9th largest school district in Texas and 60th largest in the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oak Ridge High School (Montgomery County, Texas)</span> Secondary school in Conroe, Texas, United States

Oak Ridge High School is a secondary school in unincorporated Montgomery County, Texas, near Conroe, and within the extraterritorial jurisdiction of Shenandoah. Built in 1981, Oak Ridge High School is classified as a 6A school in the Conroe Independent School District. In 2021–2022, the school received a B grade from the Texas Education Agency.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Flower Mound High School</span> Public high school in Flower Mound, Denton County, Texas, United States

Flower Mound High School (FMHS) is part of Lewisville Independent School District and is located in Flower Mound, Texas, United States. The school rests on 52 acres (21 ha) of land that was purchased in 1993. FMHS was the second high school built in Flower Mound, after Edward S. Marcus High School. With the expansion of the town in the 1980s and 1990s, a second high school was built to accommodate the growth. FMHS has been called one of the top 10 best public high schools in the Dallas area and had received an "Exemplary" (highest) rating from the Texas Education Agency. The school's fight song is the Michigan Wolverines' fight song, "The Victors".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Caney Creek High School</span> Public school in Conroe, Texas, United States

Caney Creek High School is a high school in Montgomery County, Texas, near Conroe. It is part of the Conroe Independent School District. Caney Creek serves several areas in Montgomery County, including the city of Cut and Shoot, the census-designated place (CDP) of Grangerland, a portion of the Porter Heights CDP, and a portion of the Deerwood CDP. In 2018–2019, the school received a C grade from the Texas Education Agency.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hebron High School (Texas)</span> High school in Carrollton, Texas

Hebron High School (HHS) is one of five public high schools in the Lewisville Independent School District and is located in Carrollton, Texas. The school opened in 1999 and was the fourth high school to do so in its district. It services communities from far west Plano, southwest Frisco, small portions of far east The Colony, far north Carrollton, and far southeast Lewisville. Hebron serves grades ten through twelve; ninth graders attend the adjacent Hebron High School 9th Grade Campus. In 2015, the school was rated “Met Standard” by the Texas Education Agency. Hebron is currently classified as a 6A school by the University Interscholastic League.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Northbrook High School</span> Public secondary school in the United States

Northbrook High School (NHS) is a high School in Spring Branch, Houston, Texas. Northbrook is located inside Beltway 8 and outside the 610 Loop in western Houston. The school is one of four zoned high schools that are part of the Spring Branch Independent School District. Northbrook provides courses in the traditional academic subjects, as well as several foreign languages, athletics, and fine arts. Several Advanced Placement (AP) courses are offered at Northbrook. Northbrook High's principal is Dr. H. P. Hyder III, the former principal of nearby Northbrook Middle School. Northbrook's attendance area includes several neighborhoods such as Spring Branch's Northern, Central, and Western districts.

The Willis Independent School District is a public school district based in Willis, Texas, United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lufkin High School</span> Public school in Lufkin, Texas, United States

Lufkin High School is a public high school located in Lufkin, Texas and is classified as a 5A school by the University Interscholastic League. It is part of the Lufkin Independent School District that serves the Lufkin area and central Angelina County.

Montgomery Independent School District is a public school district based in Montgomery, Texas. The district's attendance zone includes the city of Montgomery, portions of Conroe, and the surrounding unincorporated area of Montgomery County. For the 2018–2019 school year, the district received an A grade from the Texas Education Agency.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Manvel High School</span> Public school in Texas, United States

Manvel High School is a public high school located along Texas State Highway 6 in the city of Manvel, Texas, USA. It is a part of the Alvin Independent School District located in northern Brazoria County and is classified as a 6A school by the UIL. For the 2021-2022 school year, the school was given a "B" by the Texas Education Agency.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alvin High School</span> Public school in Texas, United States

Alvin High School is a public high school located in the city of Alvin, Texas, United States and classified as a 6A school by the University Interscholastic League (UIL). It is a part of the Alvin Independent School District located in central Brazoria County. For the 2021-22 school year, the school was given a "B" by the Texas Education Agency.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Conroe High School</span> Public school in Conroe, Texas

Conroe High School is a secondary school in Conroe, Texas. The school is a part of the Conroe Independent School District and serves most of the city of Conroe as well as portions of unincorporated Montgomery County, including the community of River Plantation. The campus was initially built in 1964 to replace the older Davy Crockett High School as Conroe's primary high school. The campus has been updated, renovated and expanded through various bond measures, including in 2004, 2015, and 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Prosper High School</span> Co-educational, public, secondary school in Prosper, Texas, United States

Prosper High School is a class 6A public high school in Prosper, Texas, United States. It is part of Prosper Independent School District located in western Collin County, with a small portion of the district extending into Denton County. In addition to Prosper, the district serves a portion of McKinney and small parts of Frisco and Celina.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ridge Point High School</span> Public secondary school in Missouri City, Texas, United States

Ridge Point High School (RPHS) is a public high school located in Sienna, an unincorporated area and planned community in Fort Bend County, Texas.

Channelview High School is a public high school serving students grades 9–12 in Channelview and other unincorporated communities in Harris County, Texas, United States of America. It is the main flagship school of the two high schools part of the Channelview Independent School District. The UIL region of the district is 6A. In 2022, the school received a "B" rating from the Texas Education Agency and received two distinction designations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Grand Oaks High School</span> Public school in Spring, Texas, United States

Grand Oaks High School is a high school in unincorporated Montgomery County, Texas, in the United States. The school opened in August 2018 as the sixth high school within Conroe Independent School District. The school was built to alleviate overcrowding at Oak Ridge High School.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Search for Public Schools - WILLIS H S (484590005228)". National Center for Education Statistics . Institute of Education Sciences . Retrieved April 30, 2020.
  2. ↑ "City Limits Through June 2019". City of Conroe. Retrieved July 18, 2019. - See also annexation map which indicates it in parcel 2163-13-1
  3. ↑ "Home". Willis High School. Retrieved July 18, 2019. 10005 Highway 75 North, Willis, TX 77378
  4. ↑ "Accountability". Texas Education Agency. Retrieved January 13, 2024.
  5. ↑ Willis A Proud Past and Brighter Future...Collector's Limited Edition 1995 (PDF). 1995. p. 11. Retrieved October 24, 2023.
  6. 1 2 Breslin, Bill (October 21, 2004). "First students earn diplomas from alternative high school program". Houston Chronicle . Retrieved May 1, 2017.
  7. ↑ Micek, Kassia (August 15, 2006). "Patton takes over as Willis High principal". Houston Chronicle . Retrieved April 30, 2017.
  8. ↑ Micek, Kassia (August 2, 2010). "CISD expected to hire Patton". The Woodlands Villager at the Houston Chronicle . Retrieved April 30, 2017.
  9. ↑ "Willis High School in Willis, TX - US News Best High Schools". U.S.News. Retrieved October 24, 2023.
  10. ↑ "Texas Education Agency 2022 School Report Card WILLIS H S (170904002) - WILLIS ISD - MONTGOMERY COUNTY". Texas Education Agency . Retrieved December 23, 2023.
  11. ↑ "Texas Education Agency 2019-20 School Report Card WILLIS H S (170904002)". Texas Education Agency . Retrieved December 23, 2023.
  12. ↑ "Texas Education Agency 2020-21 School Report Card WILLIS H S (170904002)". Texas Education Agency . Retrieved December 23, 2023.
  13. ↑ "Texas Education Agency 2018-19 School Report Card WILLIS H S (170904002)". Texas Education Agency . Retrieved December 23, 2023.
  14. ↑ "Fine Arts". Willis ISD. Retrieved October 24, 2023.
  15. ↑ Ellsworth, Meagan (October 24, 2023). "Willis HS band trailblazers in state run". The Courier . Retrieved January 13, 2024.
  16. ↑ "UPDATED 10042023 23-24 AP Exam Info.pdf". Google Docs. pp. 4–7. Retrieved October 31, 2023.
  17. ↑ Roden, Howard (November 13, 2007). "WHS makes football coaching change". Houston Chronicle . Retrieved May 1, 2017.
  18. ↑ Richard Justice, Howard (October 24, 2023). "A High School Football Fairy Tale Unfolds in Southeast Texas". Texas Monthly . Retrieved January 13, 2024.
  19. ↑ MaxPreps. "Willis Wildkats Varsity Football". MaxPreps at the Houston Chronicle . Retrieved January 13, 2024.
  20. ↑ Jones, Mike (April 17, 2000). "'Proud to have been Wildkat…excited about being a Bear'". Houston Chronicle . Retrieved May 1, 2017.
  21. ↑ "Willis High School softball coach has strong ties to Montgomery County". Houston Chronicle . March 29, 2004. Retrieved May 1, 2017.
  22. ↑ "Realignment notes: 5 Conroe ISD schools, Willis form state's smallest 6A district". Houston Chronicle . February 3, 2020. Retrieved June 8, 2020.
  23. ↑ "Community divided over Willis High School drag queen event". November 12, 2019.
  24. ↑ "HS basketball player, older brother beat up coach in parking lot after game: cops". New York Post. December 10, 2023. Retrieved December 11, 2023.
  25. ↑ "Willis ISD student and adult brother beat up basketball coach for benching 17-year-old, coach says". ABC13 Eyewitness News. Retrieved December 11, 2023.

30°23′32″N95°28′39″W / 30.3923°N 95.4775°W / 30.3923; -95.4775

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.