Westlake High School (Texas)

Westlake High School
Address
Map
4100 Westbank Drive

Austin
,
Travis County
,
Texas
78746

United States
Coordinates30°16′33″N 97°48′56″W / 30.27583°N 97.81556°W / 30.27583; -97.81556
Information
TypePublic high school
Opened1971
School districtEanes Independent School District
SuperintendentJeff Arnett[1]
PrincipalSteve Ramsey[2]
Teaching staff199.50 (FTE)[3]
Grades9–12
GenderCoeducational
Enrollment2,825 (2022–23)[3]
Student to teacher ratio14.16[3]
Color(s)     
Red, Blue and White
Athletics conferenceUIL 6A
Team nameChaparrals
NewspaperFeatherduster
YearbookEl Paisano
WebsiteOfficial Website

Westlake High School is a public high school in unincorporated territory of Travis County, Texas, west of and adjacent to Austin.[4][5] The school is a part of the Eanes Independent School District. Westlake High School is the only high school in the Eanes ISD and serves West Lake Hills, Rollingwood, parts of Southwest Austin, as well as parts of unincorporated Travis County. The school was established in 1969 and opened in 1970.

In Newsweek Magazine's list of America's top High Schools Westlake was ranked #72 in 2011,[6] #160 in 2012,[7] #93 in 2013,[8] and #117 in 2014.[9]

In high school rankings by The Washington Post, Westlake was #52 in 2010,[10] #59 in 2011,[11] #106 in 2012,[12] #136 in 2013,[13] and #136 in 2014.[14]

In the U.S. News & World Report's 2023-2024 rankings, Westlake is listed as #299 out of 17,680 schools.[15]

Extracurricular activities

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Westlake was moved to the state's highest classification in 2014 when Texas added a 6A classification.[16]

Academics

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  • UIL Academic Meet Champions [17]
    • 1993(4A)

Athletics

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The Westlake Chaparrals compete in volleyball, cross country, football, basketball, powerlifting, wrestling, swimming, soccer, lacrosse, golf, tennis, track, water polo, baseball, softball, dance, and cheerleading.[18]

State titles

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  • Baseball
  • Girls basketball
  • Boys cross country
  • Girls cross country
  • Football
  • Boys golf[35]
    • 1980(3A), 1996(5A), 1999(5A), 2001(5A), 2009(5A), 2010(5A), 2014(5A), 2017(6A), 2018(6A), 2019(6A), 2021(6A), 2022(6A), 2023(6A)
  • Girls golf
    • 2010(5A), 2011(5A), 2018(6A), 2019(6A)
  • Boys swimming[36]
    • 2006(5A)
  • Girls swimming[37]
    • 1980(All), 1996(All), 1997(All), 2007(5A), 2008(5A), 2014(5A), 2015(5A)
  • Team tennis[38]
    • 1984(4A), 1985(4A), 1992(4A), 2006(5A), 2007(5A), 2009(4A)
  • Volleyball[39]
    • 1991(4A), 1993(4A), 2002(5A), 2004(5A)
  • Rugby
    • 2015, 2016

Orchestra

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The orchestra program currently has two full orchestras and four string orchestras competing in UIL each year.

Band

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The Westlake High School Chaparral Band has been named the Texas State Honor Band three times (AA, AAA, and AAAA) in its 30-year history.[40] A select group of Chap Band student musicians performed at the bi-annual conference of the internationally recognized World Association for Symphonic Bands (WASBE) in Cincinnati, OH in July 2009. The invitation to perform at WASBE is the first ever extended to a high school band organization.

State titles

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  • Marching Band Sweepstakes Champions [41]
    • 1979(3A), 1982(3A)

Cheerleading

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The Westlake Cheer Program's Red Team has won the 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2019 UCA Super Varsity Division 1 National High School Cheerleading Championships.[42][43]

Notable alumni

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Controversies

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On the morning of Oct. 13, 1989, an effigy was found hanging by a noose from a tree on campus. The effigy was dressed in a football jersey that read "fish." That same day, Westlake High School was set to play the Homecoming football game against Lyndon B. Johnson High School, who had a Black quarterback named "Fish." Controversy over the meaning of the effigy ensued. Some insisted that the lynched effigy was racially motivated. Others thought the word "fish" on the jersey was an unfortunate coincidence, drawing parallels to the nickname "fish" that was often given to freshmen at the school. Another scandal would ensue the same day as the words "Go Home, N——" were found painted on the bleachers for the visiting team. Following the incidents on October 13, the University Interscholastic League put Westlake High School on probation for the 1990-91 school year. The school was also required to institute a plan to improve diversity, inclusion, and sensitivity.[61]

Public controversy around racism at Westlake High School resurfaced in 2020 with the creation of the Instagram account @racismatwestlake. The account documents firsthand experiences with discrimination at Westlake High School. Media attention garnered by the account has led to conversations surrounding diversity at the school, the actions of administrators, and the general culture at Westlake.[62][63]

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Neptune High, the high school in Veronica Mars, is partially based on Westlake, where the father of writer-producer Rob Thomas once served as vice-principal.[64]

References

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  1. ^ "Eanes ISD Superintendent". eanesisd.net. Retrieved December 21, 2023.
  2. ^ "Westlake High School Principal". eanesisd.net. Retrieved December 21, 2023.
  3. ^ a b c "WESTLAKE H S". National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved June 21, 2024.
  4. ^ "Home." Westlake High School. Retrieved December 31, 2012. "4100 Westbank Drive, Austin, TX 78746"
  5. ^ "Jurisdiction Map" (PDF). City of Austin. January 1, 2018. Retrieved May 21, 2019. - Also see: "2010 CENSUS - CENSUS BLOCK MAP: West Lake Hills city, TX." U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved December 31, 2012. (Archive)
  6. ^ "Newsweek: America's Best High Schools". Newsweek (New York). June 19, 2011. Retrieved July 14, 2011
  7. ^ "America's Best High Schools 2012". Retrieved February 9, 2015
  8. ^ "2013 America's Best High Schools". Retrieved February 9, 2015
  9. ^ "Newsweek 2014 America's High Schools". Retrieved February 9, 2015
  10. ^ "High School Challenge 2010". apps.washingtonpost.com. Retrieved February 9, 2015.
  11. ^ "High School Challenge 2011". apps.washingtonpost.com. Retrieved February 9, 2015.
  12. ^ "High School Challenge 2012". apps.washingtonpost.com. Retrieved February 9, 2015.
  13. ^ "High School Challenge 2013". apps.washingtonpost.com. Retrieved February 9, 2015.
  14. ^ "High School Challenge 2014". apps.washingtonpost.com. Retrieved February 9, 2015.
  15. ^ "2023-2024 Best U.S. High Schools". U.S. News & World Report. Retrieved December 21, 2023.
  16. ^ "UIL officially approves changes that add 6A classification, expand playoffs". February 27, 2013.
  17. ^ UIL Academic Meet Champions
  18. ^ The Athletics Department
  19. ^ "1979-1980 3A Baseball State Results". uiltexas.org. Retrieved December 20, 2023.
  20. ^ "1983-1984 4A Baseball State Results". uiltexas.org. Retrieved December 20, 2023.
  21. ^ "1992-1993 4A Girls Basketball State Results". uiltexas.org. Retrieved December 20, 2023.
  22. ^ "1994-1995 5A Girls Basketball State Results". uiltexas.org. Retrieved December 20, 2023.
  23. ^ "1995-1996 5A Girls Basketball State Results". uiltexas.org. Retrieved December 20, 2023.
  24. ^ "1979-1980 B Boys Results". uiltexas.org. Retrieved December 20, 2023.
  25. ^ "1981-1982 4A Boys Results". uiltexas.org. Retrieved December 20, 2023.
  26. ^ "1975-1976 Cross Country - Girls". uiltexas.org. Retrieved December 20, 2023.
  27. ^ "1976-1977 Cross Country - Girls". uiltexas.org. Retrieved December 20, 2023.
  28. ^ "1977-1978 Cross Country - Girls". uiltexas.org. Retrieved December 20, 2023.
  29. ^ "1985-1986 Cross Country - Girls". uiltexas.org. Retrieved December 20, 2023.
  30. ^ "1985-1986 Cross Country - Girls". uiltexas.org. Retrieved December 20, 2023.
  31. ^ "1996 Football Conference 5A" (PDF). uiltexas.org. Retrieved December 20, 2023.
  32. ^ "2019-2020 Football State Championship Results". University Interscholastic League. Archived from the original on December 22, 2019. Retrieved December 22, 2019.
  33. ^ "Texas high school football championships: No. 4 Westlake takes down No. 10 Southlake Carroll as father beats son for 6A Division I title - MaxPreps". MaxPreps.com. January 17, 2021. Retrieved January 20, 2021.
  34. ^ "Westlake secures third straight state championship after topping Denton Guyer". kvue.com/. December 19, 2021. Retrieved September 28, 2023.
  35. ^ UIL Centennial webpage
  36. ^ UIL Boys Swimming Archives
  37. ^ UIL Girls Swimming Archives
  38. ^ UIL Centennial webpage
  39. ^ UIL Volleyball Archives
  40. ^ "Texas Honor Band Search History".
  41. ^ UIL Marching Band Archives
  42. ^ "Westlake Red Cheerleading wins national championship for second year". KXAN-TV. February 2014.
  43. ^ "Super Varsity Division I Final Results" (PDF).
  44. ^ Florio, Mike (September 3, 2013). "Bears bring back Kyle Adams, dump Jonathan Scott". Profootballtalk.com. Retrieved September 4, 2013.
  45. ^ "Broncos tackle Calvin Anderson is determined to protect his quarterback and find consistency". Mile High Sports. November 25, 2022. Retrieved September 20, 2024.
  46. ^ Cargile, Erin (December 29, 2011). "How Ben lived with his heart condition". KXAN.com. Archived from the original on January 7, 2012. Retrieved December 28, 2011.
  47. ^ Hall, Michael (October 1999). "We Love the Westlake Chaps. No, Really". Texas Monthly. Retrieved December 9, 2023.
  48. ^ "Ethan Burke - Football". texassports.com. Retrieved December 11, 2023.
  49. ^ "Sam Ehlinger". rivals.com. Retrieved December 9, 2023.
  50. ^ Triplett, Mike (January 2, 2014). "QB hotbed: Brees, Foles share high school". ESPN. Retrieved December 9, 2023.
  51. ^ Gordon, Colby (July 14, 2024). "Westlake graduate Theo Gillen drafted by Tampa Bay Rays in first round of MLB draft". Austin American-Statesman. Retrieved July 15, 2024.
  52. ^ Recek, Travis (January 29, 2021). "No Time to Rest for Westlake Multi-Sport Standout". Spectrum News. Retrieved April 27, 2024.
  53. ^ Clark, Douglas (September 7, 2021). "USA TODAY High School Sports Awards Offensive Football Player of the Year Cade Klubnik embraces team-first mindset". USA Today. Retrieved May 28, 2022.
  54. ^ a b Crawford, Bill (June 10, 2005). "Little Athletes, Big Dreams". The Austin Chronicle. Retrieved December 12, 2023.
  55. ^ "Westlake's QB honor roll". Austin American-Statesman. October 7, 2011.
  56. ^ "Scott Spann","USA Swimming", Retrieved July 14, 2011
  57. ^ "The remarkable rise of Texas former walk-on S Michael Taaffe". Burnt Orange Nation. October 26, 2023.
  58. ^ "Westlake High School graduate and Penn swimmer Thomas becomes first transgender woman to win NCAAs". KXAN. March 17, 2022. Retrieved August 23, 2023.
  59. ^ "Westlake HS grad convicted of operating underground website Silk Road". Austin American-Statesman. September 24, 2016. Retrieved August 23, 2023.
  60. ^ "Vasek family ties help Westlake's winning ways". Spectrum News. August 12, 2022. Retrieved October 13, 2024.
  61. ^ Sperling, Shelby. "Westlake takes action after '89 homecoming's racist stunt". THE FEATHERDUSTER. Retrieved November 28, 2023.
  62. ^ "'Racism at Westlake': Students share painful experiences in common". KXAN Austin. August 19, 2020. Retrieved November 28, 2023.
  63. ^ "'Racism at Westlake': Athletes report offensive behaviors within powerhouse program". KXAN Austin. August 20, 2020. Retrieved November 28, 2023.
  64. ^ Acosta, Belinda. "From Austin to Neptune". The Austin Chronicle. Retrieved September 26, 2017.
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