Westlake High School
Address
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
Teaching staff197.15 (FTE)[2]
Grades9–12
GenderCoeducational
Enrollment2,833 (2019–20)[2]
Student to teacher ratio14.37[2]
Color(s)      Red, Blue and White
Athletics conferenceUIL Class AAAAAA
Team nameChaparrals
NewspaperFeatherduster
YearbookEl Paisano
Websitewhs.eanesisd.net

Westlake High School is a public high school in unincorporated territory of Travis County, Texas, west of and adjacent to Austin.[3][4] 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 2011, Westlake was ranked 72 on Newsweek Magazine's list of America's top High Schools.[5] In 2012, Westlake was #160 in the Newsweek poll.[6] In 2013, Westlake was #93[7] and in 2014, Westlake was #117.[8]

In high school rankings by The Washington Post, Westlake was #136 in 2014 and 2013.[9][10] In 2012, it was #106 in The Washington Post poll,[11] #59 in 2011,[12] and #52 in 2010.[13]

Extracurricular activities

Westlake was moved to the state's highest classification in 2014 when Texas added a 6A classification.[14]

Academics

  • UIL Academic Meet Champions [15]
    • 1993(4A)

Athletics

The Westlake Chaparrals compete in these sports - [16]

Volleyball, cross country, football, basketball, powerlifting, wrestling, swimming, soccer, lacrosse, golf, tennis, track, water polo, baseball, softball, dance, and cheerleading.

State titles

  • Baseball - [17]
    • 1980(3A), 1984(4A)
  • Girls basketball
    • 1993(4A), 1995(5A), 1996(5A)[18]
  • Boys cross country - [19]
    • 1979(B), 1981(4A)
  • Girls cross country - [20]
    • 1975(B), 1976(B), 1977(B), 1985(4A), 1990(4A)
  • Football
  • Boys golf - [25]
    • 1980(3A), 1996(5A), 1999(5A), 2001(5A), 2009(5A), 2010(5A), 2014(5A), 2017(6A), 2018(6A), 2019(6A)
  • Girls golf
    • 2019(6A)
  • Boys swimming - [26]
    • 2006(5A)
  • Girls swimming - [27]
    • 1980(All), 1996(All), 1997(All), 2007(5A), 2008(5A), 2014(5A), 2015(5A)
  • Team tennis - [28]
    • 1984(4A), 1985(4A), 1992(4A), 2006(5A), 2007(5A), 2009(4A)
  • Volleyball - [29]
    • 1991(4A), 1993(4A), 2002(5A), 2004(5A)
  • Rugby -
    • 2015, 2016

Orchestra

The orchestra program currently has three full orchestras competing in UIL each year.

Band

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.[30] 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

  • Marching Band Sweepstakes Champions [31]
    • 1979(3A), 1982(3A)

Cheerleading

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.[32][33]

Notable alumni

Controversies

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.[48]


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.[49][50]

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.[51]

References

  1. ↑ https://www.eanesisd.net/dept/supt
  2. 1 2 3 "WESTLAKE H S". National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved May 3, 2021.
  3. ↑ "Home." Westlake High School. Retrieved December 31, 2012. "4100 Westbank Drive, Austin, TX 78746"
  4. ↑ "Jurisdiction Map" (PDF). City of Austin. 2018-01-01. Retrieved 2019-05-21. - Also see: "2010 CENSUS - CENSUS BLOCK MAP: West Lake Hills city, TX." U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved December 31, 2012. (Archive)
  5. ↑ "Newsweek: America's Best High Schools". Newsweek (New York). June 19, 2011. Retrieved July 14, 2011
  6. ↑ "America's Best High Schools 2012". Retrieved February 9, 2015
  7. ↑ "2013 America's Best High Schools". Retrieved February 9, 2015
  8. ↑ "Newsweek 2014 America's High Schools". Retrieved February 9, 2015
  9. ↑ "High School Challenge 2014" Retrieved February 9, 2015
  10. ↑ "High School Challenge 2013" Retrieved February 9, 2015
  11. ↑ "High School Challenge 2012" Retrieved February 9, 2015
  12. ↑ "High School Challenge 2011" Retrieved February 9, 2015
  13. ↑ "High School Challenge 2010" Retrieved February 9, 2015
  14. ↑ "UIL officially approves changes that add 6A classification, expand playoffs". 27 February 2013.
  15. ↑ UIL Academic Meet Champions
  16. ↑ The Athletics Department
  17. ↑ UIL Baseball Archives
  18. ↑ "UIL State Girls Basketball Champions". www.uiltexas.org. Retrieved 2020-10-06.
  19. ↑ UIL Boys Cross Country Archives
  20. ↑ UIL Girls Cross Country Archives
  21. ↑ "Austin Westlake Chaparrals". Lone Star Football Network. Archived from the original on December 22, 2019. Retrieved December 22, 2019.
  22. ↑ "2019-2020 Football State Championship Results". University Interscholastic League. Archived from the original on December 22, 2019. Retrieved December 22, 2019.
  23. ↑ "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. 2021-01-17. Retrieved 2021-01-20.
  24. ↑ "Westlake secures third straight state championship after topping Denton Guyer". kvue.com/. 2021-12-19. Retrieved 2023-09-28.
  25. ↑ UIL Centennial webpage
  26. ↑ UIL Boys Swimming Archives
  27. ↑ UIL Girls Swimming Archives
  28. ↑ UIL Centennial webpage
  29. ↑ UIL Volleyball Archives
  30. ↑ "Texas Honor Band Search History".
  31. ↑ UIL Marching Band Archives
  32. ↑ "Westlake Red Cheerleading wins national championship for second year". KXAN-TV. February 2014.
  33. ↑ "Super Varsity Division I Final Results" (PDF).
  34. ↑ "Kyle Adams". purduesports.com.
  35. ↑ Cargile, Erin (December 29, 2011). "How Ben lived with his heart condition". KXAN.com. Austin. Retrieved December 28, 2011.
  36. ↑ "Saints quarterback Drew Brees leads, and wins, by example". The Washington Post. February 3, 2010. Retrieved July 14, 2011.
  37. ↑ Hall, Michael (October 1999). "We Love the Westlake Chaps. No, Really". Texas Monthly.
  38. ↑ "Drew Brees passed his first test as a QB in the Canyon". Rockdale Reporter. February 11, 2010.
  39. ↑ "QB hotbed: Brees, Foles share high school". ESPN. January 2, 2014.
  40. 1 2 "Little Athletes, Big Dreams". The Austin Chronicle. June 10, 2005.
  41. ↑ "Westlake's QB honor roll". Austin American-Statesman. October 7, 2011.
  42. ↑ "Scott Spann","USA Swimming", Retrieved July 14, 2011
  43. ↑ "Huston Street". Sports Pundit. Retrieved July 14, 2011.
  44. ↑ "Former University of Pennsylvania swimmer Lia Thomas responds to critics: 'Trans women competing in women's sports does not threaten women's sports'". ESPN. May 31, 2022. Retrieved August 23, 2023.
  45. ↑ "Westlake High School graduate and Penn swimmer Thomas becomes first transgender woman to win NCAAs". KXAN. March 17, 2022. Retrieved August 23, 2023.
  46. ↑ "Westlake HS grad convicted of operating underground website Silk Road". Austin American-Statesman. September 24, 2016. Retrieved August 23, 2023.
  47. ↑ "Key Moments in the Life of Silk Road Creator Ross Ulbricht". Newsweek. February 19, 2015. Retrieved August 23, 2023.
  48. ↑ Sperling, Shelby. "Westlake takes action after '89 homecoming's racist stunt". THE FEATHERDUSTER. Retrieved 2023-11-28.
  49. ↑ "'Racism at Westlake': Students share painful experiences in common". KXAN Austin. 2020-08-19. Retrieved 2023-11-28.
  50. ↑ "'Racism at Westlake': Athletes report offensive behaviors within powerhouse program". KXAN Austin. 2020-08-20. Retrieved 2023-11-28.
  51. ↑ Acosta, Belinda. "From Austin to Neptune". The Austin Chronicle. Retrieved 26 September 2017.
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