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  • 21 Aug, 2019

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

History

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

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:

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. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, every school received a label of Not Rated for the 2019-2020 and 2020-2021 school years. For the 2018-2019 school year, the school received a score of 81.

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. At an unknown date, this program was removed.

Fine Arts

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

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. 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. Some DC classes require the student to pass the TSI exam.

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.

In 2023, Willis finished first in their district with an 8-0 record under Head Coach Trent Miller and nationally-ranked quarterback DJ Lagway. 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.

Basketball

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

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.

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.

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.

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

In October 2024, the Willis High School football team was criticized for hitting their opponents in the Cleveland High School team with belts after beating them 77-0.

Notable Alumni

References

  1. ^ "Search for Public Schools - WILLIS H S (484590005228)". National Center for Education Statistics. Institute of Education Sciences. Retrieved December 22, 2024.
  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. ^ 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.
  26. ^ Staszewski, Joseph (October 5, 2024). "Texas HS football team slammed after players spank opponents with belts after 77-0 win". New York Post. Retrieved November 12, 2024.
  27. ^ Morik, Ryan (October 5, 2024). "High school football player spanks opponents with belt after 77-0 beatdown". Fox News. Retrieved November 12, 2024.

30°23′32″N 95°28′39″W / 30.3923°N 95.4775°W / 30.3923; -95.4775

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