Woodrow Wilson High School (Dallas, Texas)

Woodrow Wilson High School is a public secondary school located at 100 South Glasgow Drive in the Lakewood neighborhood of east Dallas, Texas (USA) in the ZIP code 75214. It was named in honor of former U.S. president Woodrow Wilson, who died three years before it was built. The school enrolls students in grades 9-12 and is a part of the Dallas Independent School District.

History

Designed by noted Dallas architect Mark Lemmon, the school opened in 1928 and was constructed in the Elizabethan style."Second junior high starts shaping up," "The Dallas Morning News", April 24, 1933, section 1, page 3: "The exterior of the [J.L. Long Junior High] building has been designed in Elizabethan style to harmonize with the previously established Woodrow Wilson High School, on the campus of which it is being constructed."] At the cornerstone-laying ceremony in April 1927, a piece of the wedding cake of Woodrow Wilson's second daughter, Jessie, was included in the cornerstone "in memory of Mr. Wilson.""School corner stone holds wedding cake of Wilson's daughter," "The Dallas Morning News", April 21, 1927, section 2, page 15.] At US$700,000, the school's cost exceeded that of the district's previous four high schools by at least $100,000."Wilson High being built: Masonry work started on big East Dallas school," "The Dallas Morning News", March 24, 1927, section 2, page 13.] Special features of the building included a gymnasium boasting "one entire wall of glass windows" and an auditorium that was to be the "best equipped and best lighted" in the district, with footlights and a separately ventilated orchestra pit."Woodrow Wilson High School ready for equipment," "The Dallas Morning News", May 18, 1928, section 2, page 13.] A theater organ was later placed in the pit and pipes put in special lofts on the third level. Also on the third floor was 'the largest eating place in Dallas' the school cafeteria. In previous Dallas high schools the cafeteria was at grade level. A special elevator was installed to service the eating facility. As a cost comparison, the tallest building in the world at the time, The Woolworth Building in New York City, cost $13,500,000 to build. The September, 1928 Dallas Herald said the school "presents a rare spectacle from afar".

Photos and the original blueprints of the school building were featured in an exhibition celebrating the works of Mark Lemmon at The Meadows Museum http://smu.edu/meadows/museum/exh_Lemmon_press.htm

The school has been colloquially called "Woodrow" by students and community members from its beginning, fostered by first principal G.L. "Pop" Ashburn, who led the school until 1956. The mascot of the school is the Wildcat. A Parent Teacher Association chapter was formed for the school even before its 1928 opening."Wilson High P.-T.A. to be organized," "The Dallas Morning News", Society News section, page 4.]

Until 1957 (when Bryan Adams High School opened), Woodrow was the only "East Dallas" high school. Woodrow still serves most of "old" East Dallas, including Swiss Avenue, Mount Auburn, Junius Heights, Lakewood, Munger Place, and Hollywood Heights.

In 1981, interiors for "Crisis at Central High" starring Joanne Woodward, were filmed at the school. Many students, including the late Lance Bircher '83 (cited for his scene by imdb.com), were used in the filming. The students had trouble understanding the concept of separate schools for blacks and whites and the resulting struggles as the school was cited by the Supreme Court as a model for natural integration during the Dallas desegregation case. They were thrilled to receive a visit from Miss Woodward's husband, Paul Newman.

In 2004, thousands attended Woodrow's 75th Anniversary celebration, which included a parade (from Lakewood to the school, with Congressman Sam Johnson as Grand Marshal, chauffered in a new Ford Mustang by fellow alumnus Carroll Shelby, the legendary auto designer and builder), followed by an auditorium-packed program. Scores of "mini-reunions" also were held during that day in assigned rooms throughout the school.

In 2005, Woodrow had more National Merit Semi-finalists than Frisco High School and the same number as nearby Lake Highlands High School (RISD), all of which are much larger, suburban public schools. In 2006 Woodrow had two National Merit Scholars while Lake Highlands had none.

In 2006, "Newsweek" named Woodrow one of the top high schools in the nation based on the numbers of AP and IB tests taken - this result placed the school in the top 3% of all high schools in the United States. Local publication "D Magazine" ranked it the top comprehensive high school in Dallas.

In 2008 the school once again made the Newsweek list - in the top half.

Extracurricular activities

From the school's beginning a Junior ROTC program has been part of its offerings."Bowley to view R.O.T.C. groups," "The Dallas Morning News", December 12, 1928, section 1, page 4.] In the 1930s, '40s and early '50s the school had the largest JROTC program in the nation, with 16 different companies and an ROTC band; a May 1941 article declared the program "largest of its kind in the world.""Woodrow Wilson ROTC holds formal review with new flag flying," "The Dallas Morning News", May 15, 1941, section 2, page 1.] During World War II, students at the school raised enough money to buy the Navy a Wildcat fighter plane.Fact|date=February 2007

In the 1950s, Woodrow became the first school to stage a full-scale Broadway-style musical, "Oklahoma!".Fact|date=February 2008 The shows are annual productions, with the 50th show, "Fiddler on the Roof", being presented in April 2007. "Fiddler" swept the North Texas Cappie Awards, the high school equivalent of the Tony Awards, winning Best Musical, Best Actor, and a Creativity award for the fiddler herself, as well as six other Cappies won for the school that year. Woodrow's 2006 musical production, "City of Angels", represented the school's first year participating in the Cappies and garnered a Best Lead Actor in a Musical award for student Evan Faram. From 1980 to 1992, the choreographer for the musicals flew in annually from California for the production, eventually moving to Dallas to teach at the school with longtime choir director and musicals producer Marca Lee Bircher, who began teaching at the school in 1975.Nancy Churnin. "Music from their hearts - Teachers have earned satisfaction by changing children's lives," "The Dallas Morning News", November 4, 1999, page 1C.]

The school's 1978 50th Anniversary produced an award-winning show choir, Variations, which continues to win accolades and perform in various venues, directed by Bircher from its inception. In 1998 they were selected to perform with Shania Twain. In November 2006, they were asked to perform for the Texas State Board of Education. The annual one-act play produced for the University Interscholastic League (UIL) competition also usually makes it to the statewide finals in Austin.Fact|date=February 2008

The Mock Trial Team, formed in 1979, regularly advances to state competition. The 2007 team at state competition and advocate Thomas Simpson received "Best Advocate" at the state competition in 2006. The 2008 team finished first in Dallas area competition and second in state competition.

School uniforms

Students are required to wear school uniforms. [" [http://www.dallasisd.org/demo/schoolinfo/highzones2008/Wilson2008.pdf Uniform Dress Code for Woodrow Wilson High School 2008-2009] ." "Woodrow Wilson High School".] The Texas Education Agency specifies that the parents and/or guardians of students zoned to a school with uniforms may apply for a waiver to opt out of the uniform policy so their children do not have to wear the uniform [" [http://www.tea.state.tx.us/field/uniforms.html School Uniforms] ", Texas Education Agency] ; parents must specify "bona fide" reasons, such as religious reasons or philosophical objections.

Feeder patterns

As of 2008, J. L. Long Middle School (6-8) feeds into Woodrow Wilson. [http://www.dallasisd.org/ Dallas ISD] - [http://www.dallasisd.org/eval/schoolinfo/indexfeeder.htm 2006 School Feeder Patterns] - [http://www.dallasisd.org/eval/schoolinfo/feeder2006/wilson.htm Woodrow Wilson High School] . Retrieved 5 April 2007.]

Oran M. Roberts (PK-5) north of I-30, Lakewood (PK-5), Robert E. Lee (PK-5), and Stonewall Jackson (K-5) Elementary Schools feed into Woodrow Wilson High School. William Lipscomb and Mount Auburn Elementary Schools (both PK-3) feed into Eduardo Mata Elementary School (4-5), which in turn feeds into Woodrow Wilson High School. Lipscomb is adding fourth and fifth grade and will feed directly into J.L. Long and then to Woodrow in the next two years.

Notable alumni

*Tim Brown 1984, professional football player and 1987 Heisman Trophy winner"10 Notable Woodrow Wildcats," "The Dallas Morning News", March 7, 2004, Metro section, 15B]
*Georgia Carroll Kyser 1937, model for 1936 Texas Centennial "Spirit of the Centennial" statue, former actress, model and widow of band leader Kay Kyser
*Trammell Crow 1932, major Dallas builder and real estate mogul"10 Notable Woodrow Wildcats," "The Dallas Morning News", March 7, 2004, Metro section, 15B]
*Bill Forester 1949, professional football player
*Burton Gilliam 1956, actor
*Ralph Guldahl 1930, professional golfer [http://www.hsgametime.com/dfw/schoolextra.htm?schoolId=238&propertyId=dfw&page=alum Notable alumni of Woodrow Wilson High School] , HS Game Time. Retrieved 2008-07-03.]
*Jerry Haynes 1944, actor and former children's television host"10 Notable Woodrow Wildcats," "The Dallas Morning News", March 7, 2004, Metro section, 15B]
*Dusty Hill [http://www.www1978.com 1967] , member of ZZ Top
*Curley Johnson 1954, professional football player
*Sam Johnson, congressman U.S. Congress. [http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=j000174 Biographical Directory of the United States Congress: Sam Johnson] ]
*Alton Lister 1976, professional basketball player"10 Notable Woodrow Wildcats," "The Dallas Morning News", March 7, 2004, Metro section, 15B]
*Steve Miller 1961, musician Steve Miller Band
*Davey O'Brien 1935, professional football player and 1938 Heisman Trophy winner"10 Notable Woodrow Wildcats," "The Dallas Morning News", March 7, 2004, Metro section, 15B]
*Tom Phillips [http://www.www1968.com 1968] (Valedictorian), Chief Justice Texas Supreme Court 1988-2004 [http://www.bakerbotts.com/lawyers/detail.aspx?id=4ddedf6f-de48-482a-a982-0444f23a7219 Baker Botts Law Firm website, Tom Phillips bio] ; Texas Supreme Court]
*Anthony Randolph 2007, LSU and NBA first-round draft pick for Golden State.
*Joe Shearin 1978, professional football player
*Carroll Shelby 1940, race car driver ["Father" of (among others) the Shelby Cobra, the 427 Cobra, the Ford Mustang GT350, the Dodge Shelby Charger, the Dodge Viper, the Ford Shelby GT500, and the Shelby GT convertibleCarroll Shelby Website [http://www.carrollshelby.com/history.html] ]
*Lawrence Wright 1965, Pulitzer Prize 2007, Author - The Looming Tower: Al Qaeda and the Road to 9/11, staff writer The New Yorker

References

External links

* [http://www.woodrowwildcats.org/ Woodrow Wilson High School]
* [http://www.wwwildcats.org/ Woodrow Wilson High School Alumni]
* [http://www.woodrowwildcats.org/ parent site]
* [http://www.wwhsdallas.com/ Woodrow Wilson High School Class Reunion Center]
* [http://www.dallascityhall.com/historic/html/woodrow_wilson_high_school.html City of Dallas website on the school building]
* [http://woodrowwildcats.org/historic_woodrow.pdf National Trust for Historic Preservation pages for Woodrow] (PDF file)
* [http://www.wwwclassof87.com/ Woodrow Wilson Class of 1987 Official Website]
* [http://www.www1967.com/ Woodrow Wilson Class of 1967 Official Website]
* [http://www.smu.edu/newsinfo/stories/architectural-exhibit-1.asp Southern Methodist University - Meadows Museum exhibit celebrates "The Architecture of Mark Lemmon”]