Waco High School

Infobox School

name = Waco High School
motto =
established =
type = Public High School
principal = Clarence Simmons
faculty = 139
teaching_staff =
students = 1,902
grades = 9-12
address = 2020 N 42nd St
city = Waco
state = Texas
country = United States
district = Waco ISD
oversight =
accreditation =
campus =
colors = Scarlet, White & Gray
athletics =
mascot = Lions
emblem =
yearbook =
newspaper =
testname =
testaverage =
National_ranking =
website = http://wacoisd.org/wacohigh/
footnotes =
picture =

Waco High School is a Texas UIL Class 4A public high school located on N. 42 Street in Waco, Texas. As of August 2008, enrollment was 1641 with 139 teachers. The ethnicity is roughly 44.95% African American, 36.91% Hispanic, 17.19% White American and 0.95% Other. The school mascot is the lion. The school colors are scarlet, white, and gray.

History

Waco High School was originally located in downtown Waco. And, later at another location on the corner of North 19th and College Drive. In 1986, Waco High School was consolidated with Jefferson Moore High School (which was located in the building that houses A.J. Moore Academy) and Richfield High School, which was located on the former Rich Field, a World War I air base. The newly constitued high school was renamed Waco High School.

When the schools were merged the school board agreed to take one thing from each school to form the “new” Waco High. The lion mascot from Jefferson Moore High, the school colors (scarlet, white, and gray) and the campus of Richfield High, and finally the name “Waco High” from the historic Waco High School Tigers.

With the merger, Waco High was classified as a Texas Class 5-A school.

Athletics

Waco High has had success in all sports. But, high school football is where the school flourishes.

In football the Lions under coach Johnny Tusa, have made the playoffs in the years 1986-88, 1990-92, 1994-2002, 2004, and 2006.

In 1991, Waco High's longest streak in the 5-A playoffs was 5 rounds deep to the semi-finals. Waco High lost to the famed Odessa Permian Panthers before a sell-out crowd, 37-8 at Ratliff Stadium in Odessa, Texas. During the playoffs that year, Waco High beat Austin Crockett, Conroe McCullough (now The Woodlands), Richardson, and Dallas Carter.

In 2006 Waco High was classified a Texas 4-A school and placed in District 16-4A by the UIL. 16-4A contained arch-rivals from 13-5A Copperas Cove, Brownwood, Killeen, and inner-city schools Waco University and Waco Midway. The Waco football team won the District 16-4A Championship defeating every team in the district. Waco High made a run through the playoffs defeating Corsicana, Dallas Hillcrest, Whitehouse, Brownwood, Frenship and into the 4-A D-II State Championship game held in San Antonio at the Alamodome. The team lost to La Marque 36-14.

In 2007 Waco High won the 16-4A District Championship un-defeated. Their only loss on the year was in non-district to Euless Trinity. Waco High lost in the first round of the playoffs in four over-times to Ennis.

Paul Tyson era

The “old” Waco High Tigers were known for their famous coach Paul Tyson. His career at Waco began in 1913. He was one of the best known, and one of the most successful high school coaches in America. His teams at Waco played in seven state championship games, including six consecutive 1922-27. Waco was state champions in 1922, 1925, 1926 and 1927, and runner up 1923, 1924 and 1939.

In 1927, Waco had one of the most dominant seasons in Texas high school football history. The Tigers scored an average of 56 points per game (a record that would stand until 1975, when Big Sandy High School scored 824 points for the season) while giving up only 2.4 points to their opponents. [cite journal |last=Ratliff |first=Harold |authorlink= |coauthors= |year=1968 |month= |title=Mr. Schoolboy Football Names His All-Time Greats |journal=Dave Campbell's Texas Football |volume= |issue= |pages=101–106 |id= |url= |accessdate= |quote= ] On two occasions Waco scored more than 100 points, once in a playoff game versus Houston Jefferson Davis HS. Roy Needham, Jefferson Davis' coach, said “Waco could have beaten a good college team” that day. [cite book |title=Texas High School Football |last=McMurray |first=Bill |authorlink= |coauthors= |year=1985 |publisher=Icarus Press |location=Southbend, IN |isbn=0896517837 |pages=522 ]

During that same 1927 season, Waco was recognized as the mythical national high school champions after defeating Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin High School of Chardon, Ohio in a postseason game by the score of 44-12. [cite book |title=Pigskin Pulpit: A Social History of Texas High School Football Coaches |last=Cashion |first=Ty |authorlink= |coauthors= |year=1998 |publisher=Texas State Historical Association |location=Austin |isbn=0876111681 |pages=70–71 ]

Waco was again crowned with the honor in 1948.

Facilities

Waco ISD Stadium was built during the year of 2000. The first game played at the stadium was Waco High vs Waco University High, September 8th 2000. Waco High won the game 22-0 in front of a crowd estimated at 14,000.

The Waco ISD Stadium replaced the historic 10,000 seat Paul Tyson Stadium. Located behind Waco High School on Lake Air Drive, Tyson Stadium is still in use today for football games and track events.

Waco ISD Stadium is located at the corner of New Road and Bagby Avenue. The address is 1401 S. New Road, Waco, Texas 76711. It is approximately one-half mile from I35. When traveling to the complex, it is recommended to use the New Road exit from I35 or the Bagby Avenue exit from Loop 340 (Highway 6).

Notable alumni

* T. Berry Brazelton, pediatrician, author and developer of the Neonatal Behavioral Assessment Scale
* Derrick Johnson, former University of Texas football linebacker, currently playing for the NFL's Kansas City Chiefs
* Ann Richards, Governor of Texas.
* Hank Thomspon, honky-tonk musician and member of the Country Music and Nashville Songwriter halls of fame
* Shannon Elizabeth, actress
* Hi-Five, R&B group

References

External links

* [http://wherethelionsat.com/ Waco High Alumni Website]
* [http://www.wacoisd.org/school.php?id=34 Waco High Information]
* [http://www.wacoisd.org/wacohigh Waco High School Website]
* [http://www.mywacolions.com Waco High Football Website]