Stephen F. Austin High School (Houston)

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Stephen F. Austin High School is a secondary school located at 1700 Dumble Street in Houston, Texas, United States. The school handles grades nine through twelve and is a part of the Houston Independent School District. In 2013, the school was rated "Met Standard" by the Texas Education Agency.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

The school, named after Stephen F. Austin, the "Father of Texas", is located in the East End. The neighborhood was developed in the 1920s, and the school's Art Deco architecture reflects this. The school has HISD's magnet program for Teaching Professions. The Port of Houston Maritime Academy was scheduled to come to Austin High School in August 2009.<ref>"Port of Houston Maritime Academy Coming to Austin High School Template:Webarchive." Houston Independent School District. March 3, 2009. Retrieved on March 5, 2009.</ref>

The school is about Template:Convert southeast from Downtown Houston.<ref>"Overview of." Austin High School. March 1, 2005. Retrieved on March 5, 2009.</ref>

History

Austin was first built in 1936.<ref name="SchoolHistoriesHoustonISD">"School Histories: the Stories Behind the Names." Houston Independent School District. Retrieved on September 24, 2008.</ref> Austin was previously reserved for white children (Hispanics being categorized as white prior to 1970<ref name=Kellarp33>Kellar, William Henry. Make Haste Slowly: Moderates, Conservatives, and School Desegregation in Houston. Texas A&M University Press, 1999. Template:ISBN, 9781603447188. // p. 33 (Google Books PT14).</ref>) but it desegregated by 1970. The three-story building was designed for every room to have windows for ventilation in Houston's humid climate. Air conditioning was installed circa 1970. Among other notable architectural features, Austin had a swimming pool in the basement below the gymnasium.

In 1984 Mimi Swartz of the Texas Monthly wrote that Austin High School was "not considered particularly dangerous" in comparison to other HISD schools.<ref name=Swartzteachingp166>Swartz, Mimi. "J is for Jobs." Texas Monthly. Emmis Communications, June 1984. Vol. 12, No. 6. ISSN 0148-7736. START: p. 162. CITED: p. 166.</ref>

21 Jump Street Incident

By 1989 the school had experienced issues related to student absenteeism and dropouts.<ref name="Markleycrit">Markley, Melanie. "Criticism rains anew on school"Template:Dead link Houston Chronicle. Thursday October 26, 1989. A25. Retrieved on November 27, 2012. Available from NewsBank, accessible with a Houston Public Library card.</ref> On Monday, October 16, 1989 two students, 16-year-old Alma Rincon and 18-year-old-Cedric Smith watched an episode of 21 Jump Street about students who protest and walk out of school. The following day the two discussed the show during an American history class; Austin High School had a lack of textbooks and scheduling conflicts. The students decided that a protest could help change this. Before the walkout, the administration learned that there would be a walkout on Monday, October 23 and principal Otila Urbina warned students to not participate. The organizers tricked the administration by rescheduling the walkout to Friday. On Friday, October 20, 1989 up to 1,000 students walked out of class and talked to reporters. One week later, on Friday October 27, HISD superintendent Joan Raymond announced that Urbina would be reassigned to administrative duties.<ref>Markley, Melanie. "Plotting a new course/TV show served as inspiration for change at Austin High" (). Houston Chronicle. Sunday October 29, 1989. A1.</ref> After the incident, students received additional books. Macario Garcia, a spokesperson for the students, said that he believed that school officials may "review everything but are not going to take immediate action."<ref name="Markleycrit" />

1990s

In September 1991, Austin was one of 32 HISD schools that had capped enrollments. The school was filled to capacity and excess students had to attend other schools.<ref name="CappedEnrollments">Markley, Melanie. "32 schools hit enrollment cap" (). Houston Chronicle. Thursday September 26, 1991. A17. Retrieved on April 24, 2009.</ref> In December 1991, Austin was one of the largest high schools in Texas, with 2,669 students. Due to the overcrowding, by that month Houston ISD trustees approved a plan to open a new high school in 1995 instead of in 1997.<ref>"News briefs" (). Houston Chronicle. Friday December 13, 1991. A34. Retrieved on April 24, 2009.</ref>

In 1992 superintendent Frank Petruzielo asked Jose Treviño to become the principal of Austin High. Carol E. Vaughn of the Houston Chronicle stated that for Treviño, who had served as principal of others schools, "it was the "principalship" at Austin High School where he emblazoned his name."<ref name=VaughnAustinlead>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

In 1996 the school used eighteen temporary buildings, and the enrollment had increased to 3,000.<ref name=Kliewerover>Template:Cite news</ref>

By 1997, the new high school had not been constructed; area community leaders and parents anticipated the construction of César Chávez High School, as Austin and Milby were still overcrowded.<ref>Rodriguez, Lori. "NEIGHBORLY NEEDS/Help for homeless touches raw nerve in the East End" (). Houston Chronicle. Sunday March 16, 1997. A1. Retrieved on April 25, 2009.</ref> Prior to 1997 residents zoned to Furr High School also had the option to attend Austin and Milby high schools; in 1997 the school district canceled the option.<ref>"1996-1997 HISD ATTENDANCE BOUNDARIES" (). Houston Independent School District. June 30, 1997. Retrieved on December 13, 2010. "CANCEL the options for students in the East End to attend Austin or Milby from Furr"</ref>

2000s

In the fall of 2000, Chávez opened and took most of Milby's traditional neighborhoods. In turn Milby absorbed some students from Austin.<ref>Berryhill, Michael. "The Unchanging Face of Milby." Houston Press. October 9, 1997. 7. Retrieved on April 25, 2009.</ref> Areas that were zoned to Austin in 1998 were rezoned to Milby,<ref name="1998SZ">"High Schools" (Archive). Houston Independent School District. April 13, 2002. Retrieved on May 6, 2009.</ref><ref>"Milby High School Attendance Zone Template:Webarchive." Houston Independent School District. Retrieved on December 13, 2010.</ref><ref name="AustinBoundary">"Austin High School Attendance Zone Template:Webarchive," Houston Independent School District. Retrieved on December 13, 2010.</ref> In turn, Austin absorbed areas previously zoned to Furr and Yates high schools.<ref name="1998SZ" /><ref name="AustinBoundary" /><ref>"Furr High School Attendance Zone Template:Webarchive." Houston Independent School District. Retrieved on December 13, 2010.</ref><ref>"Yates High School Attendance Zone Template:Webarchive." Houston Independent School District. Retrieved on December 13, 2010.</ref>

In 2002 Treviño was promoted to the southeast district regional superintendent.<ref name=VaughnAustinlead/> In 2003 Linda Llorente, an Austin High alumna, became the principal.<ref name=UTReportp3>Haney, Josh, Tanya Holland, Nicole Moore, Phillip Nevels, and Cynthia Osborne, Ph.D. "Texas High School Project Site Report: Stephen F. Austin High School" (Template:Webarchive). University of Texas in Austin LBJ School of Public Affairs. 2011. Retrieved on November 3, 2015. p. 3.</ref>

In 2005, the administration decided to open a new music program. A new Band Director was hired to build a new band which was given the nickname "Sonic Boom". In 2010, the Sonic Boom was selected out of more than 80 applicants nationwide to compete in the Home Depot Center Battle of the Bands, sponsored by Vh1 Save the Music Foundation. At the end of the day, the Grand Champion of the Battle of the Bands in Los Angeles was Stephen F. Austin's Sonic Boom who also headlined the HEB Holiday (Thanksgiving Day) Parade in Downtown.Template:Citation needed

In 2007, a Johns Hopkins University study commissioned by the Associated Press included Austin in a "dropout factory" list of 42 Houston-area high schools; a "dropout factory" school is where at least 40% of the entering freshman class does not make it to their senior year.<ref>"Report points to 'dropout factories'," Houston Chronicle, October 31, 2007</ref>

In the 2000s, property values around the school increased.<ref>Archive HISD Austin HS</ref> This created the large student population decrease as gentrification made the surrounding area more expensive.<ref>SchoolDigger Austin High School</ref> This led to the demotion of the school from 5A to 4A as per the University Interscholastic League ranking.

By 2018 a reconstruction project began where much of the building, except for historically significant sections, was rebuilt. The Temporary Learning Center (TLC) accommodated students during the process.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

As of 2020 Orlando Reyna was the principal.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Academic performance

Template:Expand section In 1995 the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAAS) passing rate was 19.8%.<ref name=UTReportp3/> In the 1990s the school's reported dropout rate declined from 14% to 0.3%, and because of that the Texas Education Agency gave the school an "exemplary" rating.<ref name=Murrayp114>Thomas, R. Murray. High-Stakes Testing: Coping With Collateral Damage. Routledge, March 23, 2005. Template:ISBN, 9781135601744. p. 114.</ref> In 2001 the TAAS passing rate was 90.5% and the official dropout rate was about 12%.<ref name=UTReportp3/> The TEA gave Austin High a "low-performing" rating in late 2003.<ref name=Murrayp114/> By 2003 accusations had been made that Austin High's dropout rate data was falsified.<ref>Thomas, R. Murray. High-Stakes Testing: Coping With Collateral Damage. Routledge, March 23, 2005. Template:ISBN, 9781135601744. p. 114-115.</ref>

Demographics

For the 2022-23 school year:

  • African American: 5.8%
  • Hispanic: 92.6%
  • White: 1.0%
  • American Indian: 0.0%
  • Asian: 0.1%
  • Pacific Islander: 0.1%
  • Two or More Races: 0.4%
  • Economically Disadvantaged: 97.4%

In 2007 the school had 304 12th grade (senior students). That year a counselor estimated that 250 of them had permission to leave Austin High during the school day, and many of those students had outside jobs.<ref name=UTReportp3/>

In 1940 less than 1% of the student body of the school was of Mexican origin.<ref>San Miguel, Guadalupe. Brown, Not White: School Integration and the Chicano Movement in Houston (Volume 3 of University of Houston Series in Mexican American Studies, Sponsored by the Center for Mexican American Studies). Texas A&M University Press, October 26, 2005. Template:ISBN, 9781585444939. CITED: p. 219.</ref>

Campus

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In 2012 Richard Connelly of the Houston Press ranked Austin as the most architecturally beautiful high school campus in Greater Houston. Connelly said that "Another in the classic mode, with an entrance that just says "high school." And we don't mean the gate."<ref name="Connellybestlooking2">Connelly, Richard. "The 7 Best-Looking High Schools in Houston." Houston Press. Tuesday May 22, 2012. 2. Retrieved on May 27, 2012.</ref>

Neighborhoods served by Austin

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Several areas inside the 610 Loop that are east of Downtown, including the area known as the East End, are zoned to Austin;<ref name="AustinBoundary" /> several East End subdivisions such as the Second Ward, Eastwood,Template:Citation needed Idylwood,<ref name="About">"About Idylwood." Idlywood Civic Club. Retrieved on January 7, 2011. "Encroaching commerce is kept at bay on three sides of the neighborhood, thanks to the Villa de Matel, Wortham Golf Course, and Brays Bayou."</ref> East View, Riverview, Forest Hill, Hampshire Oaks, Simms Woods, Houston Country Club Place, Woodleigh, Sunnylan, Broadmoor, Central Park, and some of Magnolia Park, are zoned to Austin. In addition a section of East Downtown is zoned to Austin.Template:Citation needed

Academics

The school is ranked 72 by U.S News in the state due to its offered AP courses and supportive staff.Template:Citation needed

Magnet program

Dr. Ronald McIntire and Dr. Mark Ginsburg developed Austin's magnet program, the High School for Teaching Professions. Due to a lack of Hispanic teachers in HISD at the time, HISD established the magnet program at Austin High School in order to have more Hispanic teachers in the schools; in 1984 7% of HISD's teachers were Hispanic even though 31% of its students were Hispanic. As of 1984 the magnet program required four years of English, three years each of social studies, science, and mathematics, and two years each of a foreign language and physical education. The classes sizes had numbers of students below the HISD class average of 30.<ref name=Swartzteachingp162>Swartz, Mimi. "J is for Jobs." Texas Monthly. Emmis Communications, June 1984. Vol. 12, No. 6. ISSN 0148-7736. START: p. 162. CITED: p. 162.</ref>

In 1984 Swartz reported that in the magnet school many students chose not to take liberal arts electives but instead those related to vocational studies, such as speech class. Swartz also reported difficulties with trying to balance out the demands of brighter students with those who had more difficulty with the course material. She concluded that "there are signs that all is not well".<ref name=Swartzteachingp164>Swartz, Mimi. "J is for Jobs." Texas Monthly. Emmis Communications, June 1984. Vol. 12, No. 6. ISSN 0148-7736. START: p. 162. CITED: p. 164.</ref>

Athletics

State Titles

State Finalist

National Championship

Marching Band 2010

Dress code

As of 2015 Austin students no longer wear uniforms.<ref>"Dress code." Austin High School. Retrieved on November 2, 2015.</ref>

Austin High School students previously wore school uniforms. As of the 2009-2010 school year each student wore a polo shirt of a color depending on the student's year of estimated graduation. Freshmen wore black, Sophomores wore blue, Juniors wore maroon, and Seniors wore green. All students had khaki bottoms.<ref>"Dress Code Template:Webarchive." Austin High School. Retrieved on January 7, 2011.</ref>

The Texas Education Agency specified 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; parents must specify "bona fide" reasons, such as religious reasons or philosophical objections.<ref>"DOCKET NO. 008-R5-901 Template:Webarchive." Texas Education Agency. Accessed October 13, 2008.</ref>

Transportation

Houston ISD provides school buses for students who live more than two miles away from the school or who have major obstacles between their houses and the school. Students are eligible if they are zoned to Austin or are in the Austin magnet program.

Three METRO bus stops (Polk Street @ Dumble Street, Telephone Road @ Dumble Street, and Ernestine Street @ Coyle Street) are located near the school. Bus line 36 stops at Polk @ Dumble, and bus line 40 stops at Telephone @ Dumble. Bus line 42 stops at Ernestine @ Coyle. Telephone @ Dumble is the stop closest to the school.

Feeder patterns

Elementary schools that feed into Austin <ref name="AustinBoundary" /> include:

Middle schools that feed into Austin include:

In the 1986 film The George McKenna Story, this school was the location for George Washington High.

Notable alumni

  • Robert Gallegos, politician <ref name="ballot">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref>

See also

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References

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