Willowridge High School (Houston)

Willowridge High School
Location
16301 Chimney Rock Road

Houston
,
Fort Bend County
,
Texas
77053

United States
Coordinates29°35′09″N 95°28′57″W / 29.585772°N 95.482586°W / 29.585772; -95.482586
Information
TypePublic high school
OpenedSeptember 1979
School districtFort Bend Independent School District
NCES District ID4819650[2]
SuperintendentMarc Smith
CEEB code446712
NCES School ID481965005468[1]
PrincipalJennifer Roberts
Teaching staff93.08 (FTE)[3]
Grades9-12
Enrollment1,264 (2023-2024)[3]
Student to teacher ratio13.58[3]
ColorsBlue and silver    
Slogan"Eagle Pride Never Dies"
Athletics conferenceUIL Class AAAA
MascotEagle
RivalThurgood Marshall High School (Texas)
Feeder schoolsMcAuliffe Middle School
2011 TEA RatingAcademically Acceptable
MagazineThe Talon
Magnet programsP-TECH Computer Science
Websitefortbendisd.com/whs

Willowridge High School is a public high school in Houston, Texas, United States. It is part of the Fort Bend Independent School District. Willowridge serves grades 9 through 12.

The school serves many areas of east Fort Bend County east and north of FM 2234, and a section of Houston inside Fort Bend County, including the neighborhoods of Briargate, Chasewood, Willow Park II, Mayfair Park, Ridgemont, Ridgegate, and Briar Villa. The school also serves the Fort Bend County portion of Shadow Creek Ranch, a community within the city of Pearland.[4]

History

The first phase of Willowridge started in February 1978 and was occupied in September 1979.[5] It was the second (racially integrated) high school opened in FBISD.[6]

In the 1980s, the school was known for its successful football program. During the 82-83 season, NFL Hall of Famer Thurman Thomas led the football team to the Texas Class 4A state championship. This era also produced other NFL players, such as O. J. Brigance, Charles Arbuckle, Allen Aldridge, Selwyn Jones and Stanley Petry.

From 1999 to 2001, the men's basketball team compiled a 75–1 win–loss record (including a 62-game winning streak), earning a pair of Texas Class 5A state titles.

One of the streets on the WHS campus was named in memory of Edgar Glover, Jr., who served as principal between November 1982 until his death in April 1993. Coincidentally, an elementary school named in Edgar Glover, Jr's honor opened on August 17, 1994.[7]

The second phase of Willowridge High School was completed in summer 1992 and dedicated on September 23, 1992.[7] During the expansion, the Ronald McNair Auditorium was dedicated in memoriam (the middle school next to Willowridge was named after Christa McAuliffe).

In 2017 the school temporarily closed due to a mold contamination.[8]

Campus

Circa 2018 Jay Shells, a New York City graphic designer, installed a sign at the school entrance referring to a Z-Ro rap song which mentions the school. The sign was made as a dedication to Houston rap culture.[9]

Academics

Willowridge High School is home to Fort Bend ISD’s Pathways in Technology Early College High School (P-TECH) Program in Computer Science. This dual-enrollment program is conducted in partnership with Houston City College. Students enrolled in the P-TECH program simultaneously work toward their high school diploma along with an associates degree in web development or a Level 2 certificate in cybersecurity.

The school offers a selection of Advanced Placement (AP) courses including AP African American studies, AP Physics 1, AP Mexican American studies and more. These courses allow students to pursue college-level studies and potentially earn college credit through successful performance on the AP examinations.

Willowridge High School operates on an eight-period schedule.

Extracurricular programs

The school is well known for its marching band,[10] known as the "Mighty Eagle Marching Band." Under band directors Ronald Thornton (head), Delcenia Hill, Maurice Ross, Robert Lee, and Robert Jackson, the band performed at the Rose Bowl in 1994 and Orange Bowl in 1996. In 2001, the band participated in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. In the summer of 2005, the Willowridge Band vacationed in Honolulu, Hawaii, a rarity for high school bands. The band also hosted the Bands of America contest at Rice Stadium on October 1, 2005. They have consecutively won 1st place at the MLK Battle of the Bands and All-American Battle of the Bands.

The school is also renowned for its basketball program. In 2001, the men's team accomplished the rare feat of having two McDonald's All-Americans in Daniel Ewing and T. J. Ford, who went on to play for Duke University and Texas, respectively.

Feeder patterns

The following elementary schools feed into Willowridge:

  • Briargate
  • Ridgegate
  • Ridgemont
  • Blue Ridge

The following middle schools feed into Willowridge:

  • McAuliffe

Notable alumni

References

  1. ^ "Search for Public Schools - Willowridge H S (481965005468)". National Center for Education Statistics. Institute of Education Sciences. Retrieved October 17, 2025.
  2. ^ "Search for Public School Districts – District Detail for FORT BEND ISD". National Center for Education Statistics. Institute of Education Sciences. Retrieved July 16, 2025.
  3. ^ a b c "WILLOWRIDGE H S". National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved December 26, 2024.
  4. ^ [1]
  5. ^ "FBISD History FBISD built Willowridge on the former site of the Blue Ridge State Prison Farm inmate housing compound. Archived 2008-09-07 at the Wayback Machine." Fort Bend Independent School District.
  6. ^ Solomon, Jerome. "FOOTBALL 1997/HIGH SCHOOLS/FORT BEND BONANZA/Phillips, Dulles in hunt to add to town's memories." Houston Chronicle. Thursday August 28, 1997. Special 33. Retrieved on December 31, 2011.
  7. ^ a b https://web.archive.org/web/20080907032420/http://www.fortbend.k12.tx.us/about/history.cfm
  8. ^ Balch, Bridget (August 3, 2017). "Students displaced from mold-ravaged Willowridge High School". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved August 9, 2017.
  9. ^ Hlavaty, Craig (September 5, 2018). "City officials get behind effort to recognize Houston rap landmarks". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved September 7, 2018. - See the image
  10. ^ http://whsbandalumni.com/resume.htm
  11. ^ "2012 Distinguished Alumni Awards". Rice University News & Media. May 11, 2012. Retrieved May 16, 2012.
  12. ^ "Willowridge has defense to defend". Archived from the original on October 20, 2012. Retrieved December 2, 2010.
  13. ^ "List of Hall of Fame members". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on January 19, 2012. Retrieved February 6, 2012.
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