Oliver Wendell Holmes High School

Oliver Wendell Holmes High School
Address
6500 Ingram San Antonio, Texas, 78238 United States
Coordinates	29°27′56″N 98°37′03″W / 29.46546°N 98.617371°W / 29.46546; -98.617371Coordinates: 29°27′56″N 98°37′03″W / 29.46546°N 98.617371°W / 29.46546; -98.617371
Information
School type	Public Secondary
Established	1964
School district	Northside Independent School District
Superintendent	John Folks
Principal	Dennis Ann Strong (2007/11-)
Grades	9 to 12
Enrollment	2,500 (2010-2011 est)
School Color(s)	Green and Gold
Mascot	Husky (Siberian)
Maximum Capacity	3,000
Website	[1]

Oliver Wendell Holmes High School is a high school part of the Northside Independent School District in San Antonio, Texas. It was established in the early 1960s, and is known for its circular architecture, in which several buildings are completely circular.

As with all Northside ISD schools, Holmes is named for a former or current United States Supreme Court justice, in this case Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr.

Holmes High School is also the parent school for Business Careers High School, a magnet school in NISD.

In 2009, the school district was rated "academically acceptable" by the Texas Education Agency.^[1]

Areas served by the school

Holmes serves around 1,500 students from grades 9-12 around various streets intersecting (and the subdivisions that reside on the same streets) Loop 410 in San Antonio. Another additional 600-700 students (grade levels 9-12) in Bexar County are served by Business Careers High School, the "sister" magnet school of Holmes. Business Careers counts their population as part of Holmes, therefore the total population of Holmes is around 2,500.

Attendance Zone Shift for 2007-2008

During the 2006-2007 year, the Northside Board of Trustees changed the attendance zones of Earl Warren High School and Holmes, moving several neighborhoods from the Warren attendance zone to the Holmes attendance zone, to go into effect in 2007-2008. This will raise the number of students attending Holmes. The exact amount is unknown, but is expected to be around 200-400 students.

Administration

The Principal of Oliver Wendell Holmes High School is Dennis Ann Strong, whose first full year of service as Principal was 2007-2008. The Vice Principal is Craig Hejtmancik, whose first full year of service as Vice Principal was also 2007-2008.

TEA rating

Holmes is currently rated by the Texas Education Agency as "Recognized". The TEA is the agency who rates schools based on the performance of the school on tests such as the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills.^[2]

Programs offered

Holmes offers athletic programs sanctioned by the University Interscholastic League. Holmes is currently classified as a 5A school, with a population nearing 2,500 students (1,900 is the minimum requirement for 5A status). Holmes also offers most of the Academic UIL events, including Social Studies, Science, Current Issues, One Act Play, Computer Science,Band,Computer Applications, Calculator Applications, Literary Criticism, various speaking competitive events, and various journalistic competitive events, AFJROTC drill teams and core/unit. Business Careers students compete as part of the Holmes teams. The school also has introduced a dual credit college program in conjunction with Northwest Vista College where eligible students may receive college credit.

In the 2007-2008 school year The Husky Band received a Division 1 at UIL during marching season for their performance "Sketches of Spain. The Husky Band received a Division 1 at UIL during the 2009-10 marching season for "The Quest."

Successful athletic programs

Holmes has been successful in many athletic programs, including four trips to the Texas Class 5A semifinals in football (1980 - lost to Port Arthur Jefferson 34-14; 1987 - lost to Houston Yates 34-7; 1992 - lost to Houston Yates 41-39; and 1999 - lost to Katy 24-14). During the 1980s, Holmes football teams went a combined 97-16-2, making the state playoffs in 1980, 1981, 1982, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987 and 1988. The 97 wins in the decade were second best in San Antonio to Judson's 114 victories.

Holmes' 1986-87 boys' basketball team made a trip to the state Class 5A championship game, knocking off undefeated and national No. 1 Fort Worth Dunbar in the semifinals before losing to undefeated (40-0) LaPorte 64-58. The baseball team has also made it to the state Class 5A tournament.

Recently, the boys and girls basketball, softball, and the cross country teams have been successful. The softball team advanced to the Class 5A state tournament in 2001.^[3].

Over the last 30 years, Holmes High School has seen several of its student athletes move on to successful athletic careers at the collegiate and professional levels, including:

• Darold Williamson - Men's Track & Field, Gold Medalist and Anchor Leg, 2004 Summer Olympics, 1,600-meter relay; Baylor University/Big 12/NCAA multiple-year champion in 400 meters; fastest 400-meter time is 44.27 seconds;
• Cedric Griffin - Cornerback, NFL's Minnesota Vikings 2005-Present, 7 career interceptions, 11 forced fumbles and 1 TD; University of Texas' National Championship Team 2005; All-Big 12 in 2005;
• Anjanette Kirkland - Women's Track & Field, Gold Medalist, 2001 World Championships in Athletics, 100-meter Hurdles (12.42 seconds); Gold Medalist, 2001 World Indoor Track and Field Championships, 60-meter Hurdles (7.85 seconds);
• Keith Cash - Tight End, NFL's Pittsburgh Steelers and Kansas City Chiefs 1991-96, 118 career receptions and 10 TDs;
• Kerry Cash - Tight End, NFL's Indianapolis Colts, Chicago Bears and Oakland Raiders 1991-98, 132 career receptions and 9 TDs;
• Jennifer Gutierrez - Women's Triathlon, 2000 Summer Olympics, finished 13th;
• Tony Darden - Cornerback, NFL's San Diego Chargers 2000, 15 career tackles; All-Big 12 at Texas Tech in 1997;
• Brandon Larson - Third Baseman, Cincinnati Reds 2001-04; College World Series MVP for 1997 National Champion LSU, 8 career Major League Baseball home runs and 189 minor league homers;
• Johnny Walker - Wide Receiver, University of Texas 1987-91, All-SWC 1989 and 1990, 114 career receptions; NFL's Green Bay Packers 1991; Outfielder, Major League Baseball 4th round pick of Atlanta Braves 1990;
• Jimmie Hawkins - Cornerback, Texas A&M University 1982-85, 1986 Cotton Bowl Classic Championship; NFL's New England Patriots free agent, 750 career punt return yards at Texas A&M; San Antonio Light newspaper "San Antonio High School Football Player of the Decade" for the 1980s;
• Robert Quiroga - WR/DB for Arena Football's San Antonio Talons, Los Angeles Avengers and Orlando Predators 2007-Present; two-sport letterman at Baylor University in track and football 2002-05, 131 career receptions at Baylor;
• Rocky Perez - Quarterback, University Texas-El Paso 1998-2000, 5,108 career passing yards and 46 TDs;
• Wilbur Odom - Quarterback, University of Michigan 1987-89, 1989 Rose Bowl Champions; Angelo State 1991-92, Harlon Hill Trophy Candidate 1992, 3,129 career passing yards and 20 TDs;
• Nathan Bennett - Defensive Back, Rice University 1989-93, All-SWC 1993, 11 career interceptions;
• Mike McKenzie - Tight End, Baylor University 1988-92, NFL's Philadelphia Eagles 1993;
• Malcolm McKenzie - Wide Receiver, Texas Tech 1994-97, leading receiver in 1997 with 42 receptions;
• Adrian Wright - Point Guard, St. Mary's University 1987-91, 1988 NAIA Basketball National Champions, inducted into St. Mary's Hall of Fame 2001;
• Eric Tennessee - Wide Receiver, Southwest Texas State 1982-85, 105 career receptions, NCAA I-AA All-American 1984 and 1985;
• Donna Eckert - Softball Player, St. Mary's University 1983-86; 1986 NAIA Softball National Champions; Head Coach, St. Mary's University; 2002 NCAA Division II Softball National Champions; inducted into St. Mary's Hall of Fame 1998;
• Robyn Bryant - Women's Track & Field, Rice University 1986-90, NCAA Division 1 All-American 1988, 1989, 1990, Southwest Conference 400-meter relay champion 1987 & 1989, Rice Female Athlete of the Year 1990, inducted into Rice's Hall of Fame 1998, fastest 400-meter time is 53.63;
• Michael Gary - Defensive Tackle, Baylor University 2002-05;
• Rene Maldonado - Quarterback, Southwest Texas State 1982-84, 1,127 passing yards in 1983;
• Nykiren Wellington - Offensive Lineman, Texas Christian University 2010-Present;
• Mike McKenna - Placekicker, University of Montana 1982, six career field goals;
• Rob Gasca - Wide Receiver, Southwest Texas State 1989-91, leading receiver in 1990;
• Pede Hunt - Linebacker, Angelo State 1986-89, All-Lone Star Conference 1988 and 1989;
• Kellie Bryant - Women's Track & Field, University of Texas 1987-91, Southwest Conference 400-meter relay champion 1988;
• Daniel Alderete- Safety, AFL Laredo Lobos 2006; Linebacker, Oklahoma Panhandle State University 2003-2005, All-Heartland Conference 2005-06;
• Peter Koplyay - Forward, Midwestern State Soccer 1987-88, NCAA Division II First Team All-American 1988, inducted into MSU's Hall of Honor;
• Pat McKenna - Midfielder, United States Air Force Academy Soccer 1984-86, All-Rocky Mountain Region 1985;
• Sean Salinas - Quarterback, Texas Lutheran, 2002-05, All-American Southwest Conference 2004-05;
• Frank Gasca - Defensive Back, Southwest Texas State 1986-88;
• Ternell Washington - Defensive Back, Angelo State 1985-88;
• James Roberson - Defensive End, Southwest Texas State 1982-86;
• Fred Hall - Running Back, Baylor University 1980, played in 1981 Cotton Bowl against University of Alabama;
• Sean McKenna - Placekicker, United States Air Force Academy 1987-88;
• Terrence Sommers - Defensive Back, Brigham Young University 1989;
• A.C. Hood - Wide Receiver, Sul Ross State University 1996-1998, leading receiver in 1998;
• Cy Whinnery - Water Polo, United States Air Force Academy 1984-88, team MVP 1987;
• Keith Jones - Head Athletic Trainer, NBA's Houston Rockets 1996-Present;
• Jerry Verastegui - Catcher, Atlanta Braves minor league system 2006-07;
• Brian Hall - Wide Receiver, Eastern New Mexico University, 1998;

Successful academic programs

The Huskies have been just as successful in academics as in athletics. In previous years, the Holmes UIL teams have done very well, advancing to state in some programs^[4]. Recent years have not been as successful with UIL Academics, but Holmes remains competitive.

UIL Science

UIL Science has been a subject in which Holmes has dominated in the past, even going as far as finishing second in the State of Texas for the 1993-1994 calendar year.

Academic Decathlon

Despite the successes of many of Holmes' academic and athletic programs, The Holmes Academic Decathlon is the program that receives the most praise, not only in Northside ISD, but in the entire state of Texas.

The Holmes Academic Decathlon has advanced to the state competition for the Texas Academic Decathlon every year since 1992, often winning the Regional competitions (which guarantees an automatic berth at state). In fact, Holmes has failed to win region just three times in the past 17 years of advancing to state. In 1994, the Holmes Academic Decathlon won its first State Championship, defeating perennial state championship power J. J. Pearce High School (located in Richardson, Texas). Holmes then advanced to the 1994 United States Academic Decathlon National competition, finishing third overall, behind William Howard Taft High School of Woodland Hills, California and Mountain View High School of Mesa, Arizona.

Holmes has not won another state championship in the Academic Decathlon since 1994, but has ranked in the top ten in the Texas Academic Decathlon almost every year since then, including a bronze finish in 2004-2005 and a silver finish in 2005-2006^[5]. During the 2007 Texas Academic Decathlon State Championship meet, the Oliver Wendell Holmes Academic Decathlon team finished fifth in the large school competition, with a score of 43,161. This is the second time Holmes has finished in fifth place. In 2008, the team placed 9th with a score of 44,300 points.

See also

Business Careers High School

References

1. ^ "2009 Accountability Rating System". Texas Education Agency. http://ritter.tea.state.tx.us/perfreport/account/2009/index.html. 
2. ^ Academic Excellence Indicator System
3. ^ UIL: Athletics - Champions Archives and Records
4. ^ UIL: Academics - Archives
5. ^ Main Page - AcaDec Scores and Information Center

External links

• Official site