The Woodlands High School

The Woodlands takes pupils in grades 9 to 12, divided between the two campuses: • The Woodlands High School: grades 10–12 • The Woodlands High School 9th Grade Campus (formerly Branch Crossing Junior High School): grade 9 From 1976 until the opening of The Woodlands High School in 1996, McCullough High School served The Woodlands community. McCullough High School, named after J.L. McCullough, also housed seventh and eighth graders until Knox Junior High opened its doors in 1978. When The Woodlands High School opened on August 26, 1996, McCullough served The Woodlands community as a junior high school. From 2000 to 2005, McCullough was known as "The Woodlands High School McCullough Campus," housing freshmen and sophomores. Since 2005, with the opening of The Woodlands College Park High School, McCullough has once again served the community as a junior high school. ==Demographics==

In the 2024-25 school year, The Woodlands High School had 4,444 students, including students at the 9th-grade campus. The ethnic distribution, based on enrollment, was: • (0.38%) were American Indian/Alaska Native • (9.42%) were Asian • (4.88%) were Black • (29.66%) were Hispanic • (51.53%) were White • (0.11%) were Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander • (4.00%) were Two or More Races 11.88% of students were eligible for free or reduced-price lunch. ==Academics==

In 1997–98, The Woodlands High School was named a Blue Ribbon School by the United States Department of Education. For each school year, the Texas Education Agency rates school performance using an A–F grading system based on statistical data. For 2024-2025, the school received a score of 92 out of 100, resulting in an A grade. The school received a similar score of 95 the previous year. The Woodlands High School was ranked 295 in Newsweek’s 2011 list of the Best High Schools in the United States. The school was ranked based on graduation rate, college matriculation rate, AP tests taken per graduate, average SAT/ACT scores, average AP scores, and AP courses offered. Newsweek has ranked the school among America's top 1,000 high schools on several occasions. Additionally, in its 2013 ranking of America's Best High Schools, U.S. News & World Report awarded a Gold Medal to The Woodlands High School. This means The Woodlands High School ranked among the top 500 schools nationally (out of 21,035 schools) using a College Readiness Index heavily weighted on success on Advanced Placement examinations. The Woodlands High School has also been awarded the University Interscholastic League Class 5A Lone Star Cup on five occasions (2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2011). This award is intended to honor the best overall academic and athletic program in the state of Texas, as determined by success at UIL-sanctioned activities. The Woodlands High School has a relatively extensive College Board Advanced Placement program that includes the following courses: art history, biology, calculus AB and BC, chemistry, Chinese language and culture, computer science A, English language and literature, environmental science, European history, French language, German language, human geography, Japanese language and culture, macroeconomics, music theory, physics C, psychology, Spanish language, statistics, studio art, U.S. history, U.S. government and politics, and world history. ==Athletics==

The Woodlands Highlanders compete in baseball, basketball, cross country, football, golf, lacrosse, powerlifting, soccer, softball, swimming and diving, tennis, track and field, volleyball, water polo, and wrestling. In 2006, The Woodlands baseball team finished the season with a 38–1 record and won the Texas UIL 5A State Championship. They were also named National Champions by Baseball America. The 2006 team included future Major League Players Kyle Drabek and Paul Goldschmidt. In 2011, The Woodlands softball team finished the season with a 44–1 record and won the Texas UIL 5A State Championship. They were also named National Champions by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association/USA Today and ESPN/Rise. The coaching staff was named NFCA National Coaching Staff of the year. Due to the similarity of its red "W" logo, the University of Wisconsin threatened to bring legal action against TWHS, which agreed to phase out the logo. State athletic titles • Boys baseball • 2000 (5A), 2006 (5A), 2013 (5A) 2018 (6A) • Boys cross country • 1999 (5A), 2000 (5A), 2003 (5A), 2004 (5A), 2006 (5A), 2007 (5A), 2008 (5A), 2009 (5A), 2010 (5A), 2015 (6A), 2016 (6A), 2017 (6A), 2018 (6A) • Girls cross country • 2002 (5A), 2005 (5A), 2007 (5A), 2012 (5A) • Girls golf • 2010 (5A) • Boys swimming • 1997, 1998, 1999, 2004 (5A), 2010 (5A), 2021 (6A) • Girls swimming • 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 2006 (5A), 2009 (5A), 2017 (6A), 2018 (6A), 2021 (6A), 2023 (6A), 2024 (6A) • Girls softball • 2011 (5A), 2014 (5A), 2015 (6A) • Girls volleyball • 2011 (5A), 2014 (5A), 2015 (6A), 2018 (6A), 2023 (6A) • Boys track and field • 999 (5A), 2017 (6A), 2018 (6A) • Boys tennis • 2023 (6A) Additionally, the school has won the Lone Star Cup eight times, most recently as a 6A school in 2020-2021. ==Band==

The Woodlands High School Band was honored by the John Philip Sousa Foundation with the Sudler Flag of Honor in 2003 in recognition for excellence in a concert setting. The band was honored again by the John Philip Sousa Foundation in 2009 and 2018 with the Sudler Shield in recognition for excellence in marching band. This makes The Woodlands High School one of only a handful of high schools internationally to have received both the Sudler Flag and the Sudler Shield. In 2003 and 2012, The Woodlands High School's Wind Ensemble was invited to perform at The Midwest Clinic. In 2012, the Wind Ensemble was named a National Winner in The Foundation for Music Education's National Wind Band Honors Project. Members of The Woodlands High School Band have placed in the TMEA All-State Bands and Orchestras every year since the school has opened. In 2006, the band received first place in the class AAA Bands of America Grand National Championships semi-finals. In 2013, the band was named the Bands of America Grand National Champion, scoring a 96.8 and winning caption awards for Outstanding Music Performance and Outstanding General Effect. The band has been a BOA Grand National finalist 12 times, the most out of any band from Texas. The band has been a UIL Marching Band state finalist 11 times between 2002 and 2024. The marching band was invited to perform at the 2025 Rose Parade in Pasadena, CA, but declined. ==Extracurricular activities==

The school offers more than 80 different clubs and organizations. Students have the opportunity to participate in band, choir, speech, debate, drama, drill team, orchestra, cheerleading, and UIL academic activities. In 2024, The Woodlands High School Winter Guard were the Winter Guard International Scholastic World Class champions. The Woodlands High School Theatre Department has succeeded in advancing to the state finals of the UIL one-act play contest six times, most recently in 2011, and won the state title in 2000. The theatre department has also been invited to perform on the main stage of the International Thespian Festival four times. The department performed at Texas Thespian State Festival and International State Festival for the first time in December 2015 and June 2016 respectively with the musical, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. In 2003, the theatre department performed at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. The Woodlands High School Highsteppers were Grand National Champions in 2005. ==Feeder patterns==

Elementary schools (K-4) that feed into The Woodlands High School include: • Buckalew • Bush • Galatas • Glen Loch • Powell (excluding Harper's Landing). Combined elementary and intermediate schools (K-6) include Deretchin and Coulson Tough. Intermediate schools (5-6) include Mitchell and Wilkerson (Glen Loch ES zoning only). McCullough Junior High School is the sole feeder junior high school (7-8) into The Woodlands High School. ==Notable alumni==

• Kevin Abstract, rapper and director, Brockhampton • Danny Amendola, former NFL player • Scott Atchison, former MLB player • Chris Beard, college basketball coach • Lance Blanks, former NBA player • Bronson Burgoon, professional golfer • Patrick Carr, NFL player who is currently a free agent, graduated in 2015. • Matt Champion, rapper, Brockhampton • Kassidy Cook, Olympian, diver • Kyle Drabek, former MLB player, Toronto Blue Jays • Tiffany Grant, anime voice actress • Paul Goldschmidt, MLB player, Arizona Diamondbacks • Larry Izzo, former NFL player • Daniel Lasco, NFL player, New Orleans Saints • Stacy Lewis, LPGA Tour golfer, 2013 Women's British Open champion • Jeff Maggert, PGA Tour golfer • Nick Mitchell, former professional wrestler known for his time in WWE • Rusty Pierce, former MLS player • Jameson Taillon, MLB player, Chicago Cubs • Ameer Vann, rapper, formerly of Brockhampton • Drew Romo, MLB player, Colorado Rockies • Peter McPoland, singer-songwriter • Ethan Bonner, NFL player, Miami Dolphins ==References==