History

Westlake HS was established in 1969.

 

In 1967 the Eanes area was faced with a second critical decision when AISD informed EISD that it would no longer be able to take Eanes’ older students. Citizens were faced with the choice of joining AISD or going it alone. A Citizens’ Advisory Committee was formed to investigate the question, which it did before recommending to the Board that EISD retain its independence and build a high school. The committee urged the Board to “adopt a program that would provide a junior-senior high school of above-average quality. The high standards of excellence prevailing must be maintained.”

 

The School Board voted to follow the recommendation and authorized a bond election to fund the high school. The community was seriously split on this issue, and it was compounded by 2 factors: busing to achieve integration in Austin and 2) the resignation of Supt. Hilton Pankratz, who had favored continued independence. On May 21, 1968, a $2.9 million bond issue was passed, 708 to 564. By September a 48-acre site that had once been a corn field and cow pasture and lay approximately ½ mile from Eanes School, was purchased from Randolph Johnson. Even after a construction contract was awarded, disgruntled residents who favored consolidation managed to get the question back on the ballot; on April 5, 1969 AGAIN voted on this issue and the vote was in favor, 1,000-601.

 

The School Board then hired Darrel Williams as Superintendent and Tom Hestand as principal of the new school. The new school was named, the Chaparral was chosen as a mascot, and Red, White and Blue were chosen as school colors. The new school’s first year of classes were held in portable buildings and the first classes in the new building were held August 31, 1970.

 

 

School Year	Freshmen	Sophomores	Juniors	Seniors	Total
2021-2022	707	701	686	726	2820
2020-2021	700	705	725	692	2822
2019-2020	706	735	687	705	2833
2018-2019	730	702	705	633	2770
2017-2018	683	713	639	648	2683
2016-2017	707	642	649	653	2651
2015-2016	638	671	679	602	2590
2014-2015	657	673	610	601	2541
2013-2014	661	632	622	690	2605
2012-2013	632	621	666	638	2557
2011-2012	621	660	627	653	2561
2010-2011	653	628	650	633	2564
2009-2010	623	640	626	590	2479
2008-2009	646	621	595	576	2438
2007-2008	627	599	577	645	2448
2006-2007	608	569	653	556	2386
2005-2006	568	650	570	578	2366
2004-2005	653	560	603	568	2384
2003-2004	576	586	570	595	2347
2002-2003	581	576	608	602	2367
2001-2002	585	597	616	544	2342
2000-2001	607	624	565	564	2360
1999-2000	634	550	579	529	2292
1998-1999	565	580	550	499	2194
1997-1998	620	535	510	477	2142
1996-1997	542	512	483	467	2004
1995-1996	522	488	501	458	1969
1994-1995	533	479	482	382	1876
1993-1994	494	489	414	395	1792
1992-1993	486	403	392	362	1643
1991-1992	388	376	361	353	1478
1990-1991	394	357	367	360	1478
1989-1990					1435
1988-1989					1378