GARLAND HIGH SCHOOL

'Garland High School' (founded circa 1903) is located in Garland, Texas, USA. It is the oldest of the district's high schools, having celebrated its 100-year anniversary in the 2001-2002 school year, although some evidence suggests that the school started in the late 1800s. The school celebrates its 70th anniversary at the ''current'' location (referring to the current building) in the 2006-2007 school year. The school is a member of the International Baccalaureate program and AP program, and is known for its football team, the Garland Owls. Garland High School is also the Arts Magnet for the District with its Performing Arts Endorsement Program, and has an Acappella Choir, String Orchestra, Symphony Orchestra, and Band. The school mascot is an owl, and a costumed owl named Ollie makes appearances at pep rallies and football games. The school's drill team, The Dashing Debs, also make appearances at pep rallies and football games.
Garland High School houses the rigorous IB program. The school attracts many students from around the city. Students from Garland are known to do well in UIL competitions, and the Academic Decathlon team often advances to Regional and State level competitions. A small proportion of Garland's students are admitted into Ivy League or equal caliber colleges. Through the years students have been accepted to Stanford University, Caltech, Columbia University, New York University, Rice University, University of Chicago, University of Southern California, Cornell University, Tufts University, George Washington University, United States Naval Academy, United States Air Force Academy and other top caliber schools. Also, the school is occasionally the high school with the most National Merit Finalists in the school district. The Fine Arts department also continuously receives excellent UIL scores and state nominations. In the 2005-2006 school year, the Garland High Acappella Choir received the honor of performing at a Texas Music Educators Association concert in San Antonio, Texas.
In its annual area high school rankings D Magazine ranked GHS as the 41st best high school in the Dallas-Ft. Worth
Newsweek Magazine ranked GHS as the 215th best Public High School in the United States.

Contents

Athletics

School Traditions

Alma Mater

Fight Song

Notable alumni

External links

Athletics

Garland High School is also well known for its varsity football team who has made the playoffs 12 out of the last 13 years and have won the state championship a total of 4 times. This previous season they made it to the semi-finals of the state championship only to fall short vs. Cedar Hill High School in a close game. They were the 7th team in the school's history to make it that far.[1]
The Lady Owls Varsity Softball team is another well known Garland sports team, winning back to back state championships in 2006 and 2007 and advancing to the title series in 2005.

School Traditions

Alma Mater

Hail, Garland High School,
Your glory behold.
We'll e'er be loyal
To the black and the gold.
Our Alma Mater,
Steadfast you'll always be;
We'll cherish you
Through loss and victory.

Fight Song

Here's to Garland High School
She's tried and true
Ever we'll back her
In what she may do.
Rah! Rah! Rah!
See the foe is trembling,
Trembling with fear,
So come and push, pull
For Garland with cheer on cheer.

Notable alumni

★ Mookie Blaylock, NBA professional athlete

★ Bobby Boyd, 5 time All-Pro NFL defensive back for the Baltimore Colts during the 1960s

★ Ike Diogu, NBA professional athlete

★ Chuck Dicus, NFL wide receiver for the San Diego Chargers in the late 1960s and early 1970s

★ Shannon Essenpreis, American Junior Miss 2004

★ Mike Gandy, as of the 2005 season, was a 5 year offensive lineman for the Buffalo Bills in the NFL

★ David Skowron, 6 time International Bear Wrestling Champion - last seen headed for the Arctic to "bring the polar bear down a notch," current whereabouts unknown

★ David Koresh, leader of the Branch Davidians (''see Waco Siege'') (did not graduate)

★ Ricky Pierce, NBA professional athlete

★ JD Quinn, Former Oklahoma Lineman involved in numerous college football scandals

★ Uzooma Okeke, Award winning CFL offensive lineman

★ Herkie Walls, Nfl, European, Arena League running back

External links

★ [ Garland High School Official Website]

★ Organizations Website

★ Mighty Owl Band Website

★ Garland High School Swim Team Website

★ Garland High School Official Arts Endorsement Website

★ Student created website named after the GHS central commons area

★ Newsweek Magazine 2006 High School Rankings

★ http://www.owlorch.net/