Eastern Hills High School

Coordinates: 32°44′52″N 97°13′57″W / 32.7477°N 97.2326°W / 32.7477; -97.2326

Eastern Hills High School is a four-year public high school in Fort Worth, Texas, United States. The school is educating students in grades 9–12, as part of the Fort Worth Independent School District.^[2] In an historical footnote, the band from the school played "Hail to the Chief" during President John F. Kennedy's visit to Dallas–Fort Worth in November 1963. EHHS is also the only school in the world with two Pulitizer Prize-winning photographers as alums -- "Skeeter" Hagler and Michael Ainsworth. The school has been recognized by the National Football League as part of its 50th Anniversary Super Bowl High School Honor Roll for serving as the home school for two former Super Bowl Players - Uwe von Schamann and Byron Chamberlain - as well as for Doug Hart, who played for the Green Bay Packers in Super Bowls I and II following graduation from EHHS's predecessor, Handley High School.

As of the 2015–2016 school year, the school had an enrollment of 1,200 students and 91 classroom teachers (on a FTE basis, for a student-teacher ratio of 18.3:1.^[1]

Academics

• EHHS offers three Gold Seal Program of Choice. EHHS is the site of Fire Science Technology, Law Enforcement and Legal Services, and Teacher Academy and Early Childhood Training. Under these new programs it is possible for a student to graduate high school with College credits, have EMT certification, and be able to receive up to a $50,000 salary in those respective careers.^[3]
• Technology Department recognized as High School Program of the Year by ATTE (Assoc. of Texas Technology Education)
• 1998, 1999, and 2000 Texas Successful School award recipient

Bands

The school's award winning band was headed by Kathy Bernal, through 2013, when she retired. Ms. Bernal was selected as a Who's Who Among American Teachers for six consecutive years and received the Bayard H. Friedman for Teacher Excellence in Performing Arts for 2004-2005.^[4] The Jazz Band and Symphonic band regularly make tours abroad.^[5] Prior bands under Ms. Bernal's leadership took 1st place in the Nationals over a nine-year period.

JROTC

Instructors LTC Williams and MSG Savage head the program.

• Eastern Hills JROTC Rifle Team has won the City Championship for 36 consecutive years.
• Unarmed Female Drill Team consistently wins first place in major competitions throughout the south-west.
• Eastern Hills has held the Gold Star — the highest achievement a school can get — for many years and continues to excel each year.

Incidents

Twenty-five years ago a 16-year-old student was stabbed and seriously injured on 9 September 1991 in an incident related to gang rivalry between the students of Eastern Hills and Arlington Lamar High School.^[6]

Officials of the school were accused of concealing evidence during the murder trial of one of the students in May 1996.^[7]

Statistics

• Enrollment — 1,200 Students
• Attendance — 92.4%
• Dropout — 4.2%
• Mascot — Highlanders
• School colors — Royal Blue, Gray, and White

SAT (Scholastic Aptitude Test)

• Verbal — 423
• Math — 424
• Combined — 847
• Number tested — 97

Class of 2015

• Number of graduates — 220
• Number receiving scholarships — 40
• Amount offered — $1,306,808

Athletics

• Tracy Simien, former NFL star for the Kansas City Chiefs, is the head football coach heading inot the 2016-17 season.]]

Notable alumni

• Byron Chamberlain, American football tight end for the Denver Broncos.^[8]
• Kay Granger, represents Texas's 12th congressional district and former Mayor of Fort Worth.^[9]
• Uwe von Schummann, placekicker for the Miami Dolphins, from 1979 to 1984.^[10]
• Allen Stanford, global financier accused of defrauding billions from investors.^[11][12]
• Brett Johnson, News Reporter for KXAS/NBC 5, 1996-2009.^[13]
• Mitchell Benson American football player for the Indianapolis Colts and San Diego Chargers.
• Evan Anderson (who graduated in 2004) "FOX 8 New Orleans" is a reporter for the FOX 8 NEWS in New Orleans.
• Lisa McRee, News Reporter for WFAA/ABC 8, and for a short while the co-host of Good Morning America, with a longer tenure as the original anchor on World News Now.
• Becky Haskin was a 13-year Fort Worth City Councilwoman noted for the vast improvements made to East Fort Worth during her tenure.
• Tobi Jackson is the FWISD Board Trustee who led the transformation and renaissance of Eastern Hills High School, when it was slated for closure in 2010.
• Donnie Pendleton is a professional musician who has laid down tracks on many contemporary musician's albums. He is a highly popular electric guitarist in Texas with national prominence.
• Marcus Buckley an American Football player for the New York Giants, from 1993 to 1999
• Richard Rawlings- Star of Fast N' Loud, owner of Gas Monkey Bar N' Grill and Gas Monkey Garage^[14][15][16]
• Tommy Harmon - Former Player and longtime assistant coach for University of Texas Baseball. Member of Longhorn Hall of Honor. ^[17]

Military troops alumni

• Aaron McKenzie is currently serving as a BM3 in the United States Navy.
• George Johnson Jr. is currently serving as a SSgt in the United States Air Force.
• Aaron Saunders is a Retired Veteran of the United States Navy.
• Shawn Bowles is a Retired Veteran of the United States Navy.
• Tammera Gonzales is currently serving as a SPC in the United States Army.
• Jesse Ortega is a veteran after serving 5 years (2007 - 2012) as a Hospital Corpsman in the United States Navy.
• Johnathan Rutherford is currently serving our country in the United States Army.
• Larry Brooks, Jr. is currently serving as a HM3 in the United States Navy.
• James Marcus Dill is a veteran after serving as an Engineer (1995-2014) in the US Army.
• James Williams Jr. is currently serving as a HN in the United States Navy.
• Moses Maddox is a veteran who served 8 years in the United States Marine Corps from 1999-2006 as a Mortuary Affairs Specialist, and a Civil Affairs Specialist.

Robert Mathers served in the United States Army. Richard Ledel is a Retired Veteran of the United States Navy.

References

External links

• Eastern Hills High School site