Type Public high school Superintendent Richard Matkin Grades 11–12 Mascot Plano West Wolf | Established 1999 Principal Kathy King Phone +1 469-752-9600 Motto Leading With Pride | |
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School district Plano Independent School District Address 5601 W Parker Rd, Plano, TX 75093, USA Feeder schools Jasper High School, Shepton High School Profiles | ||
Plano west senior high school graduation 2016
Plano West Senior High School (commonly West, Plano West, or PWSH) is a public high school in Plano, Texas serving high school juniors and seniors. The school is part of the Plano Independent School District, and enrolls students based on the locations of students' homes. Students at Plano West attended one of two high schools: Jasper or Shepton. Plano West is accredited by the Texas Education Agency, which designates the school as "Recognized". The school colors are royal blue, black, and white, and the mascot is the Wolf. The school is ranked as 22nd in the nation, and as the #1 comprehensive high school in the State of Texas, according to Newsweek's 2016 list of best public high schools.
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Academics
Plano West offers all Advanced Placement courses except Japanese Language and Culture and Italian Language and Culture; the courses Human Geography and World History are offered at the 9-10 feeder schools. Plano West additionally offers concurrent enrollment courses through Collin College. 56% percent of Plano West students are enrolled in at least one Advanced Placement course, above the Plano ISD average of 32% and Texas average of 20%. The school currently offers many vocational courses in agriculture, early childhood education, home economics, journalism, fashion design, advertising design, drafting, and clinical rotation.
Plano West was ranked 22nd in the nation (#1 in Texas) in Newsweek's Top Public High Schools 2016.
Students in the class of 2013 achieved an average composite SAT score of 1725 (out of 2400) and a mean ACT score of 26.1 (out of 36). AP students at Plano West earned an average score of 4.00 (out of 5) on AP exams administered by the College Board. In 2013, Plano West students took 3,170 AP exams, and passed 87% of those exams.
Athletics
The mascot is the wolf, a departure from the feline mascots of the other two senior high schools in Plano (the Plano Wildcats and the Plano East Panthers).
The Plano West Wolves compete in the following sports:
Music
The Plano West Chamber Orchestra has been named the outstanding string orchestra for the state of Texas by the Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA) 5 consecutive times. The orchestra is made up of approximately 40 musicians. TMEA rules prohibit a school from entering the competition the year after it has won, so the title of Texas "Honor Orchestra" was won in 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008, and 2010. The orchestra was named the Texas "Honor Orchestra" a final time in 2016. The orchestra has been featured on the Disney Channel series "Totally in Tune" which aired in 2001. In 2005, the orchestra won a Cappie Award for Outstanding Pit Orchestra in a musical for the school production of Les Misérables.
The Choir Program performs at the annual Texas Music Educators Association Convention.
The Plano West Mighty Wolf Band has a marching and concert season and also has a winterguard program. In the 2009–2010 school year, the band had approximately 95 members; by 2015-2016, this had increased to about 195.
In 2011, The Plano West Music Program was named Gold Grammy Signature School. Plano West was one of only seven gold level award recipients. The award recognizes top U.S. public high schools making an outstanding commitment to music education.
Theatre
The Theatre program consists of regular Theatre I-IV classes, as well as the Honors Theatre Productions classes that take up 6th and 7th period hours.
Technical Theatre competes in the UIL Theatrical Design Competition. Plano West was named State Champions in 2008.