Supriya Ghosh (Editor)

Robert E. Lee High School (Tyler, Texas)

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Type
  
Public School

Principal
  
Gary Brown

Enrollment
  
2637

Phone
  
+1 903-262-2625

Established
  
1958

Grades
  
9–12

Campus type
  
Urban

Number of students
  
2,637

Address
  
411 E SE Loop 323, Tyler, TX 75701, USA

District
  
Tyler Independent School District

Motto
  
The sun that sets may never rise but Raider spirit never dies!

Robert E. Lee High School is one of two Tyler Independent School District high school campuses in the city of Tyler, Texas, the other being John Tyler High School. RE Lee High School has served the East Texas community since opening in 1958 and classified as a 6A school by the UIL. In 2013, the school was rated "Met Standard" by the Texas Education Agency.

Contents

Tradition

In the 1960s, when Lee's mascot was the Rebel, the school was famous for its working cannon and oversized Confederate flag. A group of seniors tended the cannon at games, firing it when the Rebel football team scored a touchdown. The football team entered Rose Stadium by running under the flag, reputed to be the second largest Confederate flag in the world (second only to one owned by the University of Mississippi). By 1972, the flag was retired and its whereabouts are unknown. The flag was retired shortly after four African-American players refused to run under the flag and ran around it instead, causing some local controversy. The cannon, retired in 1986, is now the property of Brook Hill High School in Bullard, Texas.

Demographics

As of the 2013-14 school year, the student body consisted of:

  • 40.0% White (Non-Hispanic)
  • 29.1% Hispanic
  • 26.2% African American
  • 2.7% Asian
  • 0.3% Native American
  • 0.1% Pacific Islander
  • 1.6% Two or More Races

    • Education

    Robert E. Lee High School offers a variety of Pre-AP and AP-level courses, as well as Career Technology Education programs and Fine Arts electives. Lee implemented the International Baccalaureate program in the Fall of 2008.

    Athletics

    As of 2014, Robert E. Lee High School is classified as a 6A school in District 11 along with many Garland and Rockwall Schools. The Robert E. Lee Red Raiders compete in a variety of sports including Baseball, Basketball, Golf, Soccer, Softball, Volleyball, Tennis, Powerlifting, Track, Swimming, Cross Country, and is most well known for the Tyler Lee Football Team.

    State Titles

  • Football
  • 2004(5A/D1)
  • Boys Golf
  • 1959(3A)
  • Team Tennis
  • 1987(5A), 1988(5A)

    • Robert E. Lee High School won the 2004 football state championship by defeating Spring Westfield 28-21 at the Alamo Dome in San Antonio, Texas.

    Notable alumni

  • Nelson Clyde, III, Class of 1962, late publisher of Tyler Morning Telegraph
  • Corey Mayfield, Class of 1988, 3yr Starter at Oklahoma, San Fran 49r's, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Jacksonville Jaguars
  • Sandy Duncan, Class of 1965, actress
  • Holland Hendrix, Class of 1966, President of Union Theological Seminary in New York, New Testament scholar.
  • Alex Finlayson, Class of 1969, playwright and journalist
  • Dale Dudley, Class of 1979, radio personality (Dudley and Bob) at KLBJ-FM Austin, Texas, Film Actor, Magazine Columnist.
  • Joffrey Reynolds, Class of 1997, running back for the Calgary Stampeders
  • Matt Flynn, Class of 2003, quarterback for the Green Bay Packers
  • Brandon Pettigrew, Class of 2004, tight end for the Detroit Lions
  • Ciron Black, Class of 2005, former tackle for the Louisiana State University Tigers

    • References

    Robert E. Lee High School (Tyler, Texas) Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA