Westlake Academy
Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
| Westlake Academy | |
|---|---|
| Address | |
| 2600 Ottinger Road Westlake, Texas 76262 |
|
| Information | |
| Funding type | Charter |
| Founded | September 2, 2003 |
| Grades | Kindergarten-12 |
| Language | English |
| Color(s) | Maroon and Navy Blue |
| Mascot | Blacksmiths |
| Website | http://www.westlakeacademy.org |
Westlake Academy is an open-enrollment charter school in the United States state of Texas, operating under the International Baccalaureate (IB) curriculum.
Contents
Overview
Westlake has three main academic programs: The IB Primary Years Programme (PYP) program lasts from kindergarten to fifth grade, while the IB Middle Years Programme (MYP) program runs from sixth grade to tenth grade. The school has also been certified for the IB Diploma Programme (DP), which began at the start of the 2008-2009 school year with the addition of an eleventh grade and now a twelfth grade. The school's first graduating class was in the 2010-2011 school year.
The Westlake Academy athletics program is superb as well as its rigorous curriculum.
History & Academics
Westlake Academy opened its doors in September 2003 when the Town of Westlake officials took advantage of the state of Texas’ acceptance of charter schools and thus became the first and only municipality in the state to receive a charter designation. In 2008 the Texas Education Agency (TEA) renewed the charter until 2016. The officials who pioneered the school also decided to follow another brave path in offering the internationally recognized International Baccalaureate (IB) curriculum which is now being provided in over 900 schools nationwide and over 2300 in 128 countries worldwide. Westlake Academy became an IB World School in 2006 after it was authorized for the Primary Years Program (PYP) and further accreditation followed in 2007 with the Middle Years Program (MYP) and 2008 for the Diploma Program (DP), making it one of only five schools in the United States to offer all three programs and the only one in Texas. The school will eventually graduate its first class in 2010 when it will be fully functional from Kindergarten through to 12th grade. In 2008, this class became the first in Texas to graduate from the MYP program. As well as this international accreditation, Westlake Academy will also meet state standards. For 2008, the Academy was proud of the fact that it received an ‘Exemplary’ rating from TEA for the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS) tests, the second time it has achieved this. Star Telegram Article
On May 23, 2010, Westlake Academy's first senior class of 24 students graduated. Texas Governor Rick Perry, Education Commissioner Robert Scott and U.S. Congressman Burgess were among the dignitaries who attended the event. All of the graduates are currently attending college and have been offered $3.7 million worth of college scholarships. Forbes Reports WA Graduation
The Academy receives operating funds from the state although charter schools receive appreciably less than other public school systems. In order to remedy this shortfall of funds, the Academy relies heavily on the support of parents and other members of the community. The Westlake Academy Foundation is invaluable in raising much of the financial assistance without which the school could not exist. Westlake Academy is situated on a beautiful site, in a carefully designed campus which helps to foster a love of learning. In June 2008 this was further expanded with the ground breaking for a new Arts and Science Building, which was operational for the start of the 2009-10 school year.
Extra Curricular
Arts
As well as academic success Westlake Academy had, amongst other things, a highly successful school newspaper. “The Black Cow” won forty-seven awards at the 2008 Texas UIL State Journalism Competition, the most by any school in Texas. The school has competed successfully in Odyssey of the Mind, state Maths, Science and History programs, Destination Imagination, Model United Nations as well as art, music and drama productions. The Black Cow, however, seemed to fade away in Autumn of 2010 until it started back up in the Winter of 2012. "The Black Calf" is still running (as of 2012). The Black Calf is a version of the original Black Cow, only for the PYP program.
Westlake Academy also offers a variety of musical activities. The Chamber of Strings and Ensemble, which are for strings instruments. There is also Drum Line, for percussionists, which plays at games such as 6-man Football.
Athletics
Westlake Academy competes in the following High School programs
- 6-man Football
- Men's Soccer
- Women's Soccer
- Women's Basketball
- Men's Basketball
- Baseball
- Softball
- Track
- Cross Country
- Golf
- Volleyball
- Tennis
In 2010-2011 the Women's Basketball team and the Cross Country team were state champions. Westlake Academy competes as a member of the TCAF League.
In 2011-2012 the Women's Cross Country team won state again; and the Soccer team also won state.
The school's first varsity 6-man team was in the 2011-2012 year, and has found recent success, compiling a record of 14-6 over the last two seasons.
In 2015-2016 Westlake created their first all girl's soccer team to compete in leagues, due to the creation of two students Allie Woo and Amareesa Robinson.
External links
Class Bodies
Westlake Academy is a great school academically, but the thing most amazing and unique to the school is how amazing and beautiful the community inside the school is. For example, their class of 2019 is a group of children who are so charming that they could make any human being swoon and are so hilarious. They are all very close knit and just lovely all in all.
