Willis High School
Public high school in Willis, Texas, United States

Willis High School
Location
1201 FM 830

Willis
,
Texas
77378

United States
Information
School typePublic high school
Motto"One Team, One Purpose"
Established1996
School districtWillis Independent School District
CEEB code447565
NCES School ID484590005228[1]
PrincipalEric King
Faculty181.4 (on an FTE basis)[2]
Grades9-12
Enrollment2,802[2] (2024–2025)
Student to teacher ratio19.6[2]
CampusRural: Fringe
Colors    Purple & White
Athletics conferenceUIL Class 6A
MascotWildkat
WebsiteWillis High School

Willis High School is a public high school in Willis, Texas, United States.[3][4] It is a part of the Willis Independent School District. The school received a B grade from the Texas Education Agency in the 2024-2025 school year.[2]

History

The school opened in 1996[5], replacing the previous Willis High School that opened in 1974, which is now known as Lynn Lucas Middle School.[6] In 2004 the school had about 1,440 students.[7] Ben Cooper was the principal until 2006. That year, Tim Patton became the principal.[8] On June 10, 2010, he was reassigned to a position in the district's headquarters.[9] In 2023 the school had an enrollment of 2,496.[10]

Demographics

In the 2024–2025 school year, there were 2,802 students enrolled at Willis High School. The ethnic distribution of students was as follows:[2]

57.3% of students were eligible for free or reduced-price lunch. The school received Title I funding.

Academics

For each academic year, the Texas Education Agency rates school performance using an A–F grading system based on statistical data. For the 2021–2022 school year, the school received a score of 77 out of 100, resulting in a C grade.[11] Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, every school received a label of Not Rated for the 2019-2020 and 2020-2021 school years.[12][13] For the 2018-2019 school year, the school received a score of 81.[14]

Programs

The district offered a "Kats at Night" (KAN) night school program. The State of Texas provided a $80,000 grant to Willis ISD to establish the program. The first students graduated in October 2004.[7] At an unknown date, this program was removed.[citation needed]

Fine Arts

The school offers the fine arts programs of Band, Choir, Theater, Dance, and Visual Arts[15]

Marching Band

The Willis Wildkat Band has appeared in two UIL State Marching Band Championships. In 2017, Willis placed 7th in their area competition with their show entitled "Aurora," and finished 25th at State in conference 5A.[16] In 2019, Willis placed 1st in their area competition and finished 26th at State in conference 5A. Both performances were under the direction of Band Director Chris Allen and Assistant Band Director Andrew Hicks.[17]

Athletics

For UIL events, Willis High School competes in class 6A, the classification for the largest schools. For athletics, the school will compete in District 13 with five Conroe ISD schools as part of the smallest 6A district in Texas. The school was only three students above the threshold for entering class 6A in the 2020-2021 season.[18]

Football

Rick Cullum served as the head American football coach until May 2006. Mack Malone, who was already a part of the athletic staff, replaced him as coach. By 2007 the school was looking for a new coach, and Malone was given a new job.[19]

In 2023, Willis finished first in their district with an 8-0 record under Head Coach Trent Miller and nationally-ranked quarterback DJ Lagway.[20] Willis reached the third round of the UIL 6A Division 2 playoffs. Willis finished their 2023 season with a 12-1 record, and was ranked 65th in MaxPreps national football rankings.[21]

Baseball

Danny Freeman served as the varsity baseball team coach until 2000, when he became the American football defense coordinator at Montgomery High School.[22]

Softball

As of 2004 Amanda Bussell served as the varsity softball coach; she graduated from Oak Ridge High School and previously was an assistant at Montgomery High School.[23]

Expansions

Through a number of bonds voted on by the Willis ISD community, the school has had a number of expansions. In 2006, a bond was approved, which allowed the district to build an expansion for the school, purchase property for a practice field and track, and other renovations to the high school.[24][25]

In 2015, a bond was approved allowing for a new agricultural science center, a new performing arts center, and a new career & technology education center.[26] This bond also allowed for expansions to the band and choir areas, a new dance studio, and a new black box theater.[27]

In 2020, another bond was approved for the district, but other than maintenance and renovations, no major improvements were made to the high school.[28][29]

In 2022, there was a portion of a bond approved by voters, which upgraded the school's baseball and softball fields to use synthetic turf, as well as a new middle school that will feed into the high school.[30][31]

In May 2024, there was a portion of a bond approved by voters to build a ninth-grade expansion to the high school, as well as parking lot upgrades.[32] There were three other propositions that were reconsidered during the 2024 general election, but were rejected for a second time.[33]

Controversies

After a local drag queen was invited as a guest speaker for a cosmetology class in 2019, community backlash resulted in more stringent regulations regarding school speakers.[34]

In December 2023, a Willis High School student was arrested for assaulting his coach after he was benched for unsportsmanlike conduct.[35][36]

In October 2024, the Willis High School football team was criticized for hitting their opponents in the Cleveland High School team with belts after beating them 77-0.[37][38]

Notable alumni

References

  1. ^ "Search for Public Schools - WILLIS H S (484590005228)". National Center for Education Statistics. Institute of Education Sciences. Retrieved December 22, 2024.
  2. ^ a b c d e "Willis HS". Texas Education Agency. Retrieved September 5, 2025.
  3. ^ "City Limits Through June 2019". City of Conroe. Retrieved July 18, 2019. - See also annexation map which indicates it in parcel 2163-13-1
  4. ^ "Home". Willis High School. Retrieved July 18, 2019. 10005 Highway 75 North, Willis, TX 77378
  5. ^ "BOND 2020 WILLIS INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT" (PDF). Retrieved November 18, 2025.
  6. ^ Willis A Proud Past and Brighter Future...Collector's Limited Edition 1995 (PDF). 1995. p. 11. Retrieved October 24, 2023.
  7. ^ a b Breslin, Bill (October 21, 2004). "First students earn diplomas from alternative high school program". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved May 1, 2017.
  8. ^ Micek, Kassia (August 15, 2006). "Patton takes over as Willis High principal". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved April 30, 2017.
  9. ^ Micek, Kassia (August 2, 2010). "CISD expected to hire Patton". The Woodlands Villager at the Houston Chronicle. Retrieved April 30, 2017.
  10. ^ "Willis High School in Willis, TX - US News Best High Schools". U.S.News. Retrieved October 24, 2023.
  11. ^ "Texas Education Agency 2022 School Report Card WILLIS H S (170904002) - WILLIS ISD - MONTGOMERY COUNTY". Texas Education Agency. Retrieved December 23, 2023.
  12. ^ "Texas Education Agency 2019-20 School Report Card WILLIS H S (170904002)". Texas Education Agency. Retrieved December 23, 2023.
  13. ^ "Texas Education Agency 2020-21 School Report Card WILLIS H S (170904002)". Texas Education Agency. Retrieved December 23, 2023.
  14. ^ "Texas Education Agency 2018-19 School Report Card WILLIS H S (170904002)". Texas Education Agency. Retrieved December 23, 2023.
  15. ^ "Fine Arts". Willis ISD. Retrieved October 24, 2023.
  16. ^ Ellsworth, Meagan (October 24, 2023). "Willis HS band trailblazers in state run". The Courier. Retrieved January 13, 2024.
  17. ^ Ellsworth, Meagan (October 30, 2019). "Willis, Porter marching bands bound for state". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved December 16, 2025.
  18. ^ "Realignment notes: 5 Conroe ISD schools, Willis form state's smallest 6A district". Houston Chronicle. February 3, 2020. Retrieved June 8, 2020.
  19. ^ Roden, Howard (November 13, 2007). "WHS makes football coaching change". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved May 1, 2017.
  20. ^ Richard Justice, Howard (October 24, 2023). "A High School Football Fairy Tale Unfolds in Southeast Texas". Texas Monthly. Retrieved January 13, 2024.
  21. ^ MaxPreps. "Willis Wildkats Varsity Football". MaxPreps at the Houston Chronicle. Retrieved January 13, 2024.
  22. ^ Jones, Mike (April 17, 2000). "'Proud to have been Wildkat…excited about being a Bear'". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved May 1, 2017.
  23. ^ "Willis High School softball coach has strong ties to Montgomery County". Houston Chronicle. March 29, 2004. Retrieved May 1, 2017.
  24. ^ Micek, Kassia (October 19, 2006). "Explosive growth spurs call for Willis ISD bond election". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved November 17, 2025.
  25. ^ Micek, Kassia (February 14, 2010). "Willis ISD officials to discuss possible bond". The Courier (Conroe newspaper). Retrieved November 18, 2025.
  26. ^ Mendoza, Jesse (November 3, 2015). "Voters approve $109.5 million Willis ISD school bond". Community Impact Newspaper. Retrieved March 27, 2025.
  27. ^ Ellsworth, Meagan (February 2, 2018). "Foundation poured for new $15M Willis ISD auditorium bond project". Chron.com. Retrieved March 27, 2025.
  28. ^ Ellsworth, Meagan (August 15, 2020). "Willis school board sets new $100M bond election for November". The Courier (Conroe newspaper). Retrieved March 27, 2025.
  29. ^ Ellsworth, Meagan (November 4, 2020). "Voters pass $100M Willis ISD bond". The Courier (Conroe newspaper). Retrieved March 27, 2025.
  30. ^ Kirby, Maegan (February 9, 2022). "Willis ISD calls $225 million bond election for May 7". Community Impact Newspaper. Retrieved March 27, 2025.
  31. ^ Swinnerton, Jamie (May 8, 2022). "Willis ISD passes $143M portion of bond election". The Courier (Conroe newspaper). Retrieved March 27, 2025.
  32. ^ Holt, Vanessa (May 4, 2024). "Willis ISD voters approve 1 of 4 propositions in $218.1M bond election". Community Impact Newspaper. Retrieved November 13, 2024.
  33. ^ Spangler, Lizzy (November 5, 2024). "Voters reject all 3 propositions in Willis ISD's $115.4M bond". Community Impact Newspaper. Retrieved November 13, 2024.
  34. ^ "Community divided over Willis High School drag queen event". November 12, 2019.
  35. ^ "HS basketball player, older brother beat up coach in parking lot after game: cops". New York Post. December 10, 2023. Retrieved December 11, 2023.
  36. ^ "Willis ISD student and adult brother beat up basketball coach for benching 17-year-old, coach says". ABC13 Eyewitness News. Retrieved December 11, 2023.
  37. ^ Poorman, Jon (October 6, 2024). "Willis football players suspended for spanking opponents with belts". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved March 28, 2025.
  38. ^ Morik, Ryan (October 5, 2024). "High school football player spanks opponents with belt after 77-0 beatdown". Fox News. Retrieved November 12, 2024.
  39. ^ "Hubbard Law Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
  40. ^ "James McKeehan Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
  41. ^ "Michael Bishop Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
  42. ^ "D.D. Terry - 2006 - Football". Sam Houston.
  43. ^ "Ira Brown Minor & Independent Leagues Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  44. ^ "DJ Lagway - Football". Florida Gators.
  45. ^ Silva II, Dennis (October 8, 2023). "Explosive playmaker Jermaine Bishop Jr. a steady influence for talented Willis football". The Courier.
  • Willis High School
  • Willis High School at the Wayback Machine (archive index)

30°23′32″N 95°28′39″W / 30.3923°N 95.4775°W / 30.3923; -95.4775

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