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Travis High School
Travis High School
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William B. Travis High School, known simply as Travis High School, is a public high school in Pecan Grove, Fort Bend County, Texas, United States. Located off Grand Parkway and in Houston's extraterritorial jurisdiction,[3] the school is Fort Bend Independent School District's (FBISD) tenth high school and the largest school by enrollment in the district. Opened in 2006, Travis holds a Richmond, Texas address although the school (nor the district) do not serve any part of the city. The school serves part of Pecan Grove, part of Aliana, and part of New Territory (in addition to the employee residences of the nearby Jester State Prison Farm units).[4] Travis is considered one of the most racially diverse public high schools in the state.[5][6]

Key Information

The school's mascot is the tiger and the school colors are scarlet, gray, and white.[7]

Travis hosts two of FBISD's high school academies: the Global Studies Academy (GSA) and the International Business and Marketing Academy (IBMA).[8]

History

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Travis High School is named after Texas pioneer William B. Travis. The campus opened on August 21, 2006 and received its dedication on October 15 of the same year.[9] The opening of Travis relieved Austin High School and George Bush High School,[10] with grades 9 and 10 immediately zoned to Travis,[11] and grades 11 to 12 continuing to go to Austin with a phaseout of one grade per year.[12] It became Fort Bend ISD's tenth high school.

In January 2022, more than 200 students at the school signed a petition urging FBISD to close schools in response to rising COVID-19 cases.[13]

In the 2022-2023 school year, district administrators proposed new attendance boundaries to combat overcrowding at the school of more than 3,000 students. The plans include zoning all students from New Territory (which is currently split between Travis and Austin) to only Austin High School, and possibly transferring the two academies the school hosts to another high school in the district such as Kempner High School.[14][15] The change was approved in February 2023.[16]

The school's student council is known for bringing dogs in for stress relief prior to exam week.[17]

Campus

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Travis is located on Harlem Road, off Grand Parkway/SH 99[18] and surrounded by the Harvest Green neighborhood, a master-planned community by Johnson Development.[19][20] Directly to the north across Harvest Corner Drive are a number of commercial shops, including Subway and Kung Fu Tea. Additional shops are to the east across Harlem, including an Exxon.[21][22]

The south half of the campus property contains many athletic facilities, including a turfed football field and track, a baseball field, a softball field, three practice fields, and eight tennis courts, along with a fieldhouse.

Athletics

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Travis, as well as all other high schools in the district, have teams represented in every UIL sport except for wrestling. In the 2012-2013 school year, Travis was the UIL 5A basketball state champion.

The school contains a competitive Marine Corps JROTC Program, containing Armed and Unarmed Drill teams. Their honor guard has been featured in many events, like Houston Dynamo games.

Feeder patterns

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The attendance boundary of the school include Pecan Grove, Aliana, New Territory, and the employee residences of some of the nearby Jester State Prison Farm units.[4]

The following elementary schools feed into Travis:

  • Brazos Bend Elementary
  • Neill Elementary
  • Pecan Grove Elementary
  • Oakland Elementary
  • Patterson Elementary (partial)
  • Madden Elementary (partial)
  • Malala Elementary (partial)

The following middle schools[23] feed into Travis:

  • Sartartia Middle School (partial)
  • James Bowie Middle School
  • Garcia Middle School (partial)

Under proposed changes, Brazos Bend Elementary and Sartartia Middle School would no longer feed into Travis, and some areas may attend Crockett Middle School instead of Bowie Middle School (but remain zoned to Travis.

Notable alumni

[edit]

References

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[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia
from Grokipedia
William B. Travis High School is a public high school located in Richmond, Texas, serving grades 9–12 as part of the Fort Bend Independent School District. The school, home of the Tigers, opened in August 2006 to accommodate growing enrollment in the rapidly expanding Fort Bend County area. Named for William Barret Travis, the commander of Texan forces at the Alamo during the Texas Revolution, it enrolls approximately 3,135 students and emphasizes college preparatory programs alongside competitive athletics. Travis High School maintains a strong focus on , with a reported 98% rate and 77% of seniors advancing to two- or four-year colleges. The institution has garnered recognition for its educators, including a former principal awarded for excellence in leadership. In athletics, the boys' team secured the Class 5A state championship in 2013, highlighting the school's competitive prowess in interscholastic sports. Notable include professional football players such as Hakeem , who has competed in the . The school has faced isolated incidents involving staff misconduct, including arrests for improper relationships with students in 2011 and 2017, though these do not define its overall operations.

History

Founding and Early Years

William B. Travis High School was established by the Fort Bend Independent School District amid rapid population growth in Fort Bend County, Texas, particularly in the Pecan Grove area, necessitating additional secondary education capacity. Named for William Barret Travis, the Alamo defender who penned the "Victory or Death" letter in 1836, the school opened under founding principal J.J. Kyle, who led its initial operations. The campus began instruction in August 2006, drawing students from overcrowded nearby schools including Stephen F. Austin High School and George H.W. Bush High School. A dedication ceremony occurred on October 15, 2006, marking the formal opening of the facility designed to serve the expanding suburban community. In its early years, Travis High School focused on building foundational programs, with initial enrollment supporting grades 9 through 12 as the district integrated it into the broader high school network. The school's establishment reflected Fort Bend ISD's ongoing expansion, which saw multiple new campuses open around the same period to accommodate surging student numbers driven by .

Expansion and Growth

William B. Travis High School opened on August 21, 2006, initially serving students from the rapidly developing Pecan Grove area and surrounding communities in Fort Bend County, which experienced substantial residential growth in the early 2000s. Reflecting this demographic surge, the school's enrollment expanded steadily in its early years, building from a freshman-focused cohort to a full four-grade high school by incorporating subsequent classes. By the 2023-2024 school year, enrollment had grown to 3,135 students, with a student-teacher ratio of approximately 19:1. This increase strained the campus's permanent capacity of 2,842 seats, leading to utilization rates over 110% and reliance on up to 650 portable classrooms to house excess students. Fort Bend Independent School District's broader expansion, from fewer than 40 campuses in 2006 to 83 by 2025, mirrored countywide population pressures, with Travis identified as one of the district's most overcrowded high schools. To address imbalances, approved attendance boundary adjustments for Travis, Austin, and Kempner high schools on February 13, 2023, redistributing students to optimize capacity across feeder patterns. Concurrently, Travis phased out specialized programs like the Global Studies Academy and International Business Academy, transferring them to Kempner High School to streamline operations amid sustained growth projections. These measures, rather than new construction at Travis, prioritized resource reallocation within the existing infrastructure.

Campus and Facilities

Location and Physical Layout

High School is situated at 11111 Harlem Road, 77406, in Fort Bend County. The campus lies within the suburban Pecan Grove area, serving a rapidly growing residential community as part of the . The physical layout encompasses a main academic structure housing classrooms, administrative offices, and specialized instructional spaces, designed to accommodate approximately 3,135 students. Supporting facilities include athletic fields such as soccer and practice areas, along with designated parking lots for staff, students, and visitors. The school's design reflects standard modern high school architecture in suburban , with open green spaces maintained by district grounds services contributing to the 785 total campus lawn acres across Fort Bend ISD.

Infrastructure and Recent Upgrades


William B. Travis High School opened in August 2006 as part of the Fort Bend Independent School District, featuring a campus designed for secondary education with approximately 1,700 gross acres district-wide, though specific acreage for Travis is not detailed in district records. The facilities include a main gymnasium equipped for basketball and volleyball with six hoops, locker rooms, home and away bleachers, athletic fields available for community rental, and standard classrooms, science labs, and performance spaces such as theaters.
As part of Fort Bend ISD's 2023 $1.26 billion bond program, approved by voters in May 2023, Travis High School is slated for renovations under Proposition A, which allocates funds for repairs to outdated systems, structural upgrades for energy efficiency, and enhancements to support 21st-century learning environments across existing campuses. District records confirm a specific renovation project for the school involving public funds, though detailed scope such as square footage or timelines beyond planning phases are not publicly specified in available state filings. These efforts address life-cycle deficiencies common to campuses built in the mid-2000s, including potential updates to HVAC, roofing, and electrical systems district-wide. Summer 2025 renovations under the bond program included district-wide improvements like classroom cooling systems and flooring replacements at select sites, contributing to ongoing maintenance at high schools like Travis.

Academics

Curriculum and Programs

Travis High School delivers a core aligned with the Essential Knowledge and Skills standards, encompassing English language arts, , , , and for grades 9 through 12. Students engage in foundational courses with options for enrichment, including (AP) classes across multiple disciplines, enabling participation in AP exams for potential credit. The school also supports a Gifted & Talented program to challenge high-achieving students through and advanced opportunities. As a magnet institution within Fort Bend Independent School District, Travis hosts two high school academies tailored to specific career and academic interests. The Global Studies Academy (GSA), established in 2008, promotes global citizenship by integrating language studies—such as Spanish, French, and Mandarin—cultural analysis, current events, and Model United Nations simulations, culminating in capstone projects for participants. The International Business and Marketing Academy (IBMA) offers dual pathways in business management or marketing, equipping students with practical skills through coursework in entrepreneurship, finance, digital marketing, and professional certifications like DECA competitions. Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs at Travis emphasize hands-on vocational training, including (e.g., animal science and ), (e.g., and principles of ), (e.g., ), and media-related electives such as and yearbook production. The AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) program further aids college readiness by fostering , organization, and higher education awareness among underserved students. These offerings are detailed in the district's annual course selection guide, which guides personalized four-year plans based on student aspirations.

Performance Metrics and Rankings

William B. Travis High School received a B accountability rating from the (TEA) for the 2024-2025 school year, reflecting performance across domains including student achievement, school progress, and closing performance gaps. On state assessments, 48% of students performed at or above proficient levels in , while 68% did so in reading/language arts during the most recent evaluated period. The school's four-year graduation rate stood at 96% for the class of 2023, with 96.9% of students graduating on time or earlier and a dropout rate of 0.6% for grades 9-12. In college readiness metrics, 65% of students passed at least one AP or IB exam, with an average SAT score of 1190 reported among test-takers. Nationally, ranked the school 2,459th overall and 247th in for 2024, placing it second among Fort Bend ISD high schools based on state test performance, graduation rates, and college preparation indicators. Niche rankings highlighted its diversity, placing it 9th among public high schools and 20th for magnet programs, though these incorporate subjective user reviews alongside data.

Student Body

Demographics and Diversity

William B. Travis High School enrolls approximately 3,135 students in grades 9 through 12, reflecting a diverse student body characteristic of Fort Bend Independent School District. The school's racial and ethnic composition includes 28.7% African American, 27.8% Asian, 20.1% White, 19.4% Hispanic, 3.5% two or more races, 0.4% American Indian, and 0.2% Pacific Islander students. This distribution results in a total minority enrollment of 80%, exceeding the statewide average for Texas public high schools.
Racial/Ethnic GroupPercentageNumber of Students
African American28.7%901
Asian27.8%872
20.1%630
19.4%607
Two or More Races3.5%109
American Indian0.4%11
0.2%5
Socioeconomic indicators show 38.9% of students classified as economically disadvantaged, lower than average of 49.6% and the statewide figure of 62.3%. Additionally, 35.3% of students are identified as at-risk, compared to 42.8% district-wide and 53.2% statewide. distribution is nearly even, with a slight female majority based on recent enrollment data from the . The school's diversity aligns with Fort Bend ISD's broader profile, which serves a multicultural community speaking over 100 languages, though Travis High specifically features prominent Asian and African American subgroups relative to state norms. William B. Travis High School opened in 2007 with an initial enrollment of 1,009 students, reflecting the rapid population growth in Fort Bend County. By 2008, enrollment increased to 1,617 students, and it continued to rise, reaching 2,127 in 2009 and 2,185 in 2010. This growth pattern persisted amid broader district expansion, with enrollment climbing to approximately 3,135 students by the 2023-2024 school year and stabilizing around 3,157 as of May 2025. The school's student body has grown steadily over nearly two decades, driven by residential development in the Pecan Grove area and surrounding suburbs, though district-wide enrollment growth has begun to stabilize due to land build-out and rising charter school attendance. The school's permanent facilities are designed to accommodate 2,842 students, with supplemental portable classrooms providing an additional 650 seats for a total capacity of 3,492. As of April 2023, projected enrollment exceeded permanent capacity by over 370 students, pushing utilization to 113% when including portables. By May 2025, actual enrollment stood at 3,157, operating at approximately 108% of permanent capacity even with portables in use, marking Travis as one of the most overcrowded high schools in Fort Bend ISD. District capacity audits since 2018 have highlighted persistent overcrowding across multiple campuses, including Travis, with only 24% of Fort Bend ISD schools operating within ideal 80-100% utilization for the 2025-2026 year. Capacity strains have led to operational challenges, including crowded hallways and reliance on temporary structures, as reported by students and parents. Fort Bend ISD has responded with boundary evaluations and rezoning proposals to balance loads, particularly in the northwest corridor where Travis is located, amid projections of continued pressure through 2034-2035. No major permanent expansions specific to Travis have been announced, though district-wide planning incorporates enrollment forecasts from independent analysts to mitigate future overloads.

Extracurricular Activities

Athletics

Travis High School fields interscholastic athletic teams for boys and girls as part of the (FBISD) and competes under the (UIL) in ' 6A classification. The school's teams, known as the Tigers, participate in a range of sports including , , cross country, football, , soccer, , and diving, , , and . Athletic participation emphasizes student development through competition, with eligibility governed by UIL rules such as the "No Pass, No Play" policy requiring academic standards. The boys' basketball program achieved its most notable success in the 2012-2013 season, compiling a 33-5 record and winning the UIL Class 5A state championship with a 46-38 victory over South Grand Prairie High School on March 9, 2013, at the in Austin. This title capped a nine-game winning streak and earned the team a No. 7 national ranking by MaxPreps. In , the program maintains competitive records, such as the boys' 100-meter dash school record of 10.44 seconds set by Kaleb Campbell in 2016, alongside recent performances like Josiah Vilmael's 10.66 seconds in 2025. Other sports, including and , compete in district play, with recent examples such as an 8-0 win over Fort Bend Clements High School on April 22, 2025. FBISD recognizes Travis athletes for combined academic and athletic excellence, with multiple student-athletes named to the Coaches Association Academic All-State list in 2022 and Super Elite Teams in 2024-2025. The school's athletic facilities support these programs through district-wide resources, though specific campus upgrades are managed under FBISD's broader infrastructure efforts.

Fine Arts, Clubs, and Other Programs

The Fine Arts Department at High School includes and programs designed to develop creative skills alongside academic curricula. courses begin with foundational Art I for novice students and progress to advanced offerings in , , and , with opportunities for experimentation in two- and three-dimensional media to build individualized artistic expression; advanced placement options encompass AP Studio Art and . Performing arts programs feature band, , , theater, and . The band program maintains and marching ensembles, requiring participants to perform 12 major scales from memory and execute marching routines; it operates under a dedicated booster organization supporting performances and education. The , known as the Tiger Choir and directed by Dan Miner, received district-level recognition in 2024 when Miner won the Choral Directors Association's Crocker Emerging Composer Competition for the composition "Que es Esta Cosa Llamada Amor?" functions as a co-curricular class, mandating enrollment for involvement in and competitive contests. The Travis Theatrical Company oversees theater productions, fostering a supportive environment for diverse student participants and staging works such as Agatha Christie's in its ; the school's auditorium provides state-of-the-art facilities including , staging, and equipment for performances. is represented by the award-winning Belles Team, with varsity and junior varsity squads directed by Gina Tolar and Alyssa Williams, emphasizing tradition, performance at athletic events, and initiatives like kindness drives. supplements these offerings for qualified students. Fine arts students have secured honors including selections as All-State Musicians in band, , and through district auditions. Student clubs and organizations at Travis High School span academic, cultural, service, and recreational pursuits, earning a B+ rating from student and parent reviews for variety and engagement. Notable groups include the French Club, promoting immersion in and culture beyond classroom instruction; Tri-M Music Honor Society for students; UIL Academics teams; chapter; Vietnamese Student Association; debate society; Future Farmers of America (FFA); chess club; group; African Student Association; Club; ; ; and Mu Alpha Theta mathematics honor society. Other programs include the Marine Corps Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (MCJROTC), a structured initiative under Senior Marine Instructor Major Frederick Hunt, which builds discipline through drill teams, community service, and mentorship; the program achieved Naval Honor School designation in 2023 and has facilitated scholarships for cadets to institutions including MIT, , and the University of Texas.

Community Integration

Feeder Patterns

Travis High School primarily draws students from Bowie Middle School and portions of Crockett Middle School within the (FBISD). The core elementary schools feeding into these middle schools include Neill Elementary School, Oakland Elementary School, and Pecan Grove Elementary School, with additional partial contributions from schools such as Hodges Bend Elementary School. These patterns ensure a structured progression from elementary through middle to high school levels, though boundaries can include partial zones based on specific attendance areas. In February 2023, the FBISD Board of Trustees approved boundary adjustments for the Travis feeder pattern, among others, to address enrollment and capacity issues; notably, Sartartia Middle School students were redirected solely to Austin High School and , eliminating their prior pathway to Travis. For the 2025-26 school year, the pattern incorporates partial feeders from additional elementaries like Garcia Elementary and Malala Elementary, reflecting minor rezoning updates. FBISD's long-range boundary planning, initiated in 2025, includes a comprehensive review of the Travis feeder pattern in its first phase (2025-26) to optimize utilization and efficiency across high school zones, potentially leading to further adjustments in subsequent years. These changes aim to balance enrollment, with Travis High School serving over 3,000 students as of recent data.

Parental and Community Involvement

The William B. Travis High School Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) facilitates communication and support between parents, students, and staff, aiming to enhance the educational environment through information sharing and collaborative initiatives. Parents actively participate via booster clubs dedicated to specific programs, including the Travis Tigers Athletic Booster Club, which funds equipment, facilities, and events for school athletics, with membership open to community supporters. The Travis High School Band Booster Club organizes volunteering opportunities, fundraising, and program support, requiring background checks for participants involved in school activities. Similarly, the Choir Booster Club provides financial and logistical aid to choral students year-round, accepting memberships at any time to bolster performances and resources. Community involvement extends to service programs like the Travis High School Youth Expanding Services (YES) Program, where students coordinate voluntary efforts with non-profit organizations to accumulate service hours, fostering civic engagement. At the district level, Fort Bend ISD's Collaborative Communities initiative encourages partnerships with local businesses for mentoring, after-school activities, and resource provision, indirectly benefiting Travis High School through broader support networks. The school's student council has received recognition, such as the National Council of Excellence Award in 2025, highlighting collaborative leadership that involves parental and community input in school governance.

Notable Achievements and People

Student and School Recognitions

Travis High School's Marine Corps Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC) program earned the Naval Honor School Award in the "Mega" category, which recognizes programs at the largest schools by enrollment, with the school being one of only seven selected statewide. Several students have received National Merit Scholarships. In 2025, Anza F. Rizvi was awarded a scholarship to attend Boston University, pursuing physics. Nabiha Ahmed received a $2,500 National Merit Scholarship, with interests in law. Simon R. O'Brien was granted a scholarship to Texas A&M University. Earlier, Jackson Bonnin was named a National Merit Finalist in the 2022-23 cycle, and Brandon Hawkins achieved finalist status as salutatorian in 2021. In 2024, semifinalists from the school included Evan Chang, Rohan T. Dharia, Crystal J. Fu, and Haider Naqvi. Kaydence Miller, a 2025 senior, was crowned Fort Bend County Fair Queen, having earned first place in her class for a swine project and the Star Chapter Farmer Award through Future Farmers of America. Benjamin Banken, a 2023 senior, was nominated for Fort Bend Student of the Year by the .

Alumni

Hakeem Butler, a professional who played at and was selected by the in the fourth round (103rd overall) of the , attended Travis High School, graduating in the class of 2015. During his high school career, Butler excelled as a two-sport in football and , earning recognition as a standout and tight end. Parker Washington, a wide receiver drafted by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the sixth round (195th overall) of the 2024 NFL Draft after playing at Penn State University, graduated from Travis High School in the class of 2020. As a senior captain, he helped lead the Tigers to a 10-0 regular season record. Nick Harvey, a and who earned U.S. Army All-American honors and played at before transferring to the , was a three-time all-district selection at Travis High School in the class of 2014.

References

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