Lamar High School

Lamar High School is a public high school located in the River Oaks area of Houston, Texas, and is part of the Houston Independent School District. The school was established in 1936 and is named after Mirabeau B. Lamar, the second president of the Republic of Texas. Lamar High School has a long history of academic excellence and has produced many notable alumni, including Peggy Whitson, a NASA astronaut, and Brent Spiner, an actor known for his role as Data (Star Trek) in the Star Trek: The Next Generation series. The school has also been recognized for its strong programs in STEM education, with many students going on to attend top universities such as Massachusetts Institute of Technology, California Institute of Technology, and Rice University.

● History

Lamar High School was founded in 1936, during the presidency of Franklin D. Roosevelt, and was named after Mirabeau B. Lamar, a key figure in the Texas Revolution and the Battle of San Jacinto. The school's early years were marked by significant growth and development, with the student body increasing from just over 1,000 students in 1936 to over 2,500 students by the 1950s. During this time, the school also established strong relationships with local institutions, including the University of Houston, Texas Southern University, and the Houston Museum of Natural Science. In the 1960s and 1970s, Lamar High School became a hub for student activism, with many students participating in protests and demonstrations related to the Civil Rights Movement and the Vietnam War, including the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom and the Moratorium to End the War in Vietnam. Notable figures such as Martin Luther King Jr., John F. Kennedy, and Lyndon B. Johnson were also influential during this time, shaping the school's values and mission.

● Campus

The Lamar High School campus is located in the River Oaks area of Houston, Texas, and covers an area of over 18 acres. The campus features a mix of modern and historic buildings, including the original 1936 building, which has been designated as a National Historic Landmark by the National Park Service. The school's campus is also home to a number of state-of-the-art facilities, including a performing arts center, a swimming pool, and a football stadium, which hosts games and events throughout the year, including the Texas High School Football Championships. The campus is surrounded by a number of notable landmarks, including the River Oaks Country Club, the Houston Arboretum and Nature Center, and the Menil Collection, a museum founded by John de Menil and Dominique de Menil.

● Academics

Lamar High School offers a rigorous academic program, with a wide range of courses and programs available to students. The school is known for its strong programs in STEM education, including Advanced Placement courses in calculus, physics, and computer science, as well as programs in engineering and biotechnology. The school also offers a number of elective courses, including fine arts, foreign languages, and social sciences, with many students going on to study at top universities such as Harvard University, Stanford University, and University of California, Berkeley. Lamar High School has a long history of academic excellence, with many students earning top honors and awards, including the National Merit Scholarship and the Presidential Scholarship, which is awarded by the White House.

● Extracurricular Activities

Lamar High School offers a wide range of extracurricular activities, including sports teams, clubs, and organizations. The school's sports teams, known as the Lamar Redskins, compete in the University Interscholastic League and have won numerous district and state championships, including the Texas State Football Championship and the Texas State Basketball Championship. The school also has a number of clubs and organizations, including the Debate Team, the Robotics Club, and the National Honor Society, which is sponsored by the National Association of Secondary School Principals. Many students also participate in volunteer work and community service, with organizations such as the American Red Cross, the Salvation Army, and the Houston Food Bank.

● Notable Alumni

Lamar High School has a long list of notable alumni, including Peggy Whitson, a NASA astronaut who has flown on the International Space Station and the Space Shuttle Endeavour; Brent Spiner, an actor known for his role as Data (Star Trek) in the Star Trek: The Next Generation series; and James A. Baker III, a former United States Secretary of State and White House Chief of Staff who served under Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush. Other notable alumni include Robert Flores, a sportscaster for ESPN; Randy Wallace, a former NFL player; and Liz Carmouche, a mixed martial artist who has competed in the UFC. The school's alumni have gone on to achieve great things in a wide range of fields, including politics, entertainment, science, and sports, with many attending top universities such as Yale University, Princeton University, and Columbia University. Category:High schools in Texas