Akins High School

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Coordinates: 30°08′57″N 97°48′03″W / 30.1492°N 97.8008°W / 30.1492; -97.8008
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W. Charles Akins High School
Address
Map
10701 S. First Street

Austin
,
Texas
78748
Information
MottoConnecting Today's Challenges to Tomorrow's Successes
Founded2000 [1]
School districtAustin Independent School District
PrincipalMichael Herbin[2]
Grades9-12th [1]
Enrollment2,642 [3] (2021-2022)
LanguageEnglish
Color(s)   Navy Blue and Old Gold [1]
MascotEagle [1]
Websitewww.akinseagles.org

Akins High School is located in South Austin, Texas, United States. The school is named after William Charles Akins, the first black teacher to work at a high school after desegregation in the Austin Independent School District (AISD).[4] Akins was established in 2000, and is the newest zoned high school in AISD. With an enrollment over 2700, it is the 2nd largest school in AISD, behind Bowie High School. Akins High School competes in UIL 6A Conference[5] in all athletic and academic competitions.[6]

Curriculum redesign[edit]

Beginning in late August 2006, the school opted for students to continue their education following courses modeled through 'Academies'. Under the plan, students choose a path from seven academies, each modeled after varying areas of academics, with the exception of its NTHS program which focuses on project-based learning. In addition to taking the basic required courses for graduation, students choose from electoral and advanced courses within their selected academy. The academies are:[7]

  • ABLLE (Academy of Business, Leadership and Legal Enterprises)
  • AHA (Arts and Humanities Academy)
  • SS (Social Services)
  • Green Tech (Agriculture, Environmental Sciences, Veterinary Medicine, and Park Ranger Studies)
  • NTHS (New Tech High School)
  • STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics)
  • ECHS (Early College High School)

Akins High School Marching Band[edit]

The Akins High School Marching Band has made multiple trips to the 5A UIL State Marching Competition. In 2006, while being led by band director Gary Faust,[8] the marching band performed their show titled, "The Pines of Rome." This eventually lead the marching band to the finals of the 5A UIL State Marching Contest, an achievement earned only by the 10 best 5A high school marching bands in the state of Texas.[9] As of 2012, Akins High School, Bowie High School, Westlake High School, Cedar Park High School, and Round Rock High School are the only high schools in the Austin–Round Rock–San Marcos Metropolitan Area to have ever had their marching band advance to state finals competition in the 5A category.[10] Akins also advanced to the state level competition in 2008.[11] In 2013, the marching band was featured in a PBS documentary called "Marching To Nowhere."[8][12]

Journalism[edit]

Print Journalism is one of the largest majors in the Arts and Humanities Academy of Akins with over 200 students enrolled in the intro classes of Journalism 1 and Photojournalism (now known as Graphic Design and Illustration and Advance Graphic Design and Illustration), as well as the publications classes that produce the student newspaper and the yearbook. The newspaper, The Eagle's Eye, has been recognized in 2006, 2007 and 2010 as one of the best newspapers in the state by the UIL Interscholastic League press conference with the award of the bronze star. In 2010-2011 the Eagle's Eye staff brought home six national awards from Columbia Scholastic Press Association. Publications students have also received awards from state and national organizations for their 2007 literature magazine, WORD, featuring stories, poems, as well as photography prints and artwork of all mediums.[13] The school yearbook, The Aerie, has also won a few state awards.[13]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d "General Information About Akins High School". Archived from the original on 2011-07-16. Retrieved 2009-08-07.
  2. ^ "Administration – About Us – Akins High School". www.akinseagles.org.
  3. ^ "Akins High School".
  4. ^ "Remembering Dr. William Charles Akins". KUT Radio, Austin's NPR Station. 2017-05-10. Retrieved 2021-10-12.
  5. ^ "UIL Reclassification and Realignment Conference Cutoff Numbers 2022-2023 & 2023-2024" (PDF). www.UILTexas.org. University Interscholastic League. Retrieved August 28, 2023.
  6. ^ "2022-24 Realignment Alphabetical Listing" (PDF). www.UILTexas.org. University Interscholastic League. Retrieved August 28, 2023.
  7. ^ "Academy & Course Information". Akins Early College High School. Retrieved 28 October 2021.
  8. ^ a b "Obituary: Former band director Gary Faust led Akins to state finals". Austin American-Statesman. Retrieved 2019-08-02.
  9. ^ "UIL: Music - State Marching Band Results". www2.uiltexas.org.
  10. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2015-10-03. Retrieved 2015-10-03.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  11. ^ "Texas State Marching Band Contest". utdirect.utexas.edu.
  12. ^ Marching To Nowhere | Season 3 Episode 11 | Arts in Context, retrieved 2019-08-02
  13. ^ a b Student journalism awards Archived October 24, 2008, at the Wayback Machine

External links[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Akins High School.

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