Montwood High School, El Paso

Infobox High School

---

name = Montwood High School
motto = Where Excellence Abounds
established = 1989
type = Public
principal = Juni Mattews
faculty =
enrollment = 2,569 [ [http://www.tea.state.tx.us/cgi/sas/broker?_service=marykay&_program=adhoc.addispatch.sas&endyear=08&major=st&minor=e&format=w&selsumm=nc&linespg=60&charsln=120&grouping=g&key=071909002] ]
grades = 9-12
location = 12000 Montwood Drive
El Paso, Texas
country = USA flagicon|USA
campus = Urban
colors = Kelly Green, Blue color box|#4CBB17color box|#0000FF
mascot = Rocky the Ram
yearbook = "Aries"
newspaper =
website = [http://schools.sisd.net/moh// MHS Official Website] |

Montwood High School is a four year public high school located in East El Paso, Texas. The school was completed in 1989, just in time for the 1989/1990 school year. The school was opened serving grades 7, 8, 9, 10 and would gain a grade/lose a grade until the first graduating class of 1993. Montwood has many academic programs such as Advanced Placement, Gifted and Talented, Dual Credit and Synergy, and was named a 1997-98 National Blue Ribbon School. [ [http://www.ed.gov/programs/nclbbrs/list-1982.pdf Blue Ribbon Schools Program, Schools Recognized 1982-1983 Through 1999-2002 (PDF) ] ]

Campus

Montwood consists of 3 main buildings and 1 separate Career and Technology building. The "A" Building, which is shaped like two joined lower-case "t's" is the primary academic building where the majority of classes are held. It consists of 3 floors, with the 1st floor housing the Theatre, Library, Administration Offices, Cafeteria and the Commons. The second floor contains more classrooms and a mezzanine which surrounds and overlooks the commons below. The 3rd floor only contains classes.

The "B" building houses the campus's two Gyms: The main Tony Harper Gymnasium (formerly The Green Gym), and the auxiliary Blue Gym. The majority of classes held here are Fine Arts, such as Band, Dance, Orchestra, and Health and P.E. classes as well as most of the sports' locker rooms. The building is 2 floors, with two areas adjacent to each gym overlooking the basketball courts.

The "C" Hall, or Sky-Walk, is the second-floor hall way with 8 classes that joins the A and B buildings together. Students can enjoy the shade and occasional breeze that is created in the Breezeway underneath the Sky-Walk.

The new Career and Technology building houses the schools Cosmotology Class, along with a fully functional kitchen and dining area for Culinary Arts, a new Athletic Training Room, Weight Room, Electrical Trades, and a Girls Locker Room.

Like the other High Schools in the Socorro Independent School District, there is not a stadium located on campus. Track/Swim Meets and Football/Soccer games are played at the SISD Student Activities Complex.

Riot

In January 2003, over 1,000 students walked out of class in protest of the district wide change from a traditional 8-Period Schedule to a Block Schedule. [ [http://www.kvia.com/Global/story.asp?S=1104002&nav=AbBzDdYd KVIA.com El Paso, Las Cruces - Weather, News, Sports - Students riot at Montwood ] ] The then peaceful protest turned into what was later called a Riot when the El Paso Police and SWAT teams demanded the students return to class. When they were slow to mobilize, the officers then began to push the students towards the building, causing some students to retaliate with rocks and water bottles. [ [http://media.www.dailylobo.com/media/storage/paper344/news/2003/01/30/News/Texas.High.School.Protest.Turns.Into.Riot-355831.shtml Texas high school protest turns into riot - News ] ] Ultimately, several students and some teachers were arrested. The school was placed under lockdown for the remainder of the school day, though many students had left within minutes of dispersion. The riot made its way to the front page of the New York Times due to police brutality controversies. [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9906E3DA1F39F933A05752C0A9659C8B63&scp=1&sq=Montwood&st=cse] The school district eventually made the changes, and has been under Block Scheduling ever since.

Though all of the participating students have long since graduated, the topic is still a hot one on campus. Reluctant to recall the events, many teachers do not regret the events that took place, though none condone nor encourage it be repeated. It is also an abysmal threat that is used when students are faced with unfavorable changes. The topic is considered a joke amongst neighboring schools as far away as Permian High School in Odessa, TX.

References