Westchester Academy for International Studies

Infobox School
name = Westchester Academy for International Studies

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motto =
established = 1967 - 1985; 1987 - 2000; 2001 - present
type = Public
affiliation =
district = Spring Branch Independent School District
grades = 6-12
president =
principal = Dr. Natalie Blasingame
head of school =
dean =
faculty = 70
staff = 35
students = 850
enrollment =
conference =
colors = Blue, orange, green
mascot = Wildcat
free_label = Newspaper
free_text =
free_label2 =
free_text2 =
location = 901 Yorkchester, Houston, TX
coordinates = coord|29|46|N|95|34|W
country = United States
homepage = The Westchester Academy for International Studies (WAIS) is a public charter school in the Spring Branch Independent School District in Houston, Texas. It serves grades 6-12 and is a part of the International Baccalaureate program. The principal (called the "director") of WAIS is Dr. Natalie Blasingame, and the assistant principals are Kathy Menotti and Richard Gonzales.

History

Westchester High School (1967-1985)

Due to the expanding enrollment of Memorial High School the school district built Westchester High School in 1967. The school opened with an enrollment of one thousand eight hundred students. After seven years the school had increased to nearly four thousand students. The campus could not support the numbers, and as such Stratford High School was built in close proximity to Westchester, opening in 1974.

Due to the oil bust in the early '80s, the destruction of nearby apartment complexes, and many original home owners keeping their homes after their children had grown, enrollment in all SBISD high schools dropped dramatically. By 1985, the resulting decreases in enrollment forced the school board to close Westchester and relocate its former students to Memorial and Stratford High Schools. Most Westchester students ended up attending Stratford High School, which for many years kept a permanent display case dedicated to Westchester memorabilia.

Westchester Campus of Houston Community College (1987-2000)

During a thirteen-year period the campus was leased to Houston Community College.

Westchester Academy for International Studies (2001-Present)

After this duration Spring Branch ISD made plans for the campus that resulted in a massive amount of construction and improvement on the pre-existing campus. In 2001 it reopened its doors as Westchester Academy for International Studies. The school would eventually cap at one thousand students spanning across grades 6-12th. During the 2003-04 school year, the campus was shared with Stratford, due to renovations occurring on Stratford's campus. It is notable for being the only high school in Spring Branch ISD to offer the International Baccalaureate Diploma program.

The campus of WAIS is divided into two wings with courtyards and the auditorium, cafeteria, and many various classrooms.

Famous Alumni

* Berkeley Breathed: author of the "Bloom County" comic strip [" [http://www.chron.com/CDA/archives/archive.mpl?id=2007_4318027 His latest opus] ," "Houston Chronicle"]
* David Clyde: MLB pitcher

References

External links

* [http://www.ibo.org/ibo/index.cfm International Baccalaureate Program]
* [http://www.springbranchisd.com Spring Branch ISD Home Page]
* [http://wais.springbranchisd.com WAIS Home Page]

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