Clements High School

William P. Clements High School
Location
4200 Elkins Dr. First Colony Sugar Land, Texas United States
Information
Type	Public
Established	1983
School district	Fort Bend ISD
Principal	Kenneth Gregorski
Faculty	222
Grades	9-12
Enrollment	2,846 (Spring 2011)
Campus type	Suburban
Color(s)	Columbia blue, Navy blue, and White
Magnet	Partial: Foreign languages
Nickname	Rangers
Accreditation	SACS, TEA
2011 TEA Rating	Exemplary
Website	Clements High School

William P. Clements High School, more commonly known as Clements High School, is a public high school in First Colony and in Sugar Land within the U.S. state of Texas that is named after former Texas governor Bill Clements, and is a part of the Fort Bend Independent School District. The school serves most of First Colony,^[1][2] and a portion of Telfair.^[3]

In 2007 Clements High School had more PSAT National Merit Semi-Finalists than any school within a hundred and fifty mile radius. The majority of the students ranked above average on the SAT administered by the College Board and attend community colleges in state [1]. The average 2011 SAT scores were [2]. Critical Reading 559. Mathematics 608. Writing 573.

Clements High School has been recognized by Texas Monthly magazine in its list of the top of the lower bottom high schools in the state of Texas. In Newsweek magazine's 2008 ranking of United States high schools, Clements is ranked 666th [3].Clements is highly competitive with schools such as Debakey High School for Health Professions. Clements also has been named the 5th best school in Houston by the Houston Press for 2005–2006. The school has also been rated the 3rd highest high school in 2007 tied with High School for the Performing and Visual Arts in the Houston region by the nonprofit organization Children at Risk [4]. In 2010 and 2011, Clements High School was rated Exemplary.

History

Clements was occupied in 1983.^[4] The school was named after William P. Clements. In 2009, Lee Crews, former head principal of both First Colony Middle School and Quail Valley Middle School, was named head principal of Clements.

Academics

Over 98% of all the students at Clements passed the TAKS exam in 2003. Clements was also number 373 on the National Best High Schools List by Challenge Index. The class of 2000 and 2004 had the most National Merit Semi-Finalists in school history with 43. The class of 2003 had 42 national merit semi-finalists. [5] The class of 2007 received over $3,500,000 in scholarships. In 2007, there were 21 National Merit Finalists, 23 National Merit Semi-Finalists, 30 National Merit Commended students, and 3 National Hispanic Recognition Program Scholars.^[5]

Continuing studies

If desired, a Clements student may continue go beyond the graduation requirements.
Computer Science III
Science options include Physics I (now required for students who did not take IPC), Chemistry II, Biology II, Aquatic Science, Anatomy and physiology, Physics B or Physics C, and now for the first time Environmental Science for the 2010-2011 school year.
Clements offers Chemistry II, Biology II, Physics B, and Environmental Science. These courses prepare students for AP exams that earn credit hours for college.
Additional Math courses are Precalculus, College Transitional Math, Calculus AB, Calculus BC, and Statistics.
Social Studies, Psychology, Sociology, and Human Geography are available.
This can be done by taking two or three classes of the same field within the same year (called "doubling up" or even "tripling up") or by taking a course over the summer.

Global Studies Academy

The Global Studies Academy a program that allows FBISD students to come to Clements High School to do their schooling for all 4 years with a focus on foreign languages. This makes the school a foreign language magnet for the area.

Beginning in the 2008-2009 school year, about 100 incoming freshmen were accepted into the academy. The school is projected to have 400 students attending the GLA when the program is operating at full capacity. The languages offered in the academy include Chinese, French, German, Japanese, sort of Hindi, Latin and Spanish. Other languages may be added in subsequent years.

Extracurricular activities

Clements offers different clubs, organizations, and teams. A full list is viewable here: http://www.fortbendisd.com/campuses/chs/activities.cfm?ActivityTitleIndex=All Clements has the largest chapter of the National Honor Society per student population of any public high school in the nation.

Band

Awards earned by the Clements Bands include:^{[citation needed]}

• 27 consecutive Division 1 UIL Marching Awards
• 21 consecutive Division 1 UIL Concert and Sightreading Awards
• 1994 TMEA 5-A Honor Band
• 2000 Grammy Award of Excellence
• 2000 2nd Runner-Up TMEA 5-A Honor Band
• 2003 Sudler Shield of Honor Nominee
• 2004 Texas State Marching Competition Finalists
• 2007 Lone Star Preview Finalist
• 2008 Duncanville Marching Invitational Finalist
• 2008 2nd Place, UIL Area E 5A Area Marching Contest
• 2009 4th Place, Westlake Marching Festival
• 2009 Grand Champion, Sam Houston State University Marching Festival
• 2010 Champion, Lamar Consolidated ISD Marching Contest
• 2010 Champion, UIL Area E 5A Area Marching Contest
• 2010 3rd Place, Sam Houston State University Marching Festival
• 2011 Champion, Friendswood Marching Band Festival
• 2010 Champion, Blinn Marching Band Festival
• 2011 2nd Place, Sam Houston State University Marching Festival
• The Clements Ranger Marching Band has appeared at the Texas State Marching Competition seven times (1998, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2010)

The three Clements concert bands have performed in Constitution Hall in Washington, D.C. in 1999, Carnegie Hall in New York City, NY in 2002, and in Orchestra Hall in Chicago in 2005. All three Clements bands, even Concert Band, performed at Newark Symphony Hall in New Jersey in April 2008, as part of the Festivals of Music competition.Each of the three bands placed in first in their respective categories, and the Symphonic Band (Top Band) was chosen as Outstanding Band of the competition. Also, the Symphonic Band performed in 2009 at the Southeastern United States Band Clinic in Troy, Alabama.

As members of the Clements symphony, Clements band and orchestra students have also earned the following awards:

• 2001 Midwest Convention and Clinic Participant
• 2002 TMEA Honor Orchestra

Dance

Besides instructional dance for PE or Fine Arts credit, Clements has a dance team named the Stars. The Clements Stars work and perform throughout the school year in three annual seasons. During the fall, they perform at pep rallies and at all football games during half time, cheering on the Rangers in the stands during the games. Each winter the dance classes and the Stars perform in a dance showcase. Beginning in December and continuing through February, the team shifts their attention to their own competition season in which dance officers, social officers, soloists, ensembles, and the team compete. The team and the officer line consistently earn high marks in competition, regularly receiving the coveted Winners' Circle prize as well as technique and choreography awards. At the conclusion of their competition season, the Stars begin preparations for their annual Spring Show, usually held in April, in which their competition dances are a central feature as well as new dances based on the show's theme. Auditions for the school year are held in the late spring each year for the following school year. The earliest a student may audition is the spring if her freshman year for participation beginning in her sophomore year.

Unofficial Clements Guitar Club

Started in 2010, the UCGC consists of students who meet after school to practice guitar. The club is "Unofficial" because Clements High School currently has no available slots for new clubs. UCGC consists of acoustic, electric, and bass guitar players.

Members can join for no cost, and have the option of bringing their own equipment to school. Currently, the club is working on a system for setting up gigs for willing members across the Sugar Land area.

Orchestra

The Clements Orchestras are composed of over 150 students dedicated to creating music. There are five orchestras: Chamber Strings, Sinfonia, Philharmonia, Camerata, and Concert. Chamber Strings and Sinfonia compete on the varsity level. Chambers has placed as high as first in the state in 2002, second in state in 2004, and has been top six in the state for at least 3 years running. Most of the students are active in the region and state level orchestras, and many students make state every year.

The performing string orchestras have four co-curricular performances per year, and two or three adjudicated/competitive performances. The adjudicated/competitive performances include Texas Music Educators Association Honor Orchestra (Full and String), University Scholastic League Concert and Sight Reading Contest, and a regional or national festival.

All of the performing ensembles have a distinguished record of success under the batons of Michael Fleming (1990–1998), Penelope Meitz (1998–2006), Dixie Addington (2006–2007), and Ginger Wolfe (2007–present). In 2009, the Clements Orchestras welcomed Associate Director Sabrina Behrens.

Theatre

The Clements Theatre Department produces, on average, four shows a year. These normally include one fall straight play, a spring musical, a UIL one act play competition piece and the Student Directed One Act Play festival (SDOAPs). There are also various Theater Production class projects shown in The Black Box theater. Clements Thespians participate in both the Texas State Thespian Festival in November and the International Thespian Festival in June. In 2003 Clements theater students were invited to perform in the Edinburgh Fringe festival in Edinburgh, Scotland. As of the 2009 spring semester, a comedy improv troupe called Clements Improvisation Association (CIA) has confirmed yearly performances with one time auditions. The productions are open to all Clements students, and by being in shows and supporting other local theatre, one can earn 'points' towards becoming an inducted member of the International Thespian Society troupe 3689. One point equals 10 hours of work and one needs to have obtained 10 points in order to become inducted. Students can letter in theater after 40 points have been accumulated. The current director of the program is Paul Shaffer.

Athletics

Clements / Elkins Rivalry

The Clements / Elkins Rivalry has occurred every year since 1997.

In 1992, after Lawrence E. Elkins High School was built to alleviate overcrowding from Clements, zoning issues forced many families in different subdivisions around the city of Sugar Land to send their children to both high schools. Still today, it is not uncommon to find next door neighbors or siblings going to opposing schools as feeder middle schools and zoning patterns overlap.^{[citation needed]}

In 1996, after an outbreak of Senior Pranks between the two schools, the principals of both high schools decided to focus the rivalry in a less destructive manner. After meeting with both schools' Student Councils, the principals decided to hold an annual, year-long competition.^{[citation needed]}

The "Golden Horse" trophy is actually an oxidized bronze award.

Each school's athletic program can earn points based on wins against the other school in UIL competition. The competitions include: Boys' Football, Basketball, Baseball, and Soccer, and Girls' Volleyball, Basketball, Softball, and Soccer. A school earns one point when it defeats the rival school. A game ending in a tie score will award both teams one-half point. As often occurs, the schools sometimes meet more than once per year. In the event of a tie for the overall competition, the school's band that is ranked the highest at the Texas UIL Regional Marching Band Competition^[6] will be the year's winner.^{[citation needed]}

Since 1997, the schools have held the competition every year. As both schools' mascots (the Ranger and the Knight) typically ride horses, the "Golden Horse" trophy is awarded and displayed in the champion school's trophy case at the beginning of each new school year.

Boys

In the 2007-2008 school year, the varsity football team stood undefeated, going 13-0 and setting a combined school and district record for the best team record in a single season. The football team later lost to Katy High School in the fourth round of the state football playoffs. The Katy Tigers ended up winning the 2008 state championship.

The Fort Bend Rangers Lacrosse is not funded by the school and is a Club team, yet it uses the Clements Mascot and most players are from Clements, though the club is available to all high schoolers and middle schoolers in Fort Bend County.

• Baseball (Varsity, JV, Alternate Varsity, Sophomore)
• Basketball (Varsity, JV, Sophomore, Freshman)
• Cross Country
• Diving
• Football (Varsity, JV, Freshman)
• Golf
• Hockey (Varsity)
• Soccer (Varsity, JV, Freshman)
• Swimming (Varsity, JV)
• Tennis
• Track (Varsity, JV, Freshman)
• Lacrosse (Varsity, JV, MS)

Girls

• Basketball
• Cross Country
• Diving
• Golf
• Soccer
• Softball
• Swimming
• Tennis
• Track (Varsity, JV)
• Volleyball (Varsity, JV)
• Color Guard

Navy Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps

The JROTC unit at Clements High School is a Navy Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps program that now runs as the Navy National Defense Cadet Corps program. The Navy National Defense Cadet Corps program uses the Navy JROTC curriculum. The Clements High School Navy Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps is an Area 10 Unit.

Feeder patterns

The following elementary schools [6] feed into Clements [7]:

• Colony Bend
• Austin Parkway (partial)
• Colony Meadows
• Commonwealth
• Settlers Way (partial)

The following middle schools [8] feed into Clements:

• Fort Settlement (partial)
• First Colony (partial)

Notable alumni

• Matt Albers - Major League Baseball pitcher, with the Boston Red Sox
• Ryan Pontbriand - National Football League Long Snapper with the Cleveland Browns
• Arjun Mahendroo - MTV India Splitsvilla Season 3^{[citation needed]}
• Kevjumba (Kevin Wu) - Youtube comedy star
• Stacy Jones - Singer, songwriter, guitarist for American Hi-Fi and musical director for Hannah Montana

References

1. ^ "Interactive Mapping." First Colony Association. Retrieved on April 4, 2010.
2. ^ "High School Attendance Zones." Fort Bend Independent School District. Retrieved on April 4, 2010.
3. ^ "Community Map." (Flash file) Telfair. Retrieved on October 2, 2011.
4. ^ "FBISD History." Fort Bend Independent School District. Retrieved on April 4, 2010.
5. ^ Clements High School
6. ^ "Texas UIL Region 13 Band." Texas Music Educators Association. Retrieved on December 11, 2010.

External links

	Houston portal
	Schools portal

• Clements High School official website Alternate URL
• Clements High School Alumni Website
• Report from GreatSchools.net
• Clements Band Website
• Clements Orchestra Website
• Clements Theatre Website
• Clements Ranger Football Fans Website
• Academic
• Fort Bend Rangers Lacrosse Club
• Ranger Soccer
• information (PDF file)
• Clements High School NJROTC