Alief Taylor High School

Alief Taylor High School opened on August 13, 2001. The school was initially designated for freshman and sophomores only, in an attempt to alleviate overcrowding at nearby Elsik and Hastings High Schools which, at the time, had a combined student population of over 9,000. It eventually expanded to accept students from 9th to 12th grades. Unlike Hastings or Elsik, Taylor hosts all grade levels (9-12) on the same campus.

In 2010, Taylor achieved the highest AP scores in the district, reporting that 77% of their students received a score of three or higher. Taylor's graduation rate was the highest in the district, and its dropout rate was the lowest of comparable district high schools.

According to the Texas Education Agency, Taylor High School exceeded all performance expectations in the 2016–2017 school year.[7] The class of 2015 averaged a score of 18 on the ACT and 1148 on the SAT.[8]

For the 2018–2019 school year, the school received a C grade from the Texas Education Agency, with an overall score of 78 out of 100. The school received a C grade in two domains, Student Achievement (score of 73) and Closing the Gaps (score of 72), and a B grade in School Progress (score of 80). The school did not receive any of the seven possible distinction designations.[9]

Alief Taylor has a rich sport history despite being somewhat young in tenure; it has had one state championship, six regional titles, and eight district titles in football, track, cross country, tennis, swimming, and diving.

Football

The Alief Taylor football team prior to kickoff

2008–2012

This era established Alief Taylor as a growing competitive athletic program. It made inroads to laying the path to future success by dominating the playing field. In the 2008–09 season they had 6 wins, 5 defeats, and a victory against Alief Elsik that brought the Lions back into the playoffs against Cinco Ranch; they lost 14–50. The 2009–10 season saw the team win 6 games from 10 and once again qualify for playoffs. They beat rival Katy Taylor 17-10 and continued into the second round against Aldine, in which Ismael Becerra provided the winning field goal to win 38–35. In the third round, they lost to Brazoswood 19–45, ending the season with 9 wins and 4 defeats.

The Alief Taylor football team

Over the summer, Coach White resigned and took the head coaching position at George Ranch High School. Coach J.D. Jordan took over. The team finished that season with 10 wins and 2 defeats. Having only lost one game against Katy High School, they again headed into the playoffs, beating Cy-Ridge in a 37–36 victory. They headed into round two against past district rival Spring Branch Memorial, but lost 28–35.

The 2011–12 season was a roller coaster ride. They began with an unexpected loss to Pasadena Dobie and then a shutout from rival Katy High School, but the team bounced back with a six-game win streak, beating rivals Alief Elsik nine years in a row and Alief Hastings four years in a row, along with Fort Bend Dulles, Conroe, Eisenhower, and MacArthur's football teams respectively, Then they suffered defeats from Aldine Nimitz and Aldine, and lost the District Championship, but they still qualified for the Texas 5A Division II Playoffs. They went up against Langham Creek High School in an intense game, with an offensive shootout going back and forth, eventually culminating to a 48–47 win over Langham Creek. They once again lost to Memorial at Home.

The Lions had success on the JV level, with the JV White Team finishing the season winning a district title with eight wins, a loss, and a tiebreaker in the season, with offensive standout Devonta Locks, defensive standout Noah Iheanacho, and Lendalle Johnson. 2011-2012 varsity star Greg Allen committed to Kansas University to compete his college career as a Jay Hawk.

Alief Taylor hosts many successful extracurricular organizations for its students, including:

The Alief Taylor Marching Band

The Alief Taylor Roaring Lion Band is one of the most visible and award-winning organizations on campus. Its members are divided into three bands: the wind ensemble, the symphonic band, and the cadet band. Each year they perform halftime performances of music from the 1960s to today. They are under the direction of Charles Richter. In 2004, The Roaring Lion Band appeared in the film Friday Night Lights, in which they assume the role as the Dallas Carter band when they traveled with the team to 1989 Texas 5A football state semi-finals at the Houston Astrodome, most recently on November 11, 2011.

Richter also directs the Alief Taylor Drumline, who take part in competitions around the state of Texas. They are the gold medalist recipients of the 2006-07 PSAA TCGC Championship, a state-level competition. The win at state bumped them up to the PSA category, which they began in the 2007–08 season.

Under the direction of Jamye Robinson, the Alief Taylor Colorguard utilizes dance and equipment such as flags, rifles, and sabres to perform during half-time shows at football games and competitions with the Roaring Lion Band. Alief Taylor has one of the most preeminent colorguards in the district despite its small team of only nine for the 2010 marching season, winning 1st Place Best Colorguard of Group IV A at USSBA Central Texas Regional on October 9, 2010 in Kyle, Texas. After football/marching season, Colorguard becomes Winterguard and performs at several indoor competitions against many other high schools in Texas.

The Alief Taylor Orchestra, under the direction of Lester Lopez, consists of string players (violins, violas, cellos, and basses). They are divided into two ensembles: The Philharmonic Orchestra and the Symphony Orchestra. Students in orchestra play pieces ranging from classical to contemporary arrangements. The orchestra performs two concerts each year, one in winter, and one in spring. It also performs at various school activities and community events. They also participate in UIL Solo and Ensemble and UIL Performance and Sightreading contests.

The Alief Taylor Crimson Cadettes, sponsored and directed by Mary Meadows, are a precision dance team at Alief Taylor that performs at football games, basketball games, and pep rallies. The Cadettes compete at the regional and national levels. The team has a diverse background, and is one of the earliest establishments on the campus.

The Alief Taylor Choir is under the direction of Gregory McDaniel. It consists of three vocal choirs: the Varsity Mixed Choir, the Junior Varsity choir, and the beginners women's choirs, competing for the UIL and sight reading contest. There is also a men's choir.

The Alief Taylor Theater Department, also known as Troupe Taylor, is under the direction of Jason Hatcher and James Watkins. Every year they perform a variety of plays and compete at various competitions including the Thespian Festival hosted yearly at the University of Nebraska, and also at UIL Solo and One Act Competition.

The Alief Taylor Student Council, sponsored by Chikita Washington, is a large student government association in which students get together to voice the opinion of the student body. The organization is composed of students from 40 different countries and different grade levels. It recently expanded with the consolidation of other student activity groups such as the class officer system and the Redvolution, thus making it the largest student activity group on campus, They are involved in many aspects of student life, promoting school spirit and being involved in various community service projects such as planting community gardens and picking up litter around campus.

Redvolution celebrating a touchdown

The Alief Taylor Redvolution, sponsored by Trevor Toteve, werethe started in fall of 2010. They attend all home and away football games, and have been featured on KPRC local 2 Friday Football Frenzy. They were voted "Campus With Most Spirit" by KHOU.com. They have numerous traditions such as making spirit posters for every football game, and running down the field with flags that spell out the school initials. They are known to "Red Out" every Friday before a football game, even having their faces completely painted.

The Alief Taylor Mademoiselles, sponsored by Jayme Robinson, is a sisterhood that promotes refined womanhood, self-development, and preparation for life. These young women participate in a number of community service events in the Greater Houston area.

The Alief Taylor Gents Club, sponsored by Kelvin Kibler, considers membership only for those applicants whose personal, social and academic qualifications are acceptable to both Alief Taylor High School and the organization, which is designed for young men who wish to excel in school. The club is designed for those young male students who exceed ordinary expectations of both themselves and of life.

The Alief Taylor Speech and Debate Team (Forensics) is sponsored by Dustin Kay and Adewusa Omoruyi, and works with the National Forensic League. The team continues to grow in both competition appearances and standards. Though it is somewhat young in tenure in Houston, Taylor has been recognized by the Texas Forensic Association as holding some of the most talented students of any Houston high school, and as one of the best teams in Texas. Although it is the youngest high school in the district, Alief Taylor easily rivals more experienced schools such as Hastings and Elsik.

The Alief Taylor Math Club or Mu Alpha Theta, sponsored by Amy Brown, helps the promotion of mathematics enjoyment among students on campus. All students of Alief Taylor HS are welcome to participate in math club activities, invitational tournaments and national-level math competitions.

True Colors, sponsored by Richard Harman, Arielle Brooks, and Kelsey Roberts, is the school newest LGBTQ+ group. Everyone is welcome to come and support each other for a more acceptable place for any person of any sexuality.

The Alief Taylor Academic Decathlon is sponsored by Beth Roberts. The team competes in the Regional Academic Decathlon competition, held annually as part of the National Academic Decathlon competition. Open to 10th-12th graders, each year the team learns about a new topic determined by the National Academic Decathlon organization and competes in hopes of achieving medals and scholarships.

The Alief Taylor Texas Association of Future Educators (TAFE) Club, sponsored and directed by Andrea Lotsu, educates for teaching and developing students to learn; they also educate as tutors as well. This group also competes at State. Also, Alief Taylor High School is the president school of the Texas Association of Future Educators of the Region IV South.[10]

In the 2018–2019 school year, there were 3,112 students. 32.8% were African American, 12.2% were Asian, 52.8% were Hispanic, 0.4% were American Indian, 0.1% were Pacific Islander, 1.5% were White, and 0.4% were two or more races. 73.9% of students were Economically Disadvantaged, 21.1% were English Language Learners, and 8.6% received Special Education services.[2]

All Alief ISD elementary, intermediate, and middle schools feed into Taylor, as high school placement in Alief ISD is determined by a lottery, which may result in Elsik, Hastings, or Taylor. If a student is selected by lottery to attend a high school different from the high school which a relative currently attends or graduated from, the student may opt to transfer to that school. Students may also complete an application for the district's magnet high school, Kerr, or the recently established Alief Early College High School.

Neighborhoods served by AISD include Alief, most of Westchase, Bellaire West, most of the New Chinatown, most of Leawood, Mission Leona, and Mission Bend.

• Martellus Bennett - NFL player, Super Bowl Champion
• Michael Bennett - NFL player, Super Bowl Champion
• Joshua Kalu - NFL player
• Theodora Ogbonna - Singer
• Fendi Onobun - NFL player
• Cheta Ozougwu - NFL player
• Ogbonnia Okoronkwo - NFL player
• Duke Ejiofor - NFL player
• Givens Price - NFL player
• Michael Tauiliili - German Football League player
• Nick Muckleroy - Finalist on FOX's So You Think You Can Dance

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Alief Taylor High School.

• Alief Independent School District
• Alief Taylor High School: official website
• Alief Taylor Math Club