McCallum High School

A. N. McCallum High School is a public high school in Austin, Texas, United States.

Not to be confused with McCollum High School.
A.N. McCallum High School
Address
5600 Sunshine Drive

Austin, Texas

Austin
,
Travis
78756

United States
Information
Opened1953
School districtAustin Independent School District
PrincipalNicole Griffith
Grades9-12
Enrollment1,755 (2017[1])
Color(s)Royal Blue and Grey
Athletics conferenceUIL
MascotKnight
NicknameMAC
Team nameThe Knights, Lady Knights
RivalAnderson High School
PublicationExcalibur (Literary Magazine)
NewspaperThe Shield
YearbookThe Knight
Websitemccallumhs.com

McCallum, the second oldest high school in the Austin Independent School District formerly known as Austin Public Schools during segregation prior to desegregation in 1971, opened in 1953 to relieve growth in north and northwest Austin. Named after AISD's first high school superintendent, A.N. McCallum, the school strives to reflect the initiatives and achievements of its namesake.

In 1994, McCallum motioned to make its campus the home of AISD's Fine Arts Academy. Currently, the Fine Arts Academy is open to all students in AISD who wish to attend, given that they are accepted following an admissions process. Current fine arts strands include visual arts, dance, theatre (acting/performance and technical), cinematic arts, voice, and instrumental music (band, orchestra, classical guitar, and collaborative piano). The Fine Arts Academy was recently named the 2015 Grammy Foundation's National Signature School, the lone recipient out of thousands of fine arts high schools in the country. McCallum had previously ranked as a Signature School Finalist in 2005, a decade before winning the highest award possible.[2]

Topping the list of thirteen high schools in the country, McCallum's recognition as the National Signature School earned the music program $5,000 from the Grammy Foundation and the Grammy In The Schools program. As recipient of the Foundation's Gold Award, McCallum High School earned the title of best music program in a public U.S. high school through making outstanding commitments to arts education throughout an academic school year.[3] Student ensembles benefitting directly from this award included concert band, choral ensemble, orchestra, classical guitar ensemble, jazz band, and steel pan ensemble.[4]

History

In 1956 the first African-American student began attending McCallum as part of desegregation; a total of 13 black students attended white high schools in AISD at that time.[5] In 1994, the Fine Arts Academy enrolled 17 students, and now has over 500 students. The Academy gained visibility as its own entity within the high school with a professionally designed logo, creation and maintenance of the Academy website, and increased social media coverage.[6]

In 2011, the high school campus welcomed a new building to the campus, the "MAC" or McCallum Arts Center. This facility houses three new art classrooms and a 500-seat theatre and technical theater shop space. This was the venue used for the 20th anniversary of the Fine Arts Academy in 2014.

On May 7, 2015, nine-time Grammy award-winner Ray Benson of Asleep At The Wheel, performed at the evening reception for students, families, school administrators, and local press.

Feeder patterns

McCallum feeder schools include Kealing Middle School formerly Kealing Junior High School during segregation and Lamar Middle School formerly Lamar Middle School.

Notable alumni

References
  1. "Overview: McCallum High School". Austin Independent School District.
  2. "Awards and Accomplishments". McCallum High School. Retrieved 2018-02-26.
  3. "Announcing The 2015 GRAMMY Signature Schools". The GRAMMYs. Retrieved 2018-02-26.
  4. "Achievements: McCallum High receives Grammy Award". mystatesman. Retrieved 2018-02-26.
  5. "Five Decades of Social Change: A Timeline." Austin Public Library. Retrieved on June 6, 2016.
  6. "Awards and Accomplishments". McCallum High School. Retrieved 2018-02-26.
  7. Maher, John. "Wild Thing mellows out." Austin American-Statesman. February 18, 1996.
  8. Duffey, Gene. "McCallum High's Belisle now pitching for Reds." Austin American-Statesman. April 10, 2005.
  10. Lemon, Del. "Refined line Allen, on constant quest for better swing, gets help from Kite." Austin American-Statesman. May 10, 1990.
  11. NASA biography of Timothy Kopra
  12. Cantu, Rick. "OFF THE BEATEN PATH." Austin American-Statesman. January 20, 2006.
  13. Osborn, Claire. "McCallum junior takes `Dazed' fame in stride." Austin American-Statesman. October 7, 1993.

Class Reunion pages

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