Austin High School is located in Decatur, Alabama, United States. It is part of the Decatur City Schools System and enrolls over 1,400 students. Since its establishment in 1962, Austin has been one of two high schools in the Decatur area. It boasts a variety of programs.
Curriculum
Austin has a wide variety of programs open to students. Along with state-mandated curriculum, the school provides business education, health careers education, an engineering pilot program, and a metal & auto technical program. It also offers college preparatory programs such as the Advanced Placement program and the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme.
Accolades
Austin is the only school in Alabama to receive the Alabama Attorney General's Safe Schools Initiative Award for five consecutive years.
The 3M Company is Austin's Partner in Education.
Fine arts
Art
Austin High School's Visual Arts department offers a wide range of courses, including AP Studio Art, AP Art History, Ceramics, Photography, Graphic Design, and Film/Video Production. Student work is exhibited in the community at least three times per year. The school has a branch of the National Art Honor Society. Students have also participated in the River City Film Festival each year since its inception. During the 2011-12 school year, students received over $40,000 in visual arts scholarships.
Band
The Austin High School Band Program includes two concert bands, a 150-member marching band, a jazz band, and a percussion ensemble. Austin's Band has received 51 consecutive Superior Ratings, being the longest such streak in the state.
Drama
The Austin High Drama Department puts on several performances a year, with one usually being a musical. In the past they have performed Grease, Aladdin, and Anything Goes.
Choir
Austin High School Choirs are led by Beth Stough. They have a Women's, Concert, Chamber, and Show Choir. The Chamber Choir has received superior ratings every year led by Mrs. Stough, and received straight 1s in 2015. Mrs. Stough began the Show Choir in 2012, her first year at Austin, and they have excelled and perform at many events around the city of Decatur.
JROTC
Austin also has a long-standing Army JROTC program. Sergeant First Class (SFC) Billy Taunton and Lieutenant Colonel (LTC) James L. Walker are the instructors of the JROTC Battalion. The program uses a military structure to teach civics, history, and world cultures. The program participates in community events such as parades and volunteering.
Sports
Basketball
Austin has won three state championships in boys' basketball, in 1969, 1973, 1993. (However, Austinville High School also won four, in 1953, 1957, 1958, and 1959.) Coach Joe Jones (who the gymnasium is named after) won titles in 1953, 1969, and 1973. Coach Earl Morris won titles in 1957, 1958, and 1959. Coach Bob Harpe won the title in 1993. They made the Regional Play-Offs (Final 16) in five consecutive years, 2004-2008. Coach Demond Garth led the team to the state Final 4 in 2006 and 2007.
Football
Austin was the runner-up for the 1983 state title. They lost in the championship game to Murphy High School of Mobile. Austin High's biggest rival is Decatur High School. Both teams regularly compete in the same class and region. The team has made it to the final four in 2015 and 2016.
Cross-country
Austin High School's cross-country teams compete in meets across the area each season. The girls' team won the state championship in 2002 and won the girls' individual state championship in fall 2007.
Tennis
Austin competes in both singles and doubles play. Senior Kyle Smith and junior Alex Worley won the 6-A #1 Doubles State Championship in Spring 2008. They are Austin's first individual tennis champions.
Notable alumni
- Robin Henderson, Associate Director of the NASA Marshall Space Flight Center
- Andy Price, comic book artist
- Ty Herndon, country music artist
Video Austin High School (Alabama)
References
Maps Austin High School (Alabama)
External links
- Austin High School Web Page
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