Willowridge High School is a

public high school State schools (in England, Wales, Australia and New Zealand) or public schools (Scottish English and North American English) are generally primary or secondary schools that educate all students without charge. They are funded in whole or in pa ...

Houston Houston (; ) is the most populous city in Texas, the most populous city in the Southern United States, the fourth-most populous city in the United States, and the sixth-most populous city in North America, with a population of 2,304,580 in ...

Texas Texas (, ; Spanish language, Spanish: ''Texas'', ''Tejas'') is a state in the South Central United States, South Central region of the United States. At 268,596 square miles (695,662 km2), and with more than 29.1 million residents in 2 ...

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...

and part of the

Fort Bend Independent School District The Fort Bend Independent School District, also known as Fort Bend ISD or FBISD, is a school district system in the U.S. state of Texas based in the city of Sugar Land. The district spans covering almost all of the city of Sugar Land, the city ...

. Willowridge serves grades 9 through 12. The school serves many areas of northeast

Fort Bend County Fort Bend County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. The county was founded in 1837 and organized the next year. It is named for a blockhouse at a bend of the Brazos River. The community developed around the fort in early days. The ...

east and north of FM 2234, and a section of

inside Fort Bend County, including the neighborhoods of Briargate, Chasewood, Willow Park II, Mayfair Park, Ridgemont, Ridgegate, and Briar Villa. The school also serves the Fort Bend County portion of

Shadow Creek Ranch Shadow Creek Ranch is a planned community in Pearland, Texas, United States. Shadow Creek Ranch, which has of space, is west of State Highway 288 (Texas), State Highway 288,Evans, Thayer (''Chronicle'' Correspondent).Pearland's housing market ...

, a community within the city of

Pearland Pearland ( ) is a city in the U.S. state of Texas, within Brazoria County, with portions extending into Fort Bend and Harris counties. The city of Pearland is a principal city within the metropolitan statistical area. At the 2020 U.S. census, t ...

br>
This school is well known for it
marching band
known as the "Mighty Eagle Marching Band." Under band directors Mr. Ronald Thornton (head), Delcenia Hill, Maurice Ross, Robert Lee, and Robert Jackson, the band performed at the Rose Bowl Game, Rose Bowl in 1994 and

Orange Bowl The Orange Bowl is an annual American college football bowl game played in the Miami metropolitan area. It has been played annually since January 1, 1935, making it, along with the Sugar Bowl and the Sun Bowl, the second-oldest bowl game in th ...

in 1996. In 2001, the band participated in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and in the summer of 2005, the Willowridge Band vacationed in Honolulu, Hawaii, a rarity for high school bands. The band also hosted the Bands of America contest at Rice Stadium on October 1, 2005. They have consecutively won 1st place at the MLK Battle Of The Bands and All-American Battle Of The Bands. The school is also renowned for its

basketball Basketball is a team sport in which two teams, most commonly of five players each, opposing one another on a rectangular Basketball court, court, compete with the primary objective of #Shooting, shooting a basketball (ball), basketball (appr ...

program. In 2001, the men's team accomplished the rare feat of having two

McDonald's All-American McDonald's Corporation is an American multinational fast food chain, founded in 1940 as a restaurant operated by Richard and Maurice McDonald, in San Bernardino, California, United States. They rechristened their business as a hamburger ...

s in

Daniel Ewing George Daniel Ewing, Jr. (born March 26, 1983) is an American professional basketball player. College career A guard from Duke University, Ewing played for four seasons at the college under coach Mike Krzyzewski from 2001 to 2005. Prior to Duk ...

and

T. J. Ford Terrance Jerod Ford Sr. (born March 24, 1983) is an American former professional basketball player. Having been awarded numerous top basketball accolades in high school and college, Ford entered the 2003 NBA draft and was selected eighth overall ...

, who went on to play for

Duke University Duke University is a private research university in Durham, North Carolina. Founded by Methodists and Quakers in the present-day city of Trinity in 1838, the school moved to Durham in 1892. In 1924, tobacco and electric power industrialist James ...

and

, respectively.

History

The first phase of Willowridge started in February 1978 and was occupied in September 1979. Willowridge was the second (racially integrated) high school opened in FBISD. In the 1980s, the school was known for its successful football program. During the 82-83 season, NFL Hall of Famer

Thurman Thomas Thurman Lee Thomas (born May 16, 1966) is an American former football running back who played in the National Football League (NFL) for thirteen seasons, primarily with the Buffalo Bills. He was selected by the Bills in the second round of the ...

led the football team to the Texas Class 4A state Championship. This era also produced other NFL players such as

O. J. Brigance Orenthial James Brigance (born September 29, 1969) is a former gridiron football, football linebacker who played in the Canadian Football League (CFL) and the National Football League (NFL). He is the senior advisor to player development for the B ...

, Charles Arbuckle, Allen Aldridge,

Selwyn Jones Selwyn Aldridge Jones (born May 13, 1970) is a former cornerback who played six seasons in the National Football League. At the time of his entering the NFL draft, Jones had set the career record for interceptions with 15 at Colorado State Uni ...

and Stanley Petry. From 1999 to 2001, the men's basketball team compiled a 75–1 win–loss record (including a 62-game winning streak) earning a pair of Texas Class 5A state titles. One of the streets on the WHS campus was named in memory of former principal Edgar Glover, Jr. Glover, who served as principal between November 1982 until his death in April 1993. Coincidentally, an elementary school named in Edgar Glover, Jr's honor opened on August 17, 1994 Opened fall 199

]. The second phase of Willowridge High School was completed in summer 1992 and dedicated on September 23, 1992 Opened fall 199

]. During the expansion, the

Ronald McNair Ronald Erwin McNair (October 21, 1950 – January 28, 1986) was an American NASA astronaut and physicist. He died during the launch of the Space Shuttle ''Challenger'' on mission STS-51-L, in which he was serving as one of three mission spec ...

Auditorium was dedicated in memoriam (the middle school next to Willowridge was named after

Christa McAuliffe Sharon Christa McAuliffe ( Corrigan; September 2, 1948 – January 28, 1986) was an American teacher and astronaut from Concord, New Hampshire, who was killed on the Space Shuttle ''Challenger'' on mission STS-51-L where she was serving as a ...

). In 2017 the school temporarily closed due to a mold contamination.

Campus

Circa 2018 Jay Shells, a New York City graphic designer, installed a sign referring to a

Z-Ro Joseph Wayne McVey IV (born January 19, 1977), better known by his stage names Z-Ro and the Mo City Don, is an American rapper from Houston, Texas. He was named one of America's most underrated rappers by ''The New York Times'' in 2007. Early li ...

rap song which talks about the school at the school entrance. The sign was made as a dedication to Houston rap culture.

Feeder patterns

The following elementary schools feed into Willowridge: * Briargate * Ridgegate * Ridgemont * Blue Ridge The following middle schools feed into Willowridge: * McAuliffe

Notable alumni

* Allen Aldridge - Former NFL Football Player for the

Denver Broncos The Denver Broncos are a professional American football franchise based in Denver. The Broncos compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's American Football Conference (AFC) West division. The team is headquart ...

. (Class of 1990) * Charles Arbuckle - Former NFL Football Player for the

Indianapolis Colts The Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis. The Colts compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's American Football Conference (AFC) South division. Since the 2008 ...

. (Class of 1986) * O.J. Brigance - Former NFL Football Player

Baltimore Ravens The Baltimore Ravens are a professional American football team based in Baltimore, Maryland. The Ravens compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the American Football Conference (AFC) North division. The team plays its ...

and current director of player development; also founder of the

Brigance Brigade Brigance is a surname. Notable people with the surname include: * Albert Brigance (died 2007), author and special education resource specialist * O. J. Brigance (born 1969), American football player * Tom Brigance (1913–1990), American fa ...

. Recipient of the 2012 Distinguished Alumni Award from

Rice University William Marsh Rice University (Rice University) is a Private university, private research university in Houston, Houston, Texas. It is on a 300-acre campus near the Houston Museum District and adjacent to the Texas Medical Center. Rice is ranke ...

. (Class of 1987) * Eric England - Former NFL football player and current player for the

Toronto Argonauts The Toronto Argonauts (officially the Toronto Argonaut Football Club and colloquially known as the Argos) are a professional Canadian football team competing in the East Division of the Canadian Football League (CFL), based in Toronto, Ontario ...

in the

CFL The Canadian Football League (CFL; french: Ligue canadienne de football—LCF) is a professional sports league in Canada. The CFL is the highest level of competition in Canadian football. The league consists of nine teams, each located in a ci ...

. (Class of 1990) *

- Former NBA Basketball Player for the

Los Angeles Clippers The Los Angeles Clippers are an American professional basketball team based in Los Angeles. The Clippers compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Pacific Division in the league's Western Conference. The Clipper ...

, now player for

Maccabi Ashdod Maccabi Ashdod B.C. ( he, מכבי אשדוד) is a professional basketball team based in the port city of Ashdod, Israel. The team currently plays in the Israeli National League. History The team was founded in 1961 by "Maccabi Ashdod Sports ...

of the

Israeli Premier League The Israeli Premier League ( he, ליגת העל, ''Ligat Ha`Al'', ), is a professional association football league which operates as the highest division of the Israeli Football League – the state's league of Israel. The league is contested b ...

. (Class of 2001) *

- Former NBA Basketball Player for the

San Antonio Spurs The San Antonio Spurs are an American professional basketball team based in San Antonio. The Spurs compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the league's Western Conference (NBA), Western Conference Southwest Division ( ...

. (Class of 2001) *

- Former NFL defensive back for the

Seattle Seahawks The Seattle Seahawks are a professional American football team based in Seattle. The Seahawks compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's National Football Conference (NFC) West, which they rejoined in 2002 as ...

and Super Bowl champion Denver Broncos in 1998. Won championship with high school teammate Allen Aldridge. (Class of 1988). * Albert Johnson III - Former NFL & CFL football player for

Winnipeg Blue Bombers The Winnipeg Blue Bombers are a professional Canadian football team based in Winnipeg, Manitoba. The Blue Bombers compete in the Canadian Football League (CFL) as a member club of the league's West division. They play their home games at IG Fiel ...

Miami Dolphins The Miami Dolphins are a professional American football team based in the Miami metropolitan area. They compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member team of the league's American Football Conference (AFC) East division. The team pla ...

* Brad Terrence Jordan - Houston rapper also known as Scarface. (Attended) *

Ivan McFarlin Ivan McFarlin (born April 26, 1982) is an American former professional basketball player. Basketball career McFarlin attended Willowridge High School in Houston, Texas, where he led his team to win the state championship in his senior year, as ...

- Former NBA basketball player for the

Philadelphia 76ers The Philadelphia 76ers, colloquially known as the Sixers, are an American professional basketball team based in the Philadelphia metropolitan area. The 76ers compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the league's Eas ...

. (Class of 2000) *

Manny Ramirez Manuel Arístides Ramírez Onelcida (born May 30, 1972) is a Dominican-American former professional baseball outfielder. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for parts of 19 seasons. He played with the Cleveland Indians, Boston Red Sox, Lo ...

- Current offensive lineman for the

. (Class of 2002) *

Di Reed Jade is an American girl group, originally composed of Joi Marshall, Tonya Kelly, and Di Reed. History The group Jade was originally composed of Joi Marshall, Angela Slates and Debra Mitchell and, as such, was first known as JAD. Producer V ...

- Member of early 1990s R&B Soul Group,

Jade Jade is a mineral used as jewellery or for ornaments. It is typically green, although may be yellow or white. Jade can refer to either of two different silicate minerals: nephrite (a silicate of calcium and magnesium in the amphibole group of ...

. *

Ansu Sesay Ansu Martin Sesay, Jr. (born July 29, 1976) is an American former professional basketball player. High school and college career Sesay attended Willowridge High School in Houston, Texas. He led his team to the school's first state title in bask ...

- Former NBA Basketball player for the

Seattle SuperSonics The Seattle SuperSonics (commonly known as the Seattle Sonics) were an American professional basketball team based in Seattle. The SuperSonics competed in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member club of the league's Western Confe ...

, and

Golden State Warriors The Golden State Warriors are an American professional basketball team based in San Francisco. The Warriors compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA), as a member of the league's Western Conference Pacific Division. Founded in 194 ...

. (Class of 1994) *

- Former NFL Running Back for the

Buffalo Bills The Buffalo Bills are a professional American football team based in the Buffalo metropolitan area. The Bills compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's American Football Conference (AFC) East division. ...

. Elected to the

Pro Football Hall of Fame The Pro Football Hall of Fame is the hall of fame for professional American football, located in Canton, Ohio. Opened on September 7, , the Hall of Fame enshrines exceptional figures in the sport of professional football, including players, coach ...

in 2007 and into the

College Football Hall of Fame The College Football Hall of Fame is a hall of fame and interactive attraction devoted to college football. The National Football Foundation (NFF) founded the Hall in 1951 to immortalize the players and coaches of college football that were vote ...

in 2008. (Class of 1984) *

Isaiah Washington Isaiah Washington IV is an American actor and media personality. Following a series of film appearances, he came to prominence for portraying Dr. Preston Burke in the first three seasons of the series ''Grey's Anatomy'' from 2005 to 2007. Wash ...

- Actor mostly known for his roles in

Romeo Must Die ''Romeo Must Die'' is a 2000 American action film directed by Andrzej Bartkowiak in his feature film directorial debut, and featuring fight choreography by Corey Yuen. The film stars Jet Li and Aaliyah in her feature film debut, It follows a C ...

Wild Things 2 ''Wild Things 2'' is a 2004 erotic thriller film directed by Jack Perez and starring Susan Ward, Leila Arcieri, Isaiah Washington and Linden Ashby. It is a sequel to '' Wild Things'' (1998) and the second film in the ''Wild Things'' series. The ...

Grey's Anatomy ''Grey's Anatomy'' is an American medical drama television series that premiered on March 27, 2005, on ABC as a mid-season replacement. The series focuses on the lives of surgical interns, residents, and attendings as they develop into se ...

. (Class of 1981) *

Jason Webster Jason Richmond Webster (born September 8, 1977) is a former American football cornerback. He played college football at Texas A&M and was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers in the second round of the 2000 NFL Draft. Webster was also a member o ...

- Former NFL football player for the

New England Patriots The New England Patriots are a professional American football team based in the Greater Boston area. They compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's American Football Conference (AFC) AFC East, East divisio ...

and

Atlanta Falcons The Atlanta Falcons are a professional American football team based in Atlanta. The Falcons compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's National Football Conference (NFC) South division. The Falcons joined th ...

. (Class of 1996) *

- Member of

rap group ABN.

References

External links

Willowridge High School

Go Mighty Eagles! Willowridge High School Alumni Network

WHS Class of 1990 Reunion/Alumni Network
{{authority control Educational institutions established in 1979 Fort Bend Independent School District high schools Public high schools in Houston 1979 establishments in Texas