Westlake Academy

Westlake Academy is an open-enrollment charter school in the United States state of Texas, operating under the International Baccalaureate (IB) curriculum.

Overview

Westlake has three main academic programs: The IB Primary Years Programme (PYP) program lasts from kindergarten to fifth grade, while the IB Middle Years Programme (MYP) program runs from sixth grade to tenth grade. The school has also been certified for the IB Diploma Programme (DP), which began at the start of the 2008-2009 school year with the addition of an eleventh grade and now a twelfth grade. The school's first graduating class was in the 2010-2011 school year.

History & academics

Westlake Academy opened its doors in September 2003 when the Town of Westlake officials took advantage of the state of Texas' acceptance of charter schools and thus became the first and only municipality in the state to receive a charter designation. In 2008 the Texas Education Agency (TEA) renewed the charter until 2016. Westlake Academy became an International Baccalaureate World School in 2006, after it was authorized for the Primary Years Program (PYP). Further accreditation followed in 2007 with the Middle Years Program (MYP) and 2008 for the Diploma Program (DP), making it one of only five schools in the United States to offer all three programs, and the only one in Texas. For 2008, the Academy received an ‘Exemplary' rating from TEA for the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS) tests, the second time it has achieved this. Star Telegram Article

On May 23, 2010, Westlake Academy's first senior class of 24 students graduated.

The Academy receives operating funds from the state. The Academy relies heavily on the support of parents and other members of the community. In June 2008 the architectural footprint expanded with the ground breaking for a new Arts and Science Building, which was operational for the start of the 2009-10 school year. Two new buildings were created and started for the 2014-2015 year.

Extracurricular program

Arts

The school newspaper, “The Black Cow”, won forty-seven awards at the 2008 Texas UIL State Journalism Competition, the most by any school in Texas. The Black Calf is a version of the original Black Cow, only for the PYP program.

Westlake Academy offers a variety of musical activities, including the Chamber of Strings and Ensemble, which are for strings instruments. There is also Drum Line, for percussionists, which plays at games such as 6-man Football.

Athletics

Westlake Academy competes in the following High School programs

• 6-man Football
• Men's Soccer
• Women's Soccer
• Women's Basketball
• Men's Basketball
• Baseball
• Softball
• Track and Field
• Cross Country
• Golf
• Volleyball
• Tennis

In 2010-2011 the Women's Basketball team and the Cross Country team were state champions. Westlake Academy competes as a member of the TCAF League.

In 2011-2012 the Women's Cross Country team won state again; and the Soccer team also won state.

The school's first varsity 6-man team was in the 2011-2012 year.

In 2015-2016 Westlake created their first all-girls soccer team to compete in leagues.

References

External links

• Westlake Academy Homepage