Imagine a piece of Woodrow Wilson’s daughter’s wedding cake tucked away in the cornerstone. Woodrow Wilson High School stands as a Dallas Landmark. It is also a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark. Woodrow, as locals call it, has a rich story.
Woodrow Wilson High School opened in 1928. Dallas architect Mark Lemmon designed it in the Elizabethan style. The school cost over $700,000. It exceeded the district’s previous high schools’ costs by at least $100,000. Potter Art Metal Studios of Dallas made the ornamental lighting.
The gymnasium boasted an entire wall of glass windows. The auditorium was the best-equipped in the district. It had footlights and a ventilated orchestra pit. A theater organ was added later. The Dallas Herald said the school presented a rare spectacle from afar.
G.L. “Pop” Ashburn was the first principal. He fostered the nickname Woodrow. He led the school until 1956. The school’s mascot is the Wildcat. The Parent Teacher Association formed before the school opened.
Until 1957, Woodrow Wilson High School was the only East Dallas high school. The original principal served for 30 years.
Woodrow Wilson High School integrated in the 1960s. The percentage of black and Hispanic students increased. In 1976, a federal judge ordered integration for Dallas schools. The initial order suggested closing Woodrow. Residents protested. They said it would close an already-integrated school. The school remained open.
In 1981, interiors for the movie Crisis at Central High were filmed here.
Thousands celebrated Woodrow’s 75th Anniversary in 2004. A parade went from Lakewood to the school. Alumnus Carroll Shelby was the Grand Marshal. A program inducted new members into the Hall of Fame.
In 2009, Woodrow celebrated its 80th anniversary. Carroll Shelby was again the Grand Marshal. The Alumni Association inducted more individuals into the Hall of Fame. An “Alumni Band Roundup” was held.
In 2011, Woodrow Wilson High School earned its designation as an IB World School.
The Woodrow Wilson High School Community Foundation formed in 2009. It raises funds for the school.
The three-story main campus is Neo-Gothic. The library is on the third floor. The design reflects a college-prep institution.
A groundbreaking for a new science/performing arts wing occurred in 2011. The $14 million structure was authorized in a 2008 bond election. It is only the third expansion in the school’s history. The addition houses the Performing Arts Academy and STEM labs.
The 1928 building had its original windows restored. HVAC was replaced. First-floor restrooms were restored to the historic marble.
The Woodrow Wilson Wildcats compete in many sports. These include baseball, basketball, and football. Woodrow is the “High School Home of the Heisman.” It is the alma mater of two Heisman Trophy winners. They are Davey O’Brien and Tim Brown.
From its beginning, a Junior ROTC program existed at Woodrow. In the 1930s-50s, it was the largest JROTC program in the nation.
The school also established a special education program. It is called the “Percolators.” Students operate a coffee shop for the school community.
Many notable alumni attended Woodrow Wilson High School. These include Trammell Crow, Jerry Haynes, and Steve Miller.
As you leave Woodrow, remember the legacy of this historic school. Think about the students who walked these halls. They left their mark on the world.