“Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.”
– Woodrow Wilson High School motto (Proverbs 4:23)
Woodrow Wilson High School
Woodrow Wilson High School, named after the 28th president of the United States, opened its doors in 1929 as the seventh high school in Dallas. The school building reflects the Jacobean Revival Style, prominent in the 1920s, and was designated as a Texas Historical Landmark in 1989. Its architects, Roscoe DeWitt and Mark Lemmon, also designed Sunset High School, several buildings at Southern Methodist University, and the sanctuary at Highland Park Methodist Church.
Woodrow is the alma mater of thousands of students who have achieved success in Dallas and around the world. A list of prominent Woodrow alumni includes: philanthropists Trammell Crow and Ruth Collins Altshuler, actor Jerry Haynes, Pulitzer Prize-winning author Lawrence Wright, and two Heisman Trophy winners, Davie O’Brien and Tim Brown.
Woodrow Wilson High School is almost like three schools in one. It comprises a comprehensive high school, a very large program for talented and gifted students, and one of the largest special education programs in DISD.
As a comprehensive high school, Woodrow is dedicated to the DISD mission of educating and graduating students ready for college. A complete range of courses in math, science, English, history and social studies, foreign language, physical education, plus fine arts and vocational arts allows students to select a degree plan that addresses their talents and interests and prepares them to be contributing citizens.
Rigorous academic courses, including more than two dozen Advanced Placement classes, attract and keep a high percentage of talented and gifted students. Woodrow students are routinely recognized as National Merit and AP scholars, and our graduates go on to some of the most competitive and exclusive universities in the country.
Our students receive upwards of $1.5 million each year in college scholarships. Woodrow students have earned honor and acclaim for their outstanding academic achievements. A few examples include: UIL Academic Decathlon, Mock Trial, World Language Club, International French Honor Society, Math Olympiad, National Honor Society, National Merit Scholar Finalists and Semi-Finalists, and Advanced Placement (AP) scholars. It is expected that the implementation of International Baccalaureate will continue to burnish Woodrow’s reputation for outstanding academic prowess. Our students learn from each other as each brings a unique mix of background and culture. In addition, as Woodrow-sponsored groups and as individuals, our students give thousands of hours of service to community organizations each year.
Woodrow alumni are fiercely loyal and involved, and many of our current students are second, third, and even fourth-generation Wildcats. In addition, our community support is evident in the strength and influence of our PTA and Site-Based Decision Making Team.
Supporting our Feeder Schools
The Woodrow Wilson High School Community Foundation is committed to supporting excellent education at all the public schools in the Woodrow feeder pattern.