Duncanville High School

History

Duncanville High School held its first accredited graduating class in 1936. Classes moved in 1954 to a new location, now Reed Middle School. Eleven years later, it moved to its current location. Construction started on Sandra Meadows Memorial Arena in 2003. A new classroom wing was added, along with major renovations, in 2004.

Campus

Duncanville High School is the second largest high school campus in the United States. The 863137 sqft campus is more than twice as large as the nearby Mountain View College, and it is over the size of four combined Wal-Mart Supercenters.

Extracurricular activities

Athletics

The school mascot is the Panther. With the exception of softball and girls track and field, the school has won state titles in every major team sport, including football.

The school's most notable success has been in girls' basketball, where it has won twelve state titles, including three consecutive from 1988 to 1990 while winning 134 consecutive games in the state's largest enrollment classification (a state record) before losing in the 1991 state semifinal. They also won 105 consecutive games and two consecutive state titles in 2012 and 2013. The girls teams were undefeated champions in 1989 (39-0), 1990 (37-0), 1997 (40-0), 2013 (42-0), and 2016 (39-0).

Basketball

Boys

• 1991, 1999, 2007, 2019, 2021, 2025
• Although won on the court in 2022, Duncanville was forced to forfeit the state championship game when Anthony Black was declared ineligible.

Girls

• 1976, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1997, 2003, 2012, 2013, 2016, 2017, 2020, 2024

Football

• 1998, 2022, 2023

Baseball

• 1975, 1976, 1990

Volleyball

• 1995

Track and field

Boys

• 1999

Soccer

Boys

• 1986

Girls

• 1987, 1990

Music programs

Duncanville is the only 6A band program in the history of the Texas Music Educators' Association Honor Band competition to win three State Honor Band titles (1999, 2005, 2009).

Choral Department

In 2022, the Duncanville High School Choral Department was named a 2022 GRAMMY Signature School and awarded a monetary grant for the excellence of the program under the leadership of Jesse Cannon II & De'Evin Johnson. In the same school year, the Assistant Choir Director, De'Evin Johnson was named a 2023 GRAMMY Music Educator Award Quarterfinalist.

The A Cappella Men's Choir has twice performed at the National American Choral Directors Association Conference those invited performances occurred in 2012 and 2021. In 2021 the A Capella Men's Choir was also named a Foundation for Music Education- Mark of Excellence National High School Winner in the Open Class.

Marching Band

The Duncanville High School Marching Band has been the UIL state champion in 1986, 1990, and 2002.

Journalism

The school is also known for its journalism program, which publishes the Panther Tale yearbook, Panther Prints newspaper, and the district's public relations publication, Class Magazine. The yearbook and newspaper have won numerous awards, including a Robert F. Kennedy Journalism Award and Gold and Silver Crown awards from the Columbia Scholastic Press Association. For the first time in 2002, Duncanville received a Gold Crown for its newspaper and its yearbook, one of only two high schools in the nation to capture both honors that year.

Controversies

A video of a student from Duncanville, 18-year-old sophomore Jeff Bliss scolding his social studies/history teacher, went viral in May 2013, and was picked up by media. CBS local news quoted the student:

The video was caught on video on a cellphone, posted on YouTube, and picked up by Reddit, Phillip DeFranco and Gawker. The official reaction of the Duncanville Independent School District was not to discipline the student, but to offer private and public reminders that there are other ways to make a point. The district issued a statement, saying, in part: "He makes a number of valid statements about how classrooms across America need to change, and we view this as an opportunity to have more conversations about transforming our schools to better meet the needs of our students."

A video of students protesting the school's strict dress code was sent to several of the local media outlets, who reported on the incident. The Duncanville Independent School District said about 170 students were found in violation of the school's dress code and sent home. The crackdown on students violating the dress code is what led to a spontaneous mass protest. Administrators responded to the protest with a large police presence on campus a day afterward, which remained until the last day of the school year.

Notable alumni

• Greg Abbott, 48th Governor of Texas
• Ariel Atkins, professional basketball player in the WNBA
• Mike Bacsik, former MLB Pitcher
• Brigetta Barrett, high jumper, Olympic silver medalist
• Anthony Black, professional basketball player for the Orlando Magic
• Adam Butler, NFL player
• Tamika Catchings, Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame basketball player, 10-time WNBA All-Star, 4-time Olympic gold medalist
• Keith Creel, MLB pitcher
• Donald "Ray" Crockett, NFL player, cornerback with Denver Broncos
• Tim DeLaughter, lead singer of Tripping Daisy and The Polyphonic Spree
• Caden Durham, college football running back for the LSU Tigers
• Barry Foster, NFL running back
• Ron Holland, professional basketball player for the Detroit Pistons
• Tiffany Jackson, professional basketball player
• Grayson James, college football quarterback for the Boston College Eagles
• Jill Marie Jones, professional actress and model
• Perry Jones, current professional basketball player for Bursaspor of the Turkish Super League, and formerly the Oklahoma City Thunder
• Deja Kelly, basketball player
• Ennis Rakestraw Jr., football player for the Detroit Lions
• Jon Randall Music Artist/Producer
• Jonathan Majors, actor
• David Nied, former MLB pitcher (1992-1996)
• Greg Ostertag, professional basketball player
• Chris Owens, professional basketball player
• Micah Peavy, NBA player
• Dashaun Phillips, professional American football player, a cornerback for the Redskins, Cowboys, Jets, and Steelers of the NFL and the Renegades of the XFL, played college football for the Tarleton State Texans
• Todd Ritchie, MLB pitcher
• Steven Romo, news anchor correspondent for NBC News
• Keelon Russell, American football quarterback
• Priscilla Shirer, author and actress
• Gene Summers, singer, Rockabilly Hall of Fame inductee, 1997
• Colin Simmons, college football edge rusher for the Texas Longhorns
• Cameron Williams, college football offensive tackle for the Texas Longhorns
• Doualy Xaykaothao, journalist

References

• Associated Press. "Duncanville High builds fence to deter fights", Houston Chronicle, 23 January 2006. Retrieved 28 January 2006.

Notes

References

1. "School District Reference Map (2010 Census): Dallas County, TX". [[U.S. Census Bureau]].
2. [https://txschools.gov/schools/057907001/overview "Overview: Duncanville H S"] {{Webarchive. link. (2020-04-12 Texas Education Agency. Retrieved April 12, 2020.)
3. link. (2011-06-09 . ''[[The Dallas Morning News]]''. August 28, 2005. Retrieved on July 26, 2010.)
4. "Record Book Result".
5. "1990-91 5A Girls Basketball State Results".
6. "2013-14 5A Girls Basketball State Results".
7. "UIL 2024 State Girls Basketball Program (page 54)".
8. (2024-11-01). "2015-2016 UIL State Girls Basketball 6A Results".
9. [http://www.uiltexas.org/basketball/state-bracket/1990-1991-5a-boys-basketball-state-results "1990-1991 5A Boys Basketball State Results"] {{Webarchive. link. (2014-03-06 . ''[[University Interscholastic League]]''. Retrieved on April 14, 2012.)
10. [http://www.uiltexas.org/basketball/state-bracket/1998-1999-5a-boys-basketball-state-results 1998-1999 "5A Boys Basketball State Results"] {{Webarchive. link. (2014-03-06 . ''University Interscholastic League''. Retrieved on April 14, 2012.)
11. [http://www.uiltexas.org/basketball/state-bracket/2006-2007-5a-boys-basketball-state-results "2006-2007 5A Boys Basketball State Results"] {{Webarchive. link. (2013-03-14 . ''University Interscholastic League''. Retrieved on April 14, 2012.)
12. [https://www.uiltexas.org/basketball/state-bracket/2018-2019-6a-boys-basketball-state-results "2018-19 6A Boys State Basketball Results"] {{Webarchive. link. (2019-04-04 . ''University Interscholastic League''. Retrieved on April 6, 2019.)
13. [https://www.uiltexas.org/basketball/state-bracket/2020-2021-6a-boys-basketball-state-results "2020-21 6A Boys State Basketball Results"] {{Webarchive. link. (2021-06-10 . ''University Interscholastic League''. Retrieved on June 9, 2021.)
14. League, University Interscholastic. "2024-2025 6A Division 1 Boys Basketball State Results — Basketball — University Interscholastic League (UIL)".
15. [https://www.uiltexas.org/basketball/state-bracket/2021-2022-6a-boys-basketball-state-results "2021-2022 6A Boys State Basketball Results"] {{Webarchive. link. (2021-06-10 . ''University Interscholastic League''. Retrieved on November 18, 2024.)
16. [http://www.uiltexas.org/basketball/state-bracket/1975-1976-4a-girls-basketball-state-results "1975-1976 4A Girls Basketball State Results"] {{Webarchive. link. (2014-03-06 . ''University Interscholastic League''. Retrieved on April 14, 2012.)
17. [http://www.uiltexas.org/basketball/state-bracket/1987-1988-5a-girls-basketball-state-results "1987-1988 5A Girls Basketball State Results"] {{Webarchive. link. (2014-03-06 . ''University Interscholastic League''. Retrieved on April 14, 2012.)
18. [http://www.uiltexas.org/basketball/state-bracket/1988-1989-5a-girls-basketball-state-results "1988-1989 5A Girls Basketball State Results"] {{Webarchive. link. (2014-03-06 . ''University Interscholastic League''. Retrieved on April 14, 2012.)
19. [http://www.uiltexas.org/basketball/state-bracket/1989-1990-5a-girls-basketball-state-results "1989-1989 5A Girls Basketball State Results"] {{Webarchive. link. (2014-03-06 . ''University Interscholastic League''. Retrieved on April 14, 2012.)
20. [http://www.uiltexas.org/basketball/state-bracket/1996-1997-5a-girls-basketball-state-results "1996-1997 5A Girls Basketball State Results"] {{Webarchive. link. (2014-03-06 . ''University Interscholastic League''. Retrieved on April 14, 2012.)
21. [http://www.uiltexas.org/basketball/state-bracket/2002-2003-5a-girls-basketball-state-results "2002-2003 5A Girls Basketball State Results"] {{Webarchive. link. (2014-03-06 . ''University Interscholastic League''. Retrieved on April 14, 2012.)
22. [http://www.uiltexas.org/basketball/state-bracket/2011-2012-5a-girls-basketball-state-results "2011-2012 5A Girls Basketball State Results"] {{Webarchive. link. (2012-10-25 . ''University Interscholastic League''. Retrieved on April 14, 2012.)
23. [http://www.uiltexas.org/basketball/state-bracket/2012-2013-5a-girls-basketball-state-results "2012-2013 5A Girls Basketball State Results"]
24. [https://www.uiltexas.org/basketball/state-bracket/2016-2017-6a-girls-basketball-state-results "2016-2017 5A Girls Basketball State Results"]{{Webarchive. link. (2019-04-04 . ''University Interscholastic League''. Retrieved on April 6, 2019.)
25. [https://m.chron.com/sports/highschool/article/Duncanville-takes-down-Cypress-Creek-to-win-6A-15114488.php "Duncanville takes down Cypress Creek to win 6A state championship"] {{Webarchive. link. (2020-03-09 . ''Houston Chronicle''. Retrieved on March 8, 2020.)
26. [https://www.uiltexas.org/basketball/state-bracket/2023-2024-6a-girls-basketball-state-results "2023-2024 6A Girls Basketball State Results"]. ''University Interscholastic League''. Retrieved on May 31, 2024.
27. "UIL Football State Champions". uil100.org.
28. "UIL Baseball State Champions". uil100.org.
29. [http://www2.uiltexas.org/athletics/archives/volleyball/state/95_96/index.html "UIL State Volleyball Tournament"] {{Webarchive. link. (2013-04-12 . ''University Interscholastic League''. Retrieved on April 14, 2012.)
30. [http://www2.uiltexas.org/athletics/archives/track_field/track_champions.html "UIL State Track Champions"] {{Webarchive. link. (2012-04-15 . ''University Interscholastic League''. Retrieved on April 14, 2012.)
31. "UIL Boys Soccer State Champions". uil100.org.
32. [http://www2.uiltexas.org/athletics/archives/soccer/tournament_records.html "UIL State Soccer Records"] {{Webarchive. link. (2012-10-02 . ''University Interscholastic League''. Retrieved on April 14, 2012.)
33. "Honor Band History". tmea.org.
34. "2023 GRAMMY Music Educator Award". grammy.com.
35. "Men's A Cappella Choir Performs Concert for National Audience". duncanvilleisd.org.
36. "2021 NATIONAL CHORAL HONORS RESULTS NATIONAL WINNERS". foundationformusiceducation.org/.
37. "UIL State Champion Archives". uiltexas.org.
38. "UIL State Champion Archives". uiltexas.org.
39. "UIL State Champion Archives". uiltexas.org.
40. "2003 Journalism Award".
41. "2002 - Awards For Student Work Crown Awards - Scholastic Recipients".
42. Calvert Collins, Chelsea Kretz. "Duncanville student's teacher rant goes viral". Fox News Austin.
43. (May 9, 2013). "Duncanville High teacher on leave after student viral video rant". CBS News.
44. (8 May 2013). "Video of Duncanville High Student scolding his teacher goes viral online". CBS News.
45. Jeffrey Weiss. (May 9, 2013). "Duncanville High Student's angry critique of teacher goes viral online". Dallas News.
46. (14 May 2014). "Duncanville HS sends hundreds home for dress code violations". myfoxdfw.com.
47. Eliana Dockterman. "Dress Code Protests: High School Students Riot Over Clothing Rules".
48. "Ariel Atkins Player Profile".
49. "USA Track & Field - Brigetta Barrett".
50. [https://www.usatoday.com/sports/preps/basketball/2004-02-25-ten-great-hoops-other_x.htm "The other great places to watch high school hoops"] {{Webarchive. link. (2012-07-17 . ''[[USA Today]]''. February 25, 2004. Retrieved on March 1, 2009.)
51. Powers, Greg. (April 6, 2023). "Four-Star RB Caden Durham Reflects on Hometown Ties to Oklahoma Sooners and Other Top Choices".
52. (21 January 2021). "Duncanville three-star QB Grayson James commits to Florida International".
53. "Perry Jones Player Profile".
54. "Bursaspor Basketball Team".
55. "Ennis Rakestraw, Jr. - Football".
56. "David Nied Player Profile".
57. "Micah Peavy College Stats".
58. "Todd Ritchie".
59. (18 October 2016). "Dallas actress, author Priscilla Shirer honored as woman of faith".
60. "RAB Hall of Fame: Gene Summers". rockabillyhall.com.
61. (10 August 2023). "Elite 5-Star EDGE Colin Simmons Commits To Texas".
62. (2021-12-12). "Texas secures commitment from Duncanville OT Cameron Williams; OLB Ovie Oghoufo set to return".
63. (2014-02-18). "Doualy Xaykaothao Comes Home".