History of Wilmer-Hutchins High School in Timeline

By Popular Timelines Editorial Team · Updated: April 15, 2025

Wilmer-Hutchins High School is a public secondary school located in Dallas, Texas, and is a part of the Dallas Independent School District. Historically, it was a component of the Wilmer-Hutchins Independent School District, which no longer exists. The school serves students in the Dallas area providing secondary education.

1928: Wilmer-Hutchins High School Established

In 1928, Wilmer-Hutchins High School was established after four smaller school districts were consolidated. A new $60,000 campus was built on Highway 75.

1964: Opening of John F. Kennedy High School and Milton K. Curry Junior High School

In 1964, John F. Kennedy High School and Milton K. Curry Junior High School were opened in the northern portion of the district, serving black high school students who were previously bused to Dallas' Lincoln High School.

1968: Wilmer-Hutchins Forced to Integrate

In 1968, the school district was forced by courts to integrate. Kennedy High School was closed after only four years and all high school students attended WHHS.

1972: Shift in School Population

By 1972, the school's population was almost 100 percent black, as white families began leaving the district.

1983: New Campus Built

In 1983, a new campus was built on Langdon Road in Dallas. The old campus became C.S. Winn Junior High School.

1990: State Football Championship Win

In 1990, the school won the Class AAAA state football championship.

1991: TAAS Standardized Test

Beginning in 1991, Wilmer-Hutchins High Schools's performance on the Texas Assessment of Academic Skills (TAAS), a state standardized test used from 1991 to 2003, was generally at or below state standards.

1991: Frequent Principal Changes

From 1991 to 1996, the school had six different principals.

1993: Acceptable Rating on TAAS

Wilmer-Hutchins High School received an "acceptable" rating on the Texas Assessment of Academic Skills (TAAS) in 1993-94.

1994: Low Performing Rating on TAAS

Wilmer-Hutchins High School received a "low performing" rating on the Texas Assessment of Academic Skills (TAAS) in 1994-95.

August 1995: New Teachers Hired

In August 1995, the school district hired 60 new teachers for the school.

1995: Acceptable Rating on TAAS

Wilmer-Hutchins High School received an "acceptable" rating on the Texas Assessment of Academic Skills (TAAS) in 1995-96.

October 1996: Teacher Retention Issues

By October 1996, only 20 of the 60 teachers hired in August 1995 remained at the school.

1996: Low Performing Rating on TAAS

Wilmer-Hutchins High School received a "low performing" rating on the Texas Assessment of Academic Skills (TAAS) in 1996-97.

1997: Acceptable Rating on TAAS

Wilmer-Hutchins High School received an "acceptable" rating on the Texas Assessment of Academic Skills (TAAS) in 1997-98.

1998: Low Performing Rating on TAAS

Wilmer-Hutchins High School received a "low performing" rating on the Texas Assessment of Academic Skills (TAAS) in 1998-99.

1999: Low Performing Rating on TAAS

Wilmer-Hutchins High School received a "low performing" rating on the Texas Assessment of Academic Skills (TAAS) in 1999-00.

2000: UIL Realignment

Following the 2000 UIL realignment that moved Wilmer-Hutchins from Class AAAA to Class AAA, the Eagles were one of the dominant Class AAA teams in the state for five years.

2000: Acceptable Rating on TAAS

Wilmer-Hutchins High School received an "acceptable" rating on the Texas Assessment of Academic Skills (TAAS) in 2000-01.

2001: Acceptable Rating on TAAS

Wilmer-Hutchins High School received an "acceptable" rating on the Texas Assessment of Academic Skills (TAAS) in 2001-02.

2002: Acceptable Rating on TAAS

Wilmer-Hutchins High School received an "acceptable" rating on the Texas Assessment of Academic Skills (TAAS) in 2002-03.

2003: TAAS Standardized Test

Ending in 2003, Wilmer-Hutchins High Schools's performance on the Texas Assessment of Academic Skills (TAAS), a state standardized test used from 1991 to 2003, was generally at or below state standards.

2003: Introduction of TAKS Test

In 2003, the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS) was introduced as a new standardized test.

2004: Academic Ratings Based on TAKS

In 2004, WHHS received a rating of "academically acceptable" for the 2003-04 school year and "academically unacceptable" for the 2004-05 school year due to lower than acceptable passing rates on the test in Reading and Mathematics.

2004: School Closure and Performing Arts School Closure

In 2004, the school closed due to rainstorm damage and the district's financial issues. The Wilmer Hutchins Performing Arts High School was also closed in 2004.

January 2005: Students Moved to Wilmer Hutchins High

In January 2005, students from Wilmer Hutchins Performing Arts High School were moved to Wilmer Hutchins High.

2008: Police Investigation at Closed School

In 2008, police entered the closed school building and found plants believed to be marijuana plants in a classroom.

August 26, 2011: First Home Football Game

On August 26, 2011, the new Eagle football team played its first home game against the Moisés E. Molina High School Jaguars.

2011: School Re-opens as Dallas ISD School

In 2011, six years after WHISD closed, the school re-opened as a Dallas ISD school and absorbed students from A. Maceo Smith High School.

2011: Football Team Re-establishment

When a newly constructed Wilmer-Hutchins High School campus opened in 2011 as part of the Dallas Independent School District, a majority of the football team members from A. Maceo Smith High School transferred to Wilmer-Hutchins and helped reestablish the Eagle football program.

April 2012: Student Enrollment from Outside District

In April 2012, the principal Marion Brooks reported that children zoned to 22 other schools, including some outside DISD, were attending Wilmer-Hutchins Schools.

2019: Ethnic Composition of Students

In 2019, the ethnic composition of students was 56% African American, 40% Hispanic, 2% White, and 2% others.

2020: Ethnic Composition of Students

In 2020, the ethnic composition of students was 56% African American, 40% Hispanic, 2% White, and 2% others. Of the 914 students, 675 (74%) were considered economically disadvantaged, 123 (14%) were considered special needs, 55 (6%) were enrolled in gifted and talented programs, and 238 (26%) were limited English proficiency.