Though Richard Linklater is among its notable alumni, Bellaire High School is a far cry from his magnum opus of high school experience in Dazed & Confused. It’s much more likely that Brent Spiner got the smarts to play Data from Star Trek: The Next Generation from his time at the well-known high school. In fact, Bellaire High School has lots of alumni to be proud of, and the programs to produce even more famous, intelligent and productive progeny.
The history of how Bellaire High School became a pathway for success for many students isn’t well-known, but thanks to a Texas Monthly article we found, we were able to piece to it together.
When the school opened in 1955, the school population was pretty much strictly Caucasian. However, population changes in the 1980’s when the Bellaire/Meyerland area saw an influx of wealthy families created a new student body. Suddenly, instead of a mostly middle-class white population, Bellaire High School was now made up of children from both very wealthy and low-income working-class families, as both were drawn to the new economy of the area.
Around this time, as an insurance policy against wealthy families withdrawing students and sending their children to private schools, Bellaire High School implemented Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate programs. By 1991 the school was at capacity and had to cap enrollment, with its student body becoming much more diverse. This past school year, the school’s demographics looked to be about 40% Hispanic, 24% White, 20% African American and 14% Asian.
However, being at capacity isn’t just because of the population growth of the area; this school has some major accomplishments to be proud of. According to U.S. News & World Report, it’s ranked the 54th best school in Texas and comes in at no.494 in national rankings. Students at Bellaire High School have gone on to colleges like Columbia, Harvard, MIT, Princeton, Stanford and Yale.
When the Brays District expanded in 2011, a small part of the Bellaire High School zoning district was rezoned, and some parents even tried to use political connections to ensure their children entered Bellaire High School. While Bellaire clearly excels academically, alumni have gone on to professional sports, especially Major League Baseball, as well as political and artistic pursuits, with Randy and Dennis Quaid among Bellaire High School’s most recognizable alumni.
With a history of excellence, a diverse student body from every economic and ethnic background, Bellaire High School stands out as one of the most prestigious and unique schools in the Houston area.
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