Brackenridge High School

Not to be confused with Brackenridge Colored School, or Breckenridge High School in Breckenridge, Texas.

G.W. Brackenridge High School is a public high school located in central San Antonio, Texas, and classified as a 5A school by the University Interscholastic League (UIL). This school is one of 12 high school schools in the San Antonio Independent School District. During 2022–2023, Brackenridge High School had an enrollment of 1,568 students and a student to teacher ratio of 15.37.^[1] The school received an overall rating of "B" from the Texas Education Agency for the 2021–2022 school year.^[2] It was formerly known as Phillis Wheatley High School.

Brackenridge High School
Location
400 Eagleland Street San Antonio , Bexar County , Texas 78210 United States
Coordinates	29.405395°N 98.487604°W / 29.405395; -98.487604
Information
Former name	Phillis Wheatley High School (1974–1988)
School type	Public, high school
Established	1917
Locale	City: Large[1]
School district	San Antonio ISD
Superintendent	Pedro Martinez
NCES School ID	483873004407[1]
Principal	Mrs. Davila
Assistant Principal	Mandie Holtsford
Faculty	102.0 (on an FTE basis)[1]
Grades	9–12
Enrollment	1,568[1] (2022–2023)
Student to teacher ratio	15.37[1]
Color(s)
Athletics conference	UIL Class 5A
Team name	Mighty Eagles
Website	Official Website

History

The school was founded in 1917 on the city's south side along the San Antonio River near the King William neighborhood. It was named for George Washington Brackenridge. The original three-story brick structure was demolished and replaced with today's shorter, more sprawling structure in 1974.^[3] That year, the school was renamed in honor of Phillis Wheatley, the first published African-American poet, a woman taken in childhood from West Africa, enslaved and taken to Boston, and eventually freed. In 1988, bowing to some alumni concerns, the school's original name was restored.^[4]

Athletics

The Brackenridge Mighty Eagles compete in the following sports:^[5]

• Baseball
• Basketball
• Cross Country
• Football
• Golf
• Soccer
• Softball
• Swimming and Diving
• Tennis
• Track and Field
• Volleyball
• Cheerleading
• Marching Band

Football

• 1947 State Champions - Defeated Highland Park 21–13.^[6] This was the last title before the UIL divided schools into classifications based on enrollment.^[7]
• 1962 State Champions-Defeated Borger High School 30–26.^[8]

Soccer

• 2018 District Champions-Defeated their rivals Highlands High School 2–1 in the final game of the season

Notable alumni

Main category: Brackenridge High School alumni

• Kenneth Nelson (Class of 1947) — American actor ^[9]
• Robert Cade (Class of 1945) — leader of the research team that created the sports drink Gatorade^[10]
• Jim Harrison (Class of 1967) — Former NFL running back^[11]
• Weldon Humble (Class of 1938) — Former NFL offensive guard^[12]
• Sam Hurd (Class of 2002) — Former NFL wide receiver^[13]
• Warren McVea (Class of 1964) — Former NFL running back^[14]
• John Quiñones (Class of 1970) — ABC News co-anchor and host of What Would You Do?^[15]
• Rudolf Staffel — ceramist, educator^[16]