Tomball High School facts for kids

Tomball High School is a public high school located in Tomball, Texas. It is a well-known school that helps students prepare for college and future careers. For many years, it was the only high school in the Tomball Independent School District. Another high school, Tomball Memorial High School, opened in 2011.

The History of Tomball High School

Early Beginnings: 1908-1930s

School started in Tomball in 1908. About 15 students learned in a small, one-room building. Soon, the community decided to build a proper school. Land was given on Cherry Street, and by 1910, a two-story brick schoolhouse was ready. It had two classrooms and an upstairs auditorium. By 1916, 62 students attended. As the town grew, by 1928, there were four schools in the area. In 1931, the district had five teachers.

New Buildings and a New District

In 1935, the original schoolhouse was replaced. A new brick building was built for students in grades one through eleven. Two years later, Tomball got its own school district. This meant the Tomball Independent School District was officially created. The school on Cherry Street became very crowded. So, in 1938, a new red brick high school was built on Main Street. This new school had a gymnasium and even a swimming pool!

A Fire and a Fresh Start

Sadly, in 1961, the high school on Main Street was destroyed by a fire. It started from an electrical problem in the attic. Firefighters used water from the school's swimming pool to put out the flames. School was closed for four days. Churches and local businesses helped out by offering their spaces. This allowed students to finish their school year.

By 1974, students moved into the current Tomball High School building. It is located on Quinn Road. The school has grown a lot over the years. In 2000, people voted to approve money for renovations. This helped to update Tomball High School.

School Leadership and Updates

Gary Moss was the principal until 2011. Greg Quinn then became principal and served until 2017. Chris Scott is the current principal of Tomball High School. The school was also updated in 2005. A statue of a cougar, which is the school's mascot, was placed in front of the building. In 2021, the school raised money for a new cougar statue.

Academics at Tomball High

School Performance Grades

The Texas Education Agency gives grades to schools. For the 2018-2019 school year, Tomball High School received a B grade. Its overall score was 88 out of 100. This was a good score, showing the school's strong performance. Another high school in the district, Tomball Memorial High School, received a 93 out of 100 that year.

Tomball High School earned an A grade for how well students achieved (Student Achievement). It received a B grade for how much students improved over time (School Progress). It got a C grade for helping all students succeed, especially those who might need extra support (Closing the Gaps).

College Readiness and Rankings

U.S. News also ranks high schools. For the 2019-2020 school year, Tomball High School scored 81.41 out of 100. It was ranked 275th among high schools in Texas. Nationally, it was ranked 3,307th.

Many students at Tomball High School take Advanced Placement (AP) exams. These exams can earn students college credit. In 2020, 43% of students took at least one AP exam. A great 68% of those students passed at least one AP exam. This means they were ready for college-level work.

Athletics and Sports

Tomball High School is part of the University Interscholastic League (UIL). This league organizes sports competitions for schools in Texas.

Baseball Success

The Tomball High School baseball team has had great success. In 2013, they won the Texas UIL 4A State Championship. They had an amazing season with 36 wins and only 4 losses.

More recently, in 2024, the baseball team won the Texas UIL 6A State Championship. They finished with an impressive record of 41 wins and 3 losses. Two sophomore pitchers, C.J. Sampson and Karson Reeder, were named MVPs in the championship games. Senior catcher Cade Arrimbade was named Texas Gatorade Player of the Year.

Sports Teams and Achievements

Tomball High School offers many sports for both boys and girls. Here are some of their achievements:

Student Population

In the 2018-2019 school year, Tomball High School had 2,054 students. The student body was made up of different groups. About 57.1% of students were White, and 33.0% were Hispanic. Around 4.5% were African American, and 2.1% were Asian. About 0.3% were American Indian, and 3.0% were from two or more races.

Some students received extra support. About 27.4% of students were from families with lower incomes. Around 3.9% were learning English as a new language. Also, 8.8% of students received special education services.

Famous People Who Attended Tomball High

Many successful people have graduated from Tomball High School. Here are a few:

• Christopher S. Adams Jr., a retired United States Air Force General and author.
• Chad Brannon, a TV actor known for his role in General Hospital.
• Josh Breaux, a baseball player for the New York Yankees organization.
• Drake Britton, a baseball player who played for the Boston Red Sox.
• Jimmy Butler, a famous basketball player for teams like the Miami Heat.
• Robert Dugger, an MLB pitcher.
• Mike Eli, the lead singer of the Eli Young Band.
• Karlie Hay, who was crowned Miss Teen USA 2016.
• Chris Herrmann, a baseball player for teams like the Arizona Diamondbacks.
• Jordan Leslie, a football player who played for the Cleveland Browns.
• Jimmy Needham, a contemporary Christian musician.
• Troy Patton, a baseball player who played for the Baltimore Orioles.
• David Phelps, a Christian singer.
• Gary Porter, a professional football player and coach.
• Kyle Russell, a baseball player.
• Drew Svoboda, a college football coach.