Bel Air High School (El Paso, Texas)

Bel Air High School is a high school in the city of El Paso, Texas, USA. The school was established in 1957. It houses Bel Air Middle School, with transfers from Eastwood as well as other local middle schools. Its Health Professions Branch offers the most transfers, closely followed by the Global Enterprises program.

Bel Air High School
Location
731 N. Yarbrough
El Paso, Texas 79915

United States
Coordinates31.747254°N 106.345953°W / 31.747254; -106.345953
Information
TypePublic
MottoLoyal Forever
Established1957
School districtYsleta Independent School District
PrincipalCharles E. Garcia
Faculty124.07 (FTE)[1]
Grades9-12
Enrollment1,936 (2017–18)[1]
Student to teacher ratio15.60[1]
CampusUrban
Color(s)Scarlet red, white, royal blue             
Websitehttp://belair.yisd.net/

Bel Air High School placed 984th on Newsweek's list of the nation's top high schools based on rankings influenced heavily by the number of students who took Advanced Placement tests the previous year. In 2013 Texas UIL changed the areas from 4A-5A to a 5A-6A divisions causing Bel Air High School to remain behind in the 5A division due to the lack of student population.

Engineering

During freshman year, all students take Concepts of Engineering and Technology.

In sophomore year, they are separated into three smaller divisions, entering into Engineering Design and Presentation, Principles of Engineering (PTLW), or Principles of Architectures and Construction.

In junior year, they gain the second level of their previous choice, which are Robotics and Automation, Digital Electronics, and Architectural Design.

In senior year, they develop into two pathways, Engineering Design and Development, and Advanced Interior Design.

Band

The Bel Air High School "BIG RED PRIDE" Marching Band has been a staple of the fine arts department and has had success spanning nearly four decades. In 1999, the band became Grand Champions at the New Mexico Tournament of Bands, the first in school history. The band has attended all 5 incarnations of the Coronado T-Bird Marching Invitational, which started in 2015, placing 4th, 2nd in 2016, and 1st since 2017. The band currently holds the record for the most titles at three. The band is also a consistent Bands of America (BOA) finalist. Since 2007, the band has placed within the final 10 participants at the BOA Regionals in Long Beach, St. George, Midland, Los Angeles, and El Paso.

In 2015, the Bel Air Band began a wave of success, receiving Division I ratings, and placing within the top 10 of all major competitions. Due to the 4A-5A to 5A-6A shift, the UIL Area Marching Band Contest was split into zones, leaving all bands in that zone competing for spots to advance to state. At the 2015 UIL Area A West Contest, the band placed first and advanced to the UIL State Marching Band Contest for the first time since 2006, placing 18th overall. They later reclaimed the title in 2017, becoming back-to-back winners, and placing 19th overall. In 2019, the band placed third overall and advanced to the UIL State Marching Band Contest for the third consecutive year in a row, placing 34th.

Alumni

Bel Air Highlander Alumni is an active alumni association dedicated to serving the Bel Air Community.[2]

Parent organization

The Bel Air Highland Clan is an active organization working for the betterment of Bel Air and its students.

List of Activities

Extracurricular Activities
  • Award Winning Percussion Ensemble (2009 WGI Regional Champions: Denver, Colorado)
  • Western United States Grade IV Pipe Band
  • Bel Air "BIG RED PRIDE" Marching Band (2015, 2017 UIL Area A Marching Band Champions; 2004, 2006, 2015, 2017 UIL State Qualifier)
  • Bel Air Jazz
  • Junior Reserve Officer's Training Corp (JROTC)
  • Bel Air Tech Club
  • Student Council
  • The Argus Newspaper
  • Destination Imagination
  • Speech and Debate
  • KBA News
  • Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA)
  • Dance Team - Mu Delta Chi
  • Future Business Leaders of Tomorrow (FBLA)
  • Youth For Christ
  • Spanish Honor Society
  • French Honor Society
  • Technology Student Association

Sports

Boys
  • Golf
  • Gymnastics
  • Soccer
  • Swimming
  • Tennis
  • Track and field
  • Wrestling

On April 20, 2019 the Bel Air High School Boys soccer team won the 5A state championship.[3] It was the Highlanders first ever state championship in soccer.[3] It was one of two state championships that the city of El Paso, TX claimed that day. The San Eli High School boys soccer team also won their perspective division.[4] The Highlanders first made school history in the 2019 season by advancing to the final four for the first time. To win the state championship, the highlanders knocked off the two time defending state champions Frisco Wakeland. The game was won by a second half goal scored by the Highlander's Ivar Arroyo who was later named the MVP of the match.[4]

Girls
  • Mu Delta Chi
  • Basketball
  • Cheer-leading
  • Cross country
  • Golf
  • Gymnastics
  • Soccer
  • Softball
  • Swimming
  • Tennis
  • Track and field
  • Volleyball
  • Wrestling

References
  1. "BEL AIR H S". National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved January 4, 2020.
  2. Bel Air Highlander Alumni
  3. Heck, Kaylee (20 April 2019). "Bel Air soccer wins first-ever 5A State Championship". KFOX.
  4. Kaplowitz, Steve (April 26, 2019). "Bel Air, San Eli bring home state soccer championships". El Paso Inc.
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