Holmes High School Information

Oliver Wendell Holmes High School is in another year of excellence as a comprehensive secondary school of scholarship and activity.

Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr., son of Oliver Wendell Holmes, a noted poet, essayist and physician, and Amelia Jackson, a daughter of a chief justice of the Massachusetts Judical Court, was born on March 8, 1841.

Educated at Harvard, holmes was graduated and commissioned a lieutenant in the Twentieth Massachusetts Infantry in June, 1861. He was wounded three times in three famous battles of the Civil War: Ball's Bluff, Anietam, and Fredericksburg, and was discharged with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.

On leaving the army, Holmes entered the Harvard Law School and took his L.L.B. in 1866. In 1870, he became the editor of the American Law Journal. The following year, Harvard appointed him university lecturer on jurisprudence, and in 1882, he was awarded a professorship in the Harvard Law School. For twenty years, Holmes served on the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachussetts, and was chief justice the last three.

In 1902, President Theodore Roosevelt appointed Holmes an Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court. Roosevelt had hoped to put Holmes' rather "liberal" mind to work for his administration. He was proven wrong in this as Holmes demonstrated his independence of mind in many dissenting minority opinions. This led to his title as "The Great Dissenter."

Until his retirement in 1932, he continued to demonstrate his originality of thought, his legal scholarship, and his mastery of pungent style.

From the Holmes High School Student Handbook

General Information
Located on a thirty acre tract on the southeast quadrant at the intersection of Ingram Road and Loop 410, it is also unique in its innovative circular design.

The initial construction in 1964 accommodated twelve hundred students in three circular buildings. The fourth building was built in 1970 to accommodate twelve hundred and thirty more students. Two vocational buildings have been added along with the new boys' gym and math building. Library, homemaking, cafeteria and administrative offices renovation has also taken place. In 1993, the new Fine Arts wing was completed. It houses the band, orchestra, drama, and choir departments. Holmes High School can now accommodate approximately 3,000 students.

With the passage of the 2001 Bond, a new classroom/office building has been constructed, along with renovations to the science labs, B building and library.

Accreditation
Holmes High School is accredited by the Texas Education Agency.

Curriculum
The school provides a differentiated curriculum with levels of instruction allowing teachers to present course materials to meet the unique needs and abilities of their students. Advanced programs are offered in English III AP/Honors, English IV AP/Honors and Spanish IV AP/Honors. The AP and upper-level language courses allow students to experience college level course work. Honors courses are offered in the core curriculum. Gifted/Talented programs are offered to students who qualify for special programs. Vocational offerings include various lab, shop and cooperative work programs.

Community
Holmes High School is located in the northwest suburban area of San Antonio, Texas. Its community is culturally diversified, comprising upper-middle class to middle class families. The learning community is a collaboration of working professionals and skilled residents who play an active role in their students' education.

Composition
A comprehensive public high school, Holmes is one of seven high schools in the Northside Independent School District. The approximate enrollment is 2150 students with an ethnic breakdown of <1% American Indian, 1% Asian, 8% African American, 11% Anglo and 80% Hispanic.

Class Ranking
All courses for which graduation credit are given are included in the grade average and ranking. Weighted grades are used to determine grade average and rank in class, but are not reflected on the Academic Achievement Record. Honors courses (designated "H") are awarded five rank points per semester. Advanced Placement courses (designated "AP") are awarded eight rank points per semester. Basic Learning Lab courses (designated "B") are awarded five fewer rank points per semester

State Testing
9th, 10th and 11th grade students must pass the TAKS test. 12th grade students must pass the TAAS Test.

Calendar
The school year consists of two eighteen-week semesters. Each semester is divided into three 6-week periods. The fall semester begins in August and ends in December. The spring semester begins in January and ends in May.

Students attend 7 forty-eight minute classes each day (plus lunch). Students have the opportunity to earn seven credits per year.

Image: From Revolution to Reconstruction [Online} Available http://odur.let.rug.nl/~usa/B/oliver/oliverxx.htm, 8/31/05.