Robert E. Lee High School (Baytown, Texas)


Robert E. Lee High School is a 5A public high school in Baytown, Texas, that serves grades 9 through 12. Lee is one of four high schools in the Goose Creek Consolidated Independent School District, which serves all of Baytown and Highlands, Texas. The other three are Ross S. Sterling High School, Goose Creek Memorial High School, and IMPACT Early College High School. The school has had a significant demographic shift as with many public schools in the Houston area. The school went from a non-Hispanic white-majority to a Hispanic-majority in the 2000s. As of 2019 the school's ethnic breakdown is 10 percent non-Hispanic White, 73 percent Hispanic, 15 percent African-American, and 2 percent other.

History

On April 29, 1987, a three-alarm fire destroyed the interior of the main building. Initially thought to be accidental, the fire was eventually ruled arson. The main building interior was rebuilt and formally rededicated in 1988. The incident is mentioned in the Mean Gene Kelton song "Cruisin' Texas Avenue".

The Lee Brigadiers

From the early 1930s to 2001, REL High School was also home to a unique and famous tradition. The Lee Brigadiers were an all-female drum and bugle corps that marched military style in football games and parades. While a more common group in the middle of the 20th century, all-female drum and bugle corps were all but extinct by the 1980s, having been replaced by dance teams and pep squads. The Lee Brigadiers continued their traditions of marching in maroon military uniforms with boots and skirts until they were the last group of its kind, finally succumbing to lack of student interest. Now the school is home to a dance team, the Lee Celebrities.

State Historical Site

In February 2011, at the request of the Baytown Historical Preservation Association, the school was designated by the state as a historical site. The Historical Preservation Association believed that Lee was eligible for the designation because of its age, unique architectural facade, and its importance to the Baytown community, and deserved to be recognized. A dedication ceremony took place on April 27, 2013.

Academics

Alongside the typical core courses offered at all high school, Lee also offers some advanced courses in various fields. The school offers Advanced Placement courses for Calculus AB, Calculus BC, Statistics, Physics, Art History, World History, U.S. History, European History, English Language, English Literature, American Government, Computer Science A, and Computer Science AB. In 2007, the school produced twenty five AP Scholars, and twenty nine in 2006.
Lee also participates, annually, in the UIL competitions.

Notable alumni