PASCHAL ATHLETIC
CENTER
R. L. Paschal High School is
known for its academic achievements and as one of the few public high schools
offering a superior college-preparatory curriculum, it also boasts 24 National
Merit and Minority Semifinalists in the 2007-08 school year, far outpacing
other area schools. The 24 semifinalists
represent the most ever attained by a school public or private, in Tarrant
County. No other high school in Fort
Worth has a merit semifinalist. Twenty four Paschal students were named
Commended Scholars, and 13 were named Minority Scholars; added to the 24
semifinalists, a total of 55 Paschal students received 61 recognitions, far and
away the highest total of any area high school.
What you may not know about
Paschal is that it is the only 5A high school in Fort Worth, due in large part
to the number of transfers requesting to be a part of this multi-cultural
community in the inner city of Fort Worth.
Given the location of Paschal, the students are ethnically diverse with
55% Hispanic, 35% Caucasian, and 10% African-American/Asian. There are almost 600 transfer students of the
2230 currently enrolled. Over 1,000 or
45% are considered at risk students. In
addition, 814 students have been identified as disadvantaged, representing 36%
of the student body.
Unfortunately, there were 196
students who dropped out of Paschal High School last year. This information was taken from the PEIMS
Report provided by the school. Due to
the economic diversity and ethnic distribution Paschal is classified as a Title
I school.
While Paschal has done very well
in academics, the growth of the student body and landlocked position of the
school has restricted the growth of the athletic facilities. Compared to other 5A schools with whom Paschal competes, the Paschal athletic facilities are
outdated and are more comparable to those of a 2A school’s facilities in
size. While Fort Worth recently passed
the bond program, these funds will be going toward needed facility repairs,
additional classroom and educational technology upgrades. There is no funding available to improve
Paschal athletic facilities.
What does the Paschal athletic
program need to become comparable to the facilities of other 5A schools? A good
start would be an artificial turf field. Our current natural grass field, Bill
Allen Field, is both practice and game field for hundreds of students,
athletes, and community recreational users. The field is currently used by:
• Freshmen, JV and varsity football teams
for practice.
• Freshmen and JV football teams for
games.
• Boys and girls JV and varsity soccer
teams, for both practices and games.
• Boys and girls track and cross country.
• Paschal athletics for strength and
conditioning.
• Athletics and Physical Education
classes throughout the school day.
• The FWISD for middle school football
games.
• Pee Wee football teams on weekends.
Because of the constant use
throughout the year, the field never has time to rest and rejuvenate itself. As
a result, the field has become less than ideal.
The school district, the school
and concerned individuals have undertaken heroic efforts to salvage the field,
but with constant year round use, the field quickly reverts to its current worn
down and hardened condition.
The Paschal Athletic Committee
along with the FWISD, and Dr. Meng our Principal,
have given their approval for the Paschal Booster Club to raise the needed
funds to install an artificial turf field and secure it with a beautiful
wrought iron fence. It will take nearly $1 million to build our vision.
Some of the benefits of
installing an artificial turf field are:
• A turf field will promote a healthy
surface for the student athletes.
• A turf field can be used in all types
of weather.
• A turf field will give the band an
alternative venue to practice in a more performance-oriented condition, in
addition to the current parking lot.
• A new field will give the school’s
entire student body a source of pride and encourage more students to
participate in athletic activities.
With your help, we can revitalize
Bill Allen Field to a facility that we can all be proud of. Gifts can be made at the following levels: (see form)
All checks should be payable to
Paschal Booster Club and sent to the following address:
Paschal Booster
Club
c/o Stephen Wilson (class of ’80)
2312 Medford Court West
Fort Worth,
Texas 76109
Thank you for your support!
