Highland Park High School Is One Impressive Place
Highland Park High School is a prominent public institution, located in the wealthy Dallas neighborhood of University Park, five miles north of downtown Dallas. The school is known as an athletic power that has produced several professional athletes. The tennis team alone has won 12 state championships and in 2005, Sports Illustrated named it the best sports program in Texas.
The two most prominent current Highland Park High alums are Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford and Los Angeles Dodgers ace pitcher Clayton Kershaw. The young stars were teammates on the school's varsity baseball team, with Stafford serving as Kershaw's catcher. Kershaw was named Gatorade National Player of the Year for baseball, with Stafford named a Parade All-American and five-star recruit by rivals.com for his football accomplishments. Stafford led Highland Park to the 2005 4A Division 1 Texas state championship in football.
Both men graduated in 2006.
Stafford went on to star at the University of Georgia before the Lions selected him with the first overall pick of the 2009 NFL Draft. Kershaw was selected by the Dodgers in the first round of the 2006 MLB Draft.
Two of the most legendary football players of all-time also came out of Highland Park. Quarterback Bobby Layne and running back Doak Walker played together at both Highland Park and with the Detroit Lions. The Hall of Famers were high school stars from 1942-45.
It is interesting to note the long standing connection that exists between Highland Park High School Athletics and the Lions.
Currently, the most unique athletic feature of the school is the football and soccer teams' $4.5 million indoor practice facility. This became a national story during last February's Super Bowl. Due to the poor weather conditions in Dallas, the Packers were forced to move practice into the school's indoor facility. Below is an ifollosports.com original photo of the field from Super Bowl week.
Other notable non-sports Highland Park alums include legendary television producer Aaron Spelling, as well as actresses Angie Harmon, Morgan Fairchild and Jayne Mansfield. On an infamous note, attempted Reagan assassin John Hinckley Jr. also attended the renowned high school.
