West Mesa High School
{{Short description|High School in Albuquerque, New Mexico}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{More citations needed|date=May 2024}}
{{Infobox school
| name = West Mesa High School
| logo = West Mesa High School Athletics logo.png
| logo_size = 200px
| image = West Mesa High School Main Entryway.jpg
| caption = Main entrance
| motto = Knowledge Today, Success Tomorrow!
| streetaddress = 6701 Fortuna Rd. NW
| city = Albuquerque
| state = New Mexico
| zipcode = 87121
| country = United States
| established = 1966
| type = Public high school
| principal = Michele Torres
| enrollment = 1,612 (2023-2024){{cite web|url=https://nces.ed.gov/ccd/schoolsearch/school_detail.asp?Search=1&DistrictID=3500060&SchoolPageNum=11&ID=350006000119|title=WEST MESA HIGH|publisher=National Center for Education Statistics|accessdate=December 28, 2024}}
| campus = Suburban
| colors = {{Color box|Red|border=darkgray}} Scarlet
{{Color box|#003399|border=darkgray}} Royal Blue
{{Color box|White|border=darkgray}} White
| conference = NMAA, 6A Dist. 5
| mascot = Mustang
| rival = Rio Grande High
Atrisco Heritage High
Valley High
Albuquerque High
| yearbook = El Espiritu
| website = https://westmesa.aps.edu
}}
West Mesa High School (WMHS) is a Public School in Albuquerque, New Mexico, located on the west side of the city (West Mesa). It is a part of Albuquerque Public Schools. The school colors are scarlet, royal blue and white, and their mascot is the Mustang.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nmact.org/2019/08/schools-have-something-for-everyone-as-new-year-begins-a-look-at-participation-numbers-across-the-nation/|title="Schools have something for everyone" as new year begins; A look at participation numbers across the nation|date=August 29, 2019}}
Academics
=Student body statistics=
| class="wikitable" ; |
| style="text-align:center;"
! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Ethnicity ! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | This school ! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | State average |
| White (not Hispanic)
| 19% | 29% |
| Hispanic (of any race)
| 69% | 56% |
| American Indian/Alaskan Native
| 7% | 11% |
| African American
| 4% | 3% |
| Pacific Islander
| 1% | 1% |
Films shot on Campus
- The 1971 drama Making It was filmed in the summer of 1970.
- The 2008 comedy Hamlet 2 was filmed from September through October 2007.{{cite news | author=Megan Martin | title=Students learn about making movies from an on-the-set perspective | publisher=Albuquerque Journal | date=2007-11-06}}
- The 2011 musical drama Lemonade Mouth was filmed in the spring of 2010.
Athletics
WMHS competes in the New Mexico Activities Association (NMAA), as a class 6A school in District 5. In 2014, the NMAA realigned the state's schools into six classifications and adjusted district boundaries.{{Cite web |title=Section 4 |url=http://www.nmact.org/file/Section_4.pdf |website=www.nmact.org}} In addition to West Mesa High School, the schools in District 5-6A include: Albuquerque High School, Rio Grande High School, Valley High School and Atrisco Heritage Academy High School.{{Cite web |url=http://www.nmact.org/alignments/ |title=NM MVP Pub: Alignments |access-date=2011-04-22 |archive-date=2012-07-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120721011502/http://www.nmact.org/alignments/ |url-status=dead }}
WMHS has captured 12 State Championships, most in AAAA.
| class="wikitable"
! colspan="4"|State Championships | |||
| Season | Sport | Number of Championships || Year | |
|---|---|---|---|
| rowspan="1"|Fall | Volleyball | align="center"|6 | 1992, 1990, 1989, 1988, 1985, 1984 |
| rowspan="1"|Winter | Wrestling | align="center"|4 | 1999, 1994, 1991, 1990 |
| rowspan="2"|Spring | Softball | align="center"|1 | 2004 |
| Boys Track and Field | align="center"|1 | 1986 | |
| align="center" colspan="2"|Total | align="center"|12 |
Notable alumni
File:West Mesa High School Gym Entryway.jpg
- Randy Castillo (1968), rock drummer{{cite news | last=Chavez | first=Barbara | title=Former Ozzy, Motley Crue Drummer Dies of Cancer | newspaper=Albuquerque Journal | date=March 28, 2002 | location=NM}}
- Jordan Espinosa, state champion wrestler; current mixed martial artist for the UFC{{Cite web|url=https://www.abqjournal.com/1202477/espinosa-gets-experience-to-go-with-talent.html|title=Moving quickly helps West Mesa alum Espinosa get UFC deal|first=Rick Wright | Journal Staff|last=Writer|website=www.abqjournal.com}}
- Sandy R. Jones, former member of the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission
- Damacio Page, state champion wrestler; current mixed martial artist, formerly for the WEC and the UFC{{cite web|title=Damacio Page MMA Bio|url=http://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Damacio-Page-12158|accessdate=2014-01-01}}
- Steven Michael Quezada (1981), actor, writer, producer, comedian, and politician{{cite news | last=Journal Staff | title=Candidate Q & A – APS District 5 | newspaper=Albuquerque Journal | date=January 26, 2013 | location=NM}}
- Al Unser Jr. (1980), race car driver{{cite news | last=Casaus | first=Phill | title=West Mesa High School prepares for the future | newspaper=Albuquerque Tribune | date=September 26, 2006 | location=NM}}
- Joey Villasenor (attended) mixed martial artist{{cite web|title=Joey Villasenor MMA Bio|url=http://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Joey-Villasenor-528|accessdate=2014-01-01}}
Footnotes
{{reflist}}
{{commons category}}
{{Albuquerque, New Mexico}}
{{Education in Bernalillo County, New Mexico}}
{{NNAA 6A}}
{{authority control}}
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Category:High schools in Albuquerque, New Mexico
Category:Public high schools in New Mexico
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