Plano ISD aims to increase student engagement and school pride by unifying 9-10th grade campuses’ mascots and colors with their senior-high counterparts starting this fall.
According to the district, having different mascots and colors can cause scheduling challenges with other districts and challenges in recruiting coaching staff.
“There’s strength, unity and cohesion in all being on the same team and fighting for the same brand,” PISD Athletic Director Jeff Smith said in a February 7 board meeting. “One team, one nation, one brand.”
The new alignment will separate all Plano high schools into wildcats, panthers or wolves.
- Plano Senior High School, Clark High School and Vines High School will rep maroon and white for the Wildcats.
- Plano East Senior High School, McMillen High School and Williams High School will don black and gold for the Panthers.
- Plano West Senior High School, Jaspen High School and Shepton High School will rep blue, white and black for the Wolves.
Though uniform changes will be made starting next school year, the facility changes will be made in phases over the next three years, including repainting gym floors, updating signs and redesigning high schools so they match senior highs.
Funding will be provided through existing annual budgets and projects approved under the November 2022 bond election. These changes are limited to the athletics department and will not affect fine arts.
