Taft High School was the fifth NISD high school, and the first outside Loop 1604. It is home to the magnet school Communications Arts High School which focuses primarily on college readiness and technology. The building was designed by Noonan & Dockery & Noonan & Rogers Architects and was built by the H.B. Zachry Company.
The Taft Raider Band has over 190 students from Communications Arts and Taft. The band qualified for the state marching contest in 2014. They participate in Region 29 and Area H UIL competitions.
Taft Raiders football
In December 2001 the Taft Raiders competed in the 2001 class 5A Division 1 State Championship game. The Taft Raiders faced the Mesquite Skeeters at Alamo Stadium in San Antonio,Texas. But the Taft Raiders would lose to the Skeeters by a final score of 14-13. And the Taft Raiders became 2001 State runner-up.
The Taft Raiders year by year results of Texas high school football are below from 1997-2023
Years
Records
Head Coach
Season Results
1997
N/A
N/A
State Semifinalist losing to Katy Tigers 16-35 (5A D1)
2001
12-3
Bridges
State Finalist losing to Mesquite Skeeters 13-14 (5A D1)
2003
7-4
Bridges
Bi District round losing to Smithson Valley Rangers 14-24(5A D2)
2004
10-4
Bridges
State Quarterfinalist losing to Smithson Valley Rangers 24-42 (5A D2)
2005
2-8
Davenport
No playoffs
2006
4-6
Davenport
No playoffs
2007
4-7
Davenport
Bi District round losing to East Central 17-22 (5A D2)
2008
3-7
Davenport
No playoffs
2009
5-5
Davenport
No playoffs
2010
1-9
Davenport
No playoffs
2011
1-9
Davenport
No playoffs
2012
3-7
Davenport
No playoffs
2013
2-8
Davenport
No playoffs
2014
4-6
Davenport
No playoffs
2015
3-7
Davenport
No playoffs
2016
4-6
Davenport
No playoffs
2017
2-8
Davenport
No playoffs
2018
3-8
Stade
No playoffs
2019
3-7
Stade
No playoffs
2020
8-4
Stade
3rd round playoff loss to Hays 41-62 (6A D2)
2021
9-3
Stade
2nd round playoff loss to Edinburg Vela 24-27 (6A D2)
2022
8-4
Stade
2nd round playoff loss to San Benito 19-38 (6A D1)
2023
6-5
Stade
Bi District finalist losing to Laredo United 28-35 (6A D1)
Notable alumni
Derek Cecil (Class of 1991) — Actor; starred in House of Cards on Netflix[6]
Otis McDaniel (Class of 2004) — Gold medal winning sprinter specializing in the 100 and 200 meters dashes[7]