The new school year is underway at Plano Senior High School, as juniors and seniors are welcomed back on campus this month for another year of learning. For the classes of 2026 and 2027, this year has particular significance, as they will be a part of the school’s 50th anniversary celebration. Since its opening in 1975, Plano Senior has served as the home to thousands of Wildcats and also a place where memories and friendships have been built for half a century.

New Statewide Polices

While the beginning of the school year is usually pretty calm for the wildcats, this year will have major changes from the Texas Legislature. On June 20th, 2025, the Texas governor Greg Abbot signed a bill to ban all personal technology from school campuses statewide. That includes phones, personal laptops, smart watches, smart glasses, and personal headphones. The goal of the bill is to improve the productivity of schools across the state. The Texas Senate passed it 31 to 0 vote. The House passed it by a vote of 126 to 17, 2 opting to vote. To be in compliance with this law, Plano ISD has updated its policy to include consequences like In-School Suspension (ISS) and Out-of-School Suspension (OSS) for violations. Other school districts in the North Texas region are choosing to instead charge parents up to $5 to get their confiscated devices back. 

Greg Abbot also passed a bill that bans all clubs that pertain to sexuality and gender identity. Because of this, many clubs have been either changed or not allowed to continue on school grounds. As well, clubs are now having to explicitly state that they welcome all students to join them in their mission statement. 

Find out who represents you: https://wrm.capitol.texas.gov/home

50 Year legacy

On another note, this year marks the 50th anniversary of Plano Senior High School. The current campus officially opened in 1975, replacing the original high school building that had served the district for 75 years before being retired. Over the past 5 decades, this campus has been home to generations of Wildcats and part of Plano’s pride.