By Melanie Melchor and Sama Abudhhir, Cypress Park HS (A High School Journalism Network Collaboration)

Cypress Park High School will celebrate its 10th anniversary this year. Established in 2016 as CFISD’s 11th high school, Cypress Park has built a distinct identity and continues to add to its legacy.

The 590,000-square-foot campus opened with only freshmen, drawing students that were zoned to Cypress Lakes and Cypress Springs high schools, with most coming from Kahla, Thornton and Hopper middle schools. Designed by PBK Architects and built by Satterfield & Pontikes Construction, the campus is part of a 179-acre educational village which also houses Rowe Middle School. Chris Hecker, assistant superintendent for secondary school leadership, was the inaugural principal of Cypress Park and served in the role for the school’s first nine years.

“It’s a huge task, opening a high school, and it was just a pleasure being able to collaborate with such great educators and setting the foundation,” Hecker said. “What are we going to be about? Really listening to our students and what they wanted to accomplish in their four years. That’s where the motto ‘Rise Up, Take Courage, Do It' came from, and your now determines your next, and how do we create a great space for everybody.”

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From the beginning, students made their mark. In Cypress Park’s first year, FFA agricultural mechanics students earned a “Grand Champion” award for a flatbed trailer creation, cross country qualified for regionals, swimmer Elizabeth Sandberg advanced to regionals and band student Elise Gonzalez earned first chair in the All-Region Freshmen Band.

In the years that followed, swimmer Alejandro Mora became a district champion and record holder in 2018, girls’ wrestling sent Dana Ruiz and Fahydat Bello to the state meet, and the Flairs dance team won a “Super Sweepstakes” award. Debate student Tiffany Damon reached the state semifinals, and Kammi Estelle, Cypress Park choir director, received the Grammy Music Educator Award. In 2022, varsity football secured its first district championship and by 2023 Cypress Park percussion had earned a world-class title.

Recent years have continued to bring success to Cypress Park. In 2025, debate student Nicole Lee ranked No. 1 in Texas and No. 9 in the nation in dramatic interpretation with the National Speech and Debate Association. Advanced journalism students also earned recognition, with Sama Abudhhir winning first in yearbook layout and second in photojournalism at the TSA State Competition, and Melanie Melchor named CFISD High School Journalism Network Photographer of the Year. That same year, Cypress Park was ranked No. 4 in the Gold Ribbon Children at Risk Index and was featured on ABC’s “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.” Last year also marked the first year for Principal Dr. Mike Contreras after Hecker became an assistant superintendent.

Chris Hecker, assistant superintendent for secondary school leadership and inaugural Cypress Park High School principal,

“It was a humbling and proud moment to be named principal of Cy Park, knowing I was stepping into a role with such a meaningful legacy,” Dr. Contreras said. “This school has a history of excellence, community and resilience, and I feel deeply responsible for honoring that while continuing to move us forward. My vision for the next 10 years at Cy Park is to build on our strong foundation by creating a school culture where every student feels seen, supported and challenged to reach their full potential. I want to strengthen academic excellence, expand career and college readiness and foster leadership at all levels. Beyond that, I see Cy Park continuing to grow as a model of innovation, inclusion and pride for our district and beyond.”

Editor's Note: This article was written by Melanie Melchor and Sama Abudhhir, students at Cypress Park High School in Cypress-Fairbanks ISD, through a partnership between My Neighborhood News and the District as part of an established high school journalism network collaboration. My Neighborhood News is a proud supporter of local youth and warmly welcomes the opportunity to provide a platform for students to share their work.