As of the late 1970s the school was considered to be the best in its area, according to Wells. It was known for having a university preparatory curriculum. Austin High was called a National Blue Ribbon School in 1982–83. Downtown Austin, the Westcreek Neighborhood and the family apartment complexes of the University of Texas at Austin are zoned to Austin High School. Other Austin High neighborhoods include Zilker, Barton Hills, Travis Country, and Tarrytown. Austin High School historically had a reputation as an elite school as it was associated with wealthy neighborhoods in the western part of Austin.   the school was 54% non-Hispanic White, 37% Hispanic and Latino, 8% black, and 2% Asian, reflecting the overall demographics of Austin. As of 1980 most of the White students originated from west Austin, including Tarrytown. There were also middle class and poor students. Some black students originated from Clarksville, an area housing servants' quarters that, until school desegregation, was served by segregated black schools. By 1980, court-ordered desegregation added a heavily Hispanic and Latino section of South Austin, and a black section of northeast Austin to the student population. As of the late 1970s the school was 66% White, 19% Hispanic, and 15% African-American, making it one of the more racially balanced AISD schools; at the time there was less Hispanic representation and more White representation than the district average. In 1980 the federal court system forced AISD to begin desegregation busing. Austin High School offers many different athletic programs for students: football, basketball, tennis, golf, mountain biking, swimming, baseball, volleyball, soccer, track and field, cross country, lacrosse, and cheerleading. The Austin High football team won the 1942 state championship. Former NFL offensive tackle Mike Rosenthal is the head coach of the school's football team.