Many spirit organizations preceded and contributed to the formation of a drill team at Texas High School. The Drum Corps, the Pep Squads, and the marching and twirling majorettes all set examples for the purposes and activities of a lineup of young ladies who would specialize in drill and dance performances. Finally, in 1960-1961, the school's first drill team, the Tigerettes, was created under the sponsorship of Mrs. Carolyn Thrash and Miss Barbara Lawton. The team consisted of thirty-three girls who performed at two football games, including Homecoming.

By the 1962-1963 school year, the name of the team had been changed to "Texas Twisters," and "Tigerettes" became the name of the Pep Squad. In spite of the enthusiasm shown for the Texas Twisters, the organization died out in subsequent years due to change in interests by many high-school girls. The Texas Tiger Times for April 24, 1970, reported that a new "special precision marching group" would be formed in the fall of the following year, but this drill team never materialized. Perhaps the attitudes of the late 1960's and early 1970's, a time when many students were striving for less structure in their lives, affected the fate of this organization.

For the 1978-1979 school year, a new drill team was established by Miss Denise Karpelenia. She called her team "The Highsteppers." During the summer of 1978, approximately ninety sophomores and juniors signed up for a shot at membership. After a week of learning dance and high-kick routines, the girls performed for five judges, who selected fifty-three for the team.

The rewards were many during that first year of the Highsteppers, as evidenced by the applause for their performances and the trophies and honors they brought home. Mrs. Jeanie Nutter became the new drill team instructor in 1988 and remained the sponsor for eight years. In 1996, she turned her duties over to current Highstepper sponsor, Mrs. Gigi Still.