Historic Temple
An illustrated history of the city of Temple, Texas, paired with the histories of companies, families and organizations that make the city great.
An illustrated history of the city of Temple, Texas, paired with the histories of companies, families and organizations that make the city great.
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TEMPLE<br />
INDEPENDENT<br />
SCHOOL<br />
DISTRICT<br />
❖<br />
Above: <strong>Temple</strong> High School as it<br />
appears today.<br />
Celebrating 125 years of outstanding<br />
academic progress, <strong>Temple</strong> Independent School<br />
District is unwaveringly committed to helping<br />
students achieve their highest potential and<br />
become meaningful contributors to their<br />
community and society.<br />
Led by a talented and dedicated staff that<br />
today includes over thirteen hundred employees<br />
across the District, <strong>Temple</strong> Public Schools was<br />
originally established on June 13, 1883, when a<br />
stock company was organized to construct<br />
<strong>Temple</strong> Academy. At the same time, a strong<br />
movement was under way to create a public<br />
school system. By the end of the year, the city<br />
voted to form an independent school district<br />
and take over the Academy.<br />
In 1889 the original frame building of the<br />
former Academy became too small and a twostory<br />
wing was added before the Third Ward<br />
school building was finally completed in 1890.<br />
That same year, <strong>Temple</strong> congratulated its first<br />
three school graduates—Alice Robbins, Kate<br />
Sloan, and Ray Wilcox.<br />
As <strong>Temple</strong> grew and the city welcomed new<br />
homes and businesses to the area, <strong>Temple</strong> ISD<br />
and citizens rallied together to create an<br />
outstanding educational outlet for the<br />
community through large bond issues and<br />
expansive construction. By the mid-1930s, a<br />
number of structures were being added along<br />
with a new cafeteria and a large gymnasium.<br />
<strong>Temple</strong> High School was rebuilt at a cost of<br />
nearly $3 million in 1965 and more classrooms<br />
were added throughout the 1970s. In April<br />
1996, voters approved a $38 million bond for<br />
renovations across the District.<br />
Today, <strong>Temple</strong> Independent School District<br />
is the city’s fourth largest employer and is a<br />
5A district with one early childhood center,<br />
nine elementary schools, three middle<br />
schools, and one high school, serving over<br />
8,000 students.<br />
Early childhood and elementary schools in<br />
the district include Bethune Early Childhood<br />
Center, Cater Elementary, Hector P. Garcia<br />
Elementary, Jefferson Elementary, Kennedy-<br />
Powell Elementary, Meridith-Dunbar<br />
Elementary, Raye-Allen Elementary, Scott<br />
Elementary, Thornton Elementary, and Western<br />
Hills Elementary. Middle Schools include<br />
Bonham, Lamar and Travis, while historic<br />
<strong>Temple</strong> High School has remained the only high<br />
school in the community since 1968.<br />
For more information about <strong>Temple</strong><br />
Independent School District, visit www.tisd.org.<br />
Right: Old <strong>Temple</strong> High<br />
School, 1923.<br />
122 ✦ HISTORIC TEMPLE
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