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Home My WebLink AboutHistory of College Station ISDHistory of College Station ISDHistory of College Station ISDA&M Consolidated Rural School:A&M Consolidated Rural School:The Establishment, Growth, Support, The Establishment, Growth, Support, Consolidation and Independence ofConsolidation and Independence ofa New School Districta New School District20062006 Early in the history of the area now known as the city of College Station, not much existed. The town was identified by a flag stop on the Houston & Texas Central Railroad line established in 1883 for the convenience of travel to the college – The Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas – presently known as Texas A&M University.A City Built Around a College, Railroad Stop and a Post Office Only a few years earlier the post office for the college was established in 1877. The post office was named College Station because of its close proximity to the railroad tracks. A City Built Around a College, Railroad Stop and a Post Office As the city grew up around the post office, railroad station and the college the area acquired the post office name –College Station. The city was incorporated in 1938.Much like the town of College Station, the College Station School District has deep rooted ties with Texas A&M University Prior to College Station becoming a city, children attended the many rural schools around the area including Union Hill, Wellborn, Rock Prairie, Shiloh, Peach Creek, and Minter Springs Common School Districts. Shiloh School located just south of Southwest Parkway and Texas Avenue These rural school buildings were typically one or two room school buildings with multiple grades attending in one building. In the rural schools there was typically one teacher for all the studentsRural Common School Districts in the Area The Rock Prairie School and church still operational today is located on E. Rock Prairie Road. 1900currentRural Common School Districts in the Area There were a small number of children of the faculty and staff who lived in housing on the A&M campus.These children were either informally tutored or attended neighboring districts. Campus House in 1928 Students from the surrounding common school districts of Wellborn (CSD #2), Union Hill (CSD #6), and Shirock (CSD #13) which was the combination of Shiloh and Rock Prairie, were persuaded to come to school on the college campus. Important to note that this was an unofficial consolidation. The districts pooled monies and resources but the CSDs did not formally consolidated until 1928. At this point Professor Hayes, Dean E.J. Kyle and Professor E.J. Fermierwho had been appointed by the college president William Bennett Bizzellserved as the acting board of trustees for the school district. A Public School District on a College Campus While the actual school building was being completed, classes began on September 28, 1920 with about 160 students beginning the school year in Guion Hall. A Public School District on a College Campus Not long after the school year began, the entire school was moved into the new building. The A&M College School was a three story stucco building erected right on campus by the dorms near Duncan Hall. A Public School District on a College Campus Duncan Hall on current TAMU campus- Area near Guion Hall and A&M SchoolA Public School District on a College Campus President Bizzell appropriated $25,000 for the construction of the school building.Interestingly this money had been previously appropriated by the legislature to build a new president’s home on campus. A Public School District on a College Campus The college not only provided the school building, but many other forms of support as well. Two Oldsmobile buses were purchased to provide transportation for the rural common school district children onto campus and home again at the end of the school day. Equipment and materials were both purchased and loaned to the school from various college departments. Additionally, several of the high school teacher’s salaries were paid for by the Department of Vocational Teaching as the college students were benefiting from nearby practice teaching opportunities. A Public School District on a College Campus When the original A&M College School became overcrowded, the entire High School department was relocated to PfeIffer Hall. The entire A&M Consolidated School was housed on campus for approximately 20 years. A Public School District on a College Campus The A&M College School was designed to be one of the best of its time. Only the most qualified teachers were hired for each grade level. The student/teacher ratio was kept low with no more than 25 – 35 students per grade level. The A&M College School benefited greatly from being on campus. Students and faculty had access to campus facilities like the zoo, Textile Engineering Plant, and the laundry. The children enjoyed fieldtrips to the A&M Creamery, the hog barn, the poultry farm, the meat center and the library. A Public School District on a College Campus As evidenced by Betty Jo Hale’s 2ndgrade report card from the 1934-1935 school year, the curriculum provided a basic core education. Both college preparatory courses as well as vocational training. A Public School District on a College Campus The school grew quicklyWhen it became evident that more space and increased resources would be necessary, the school trustees met with the college to determine the district’s next steps. The college officials indicated that no further support could be provided. Plans were made to move the school off campus.Moving Off Campus On February 25, 1939, voters unanimously approved a bond election that would fund the new school building. A group of 116 citizens pooled resources and purchased a piece of land at the corner of Jersey (now known as George Bush Drive), and Holik Streets. A&M Consolidated Rural School On March 18, 1939 architects Ernest Langford and Jack Finney, both professors in the College of Architecture were awarded the job of designing the new school Their architecture students were given the assignment to design the new school with the contractor’s approval of course. What resulted was a plan for an elementary building with 14 classrooms and the necessary office space and a high school with eight classrooms. An additional building was planned to house music instruction and the industrial arts classes.Within six weeks of the original plan, a contract for two more classrooms was initiated when it was determined that there would not be enough space. Moving Off CampusA&M Consolidated Rural School Elementary High School Vocational Arts and Music BuildingThe buildings were completed and formally accepted on March 8, 1940. School furniture and equipment was moved from the prior campus locations into the new A&M Consolidated Rural School. Moving Off CampusA&M Consolidated Rural School The A&M Consolidated Rural School was very much a community affair.Not only did the citizens purchase the land upon which it sits, the community contributed to the everyday upkeep of the building and grounds as well. Men from the community brought in trees and shrubbery from the Brazos and Navasota river bottoms for transplanting at the new campus. An annual supper was hosted by the mothers and fathers to raise money for the school. Parents worked on the weekends on landscaping, grounds keeping, and even pouring concrete sidewalks to connect the buildings. A&M Consolidated Rural School Mrs. Holzmann’s 3rd Grade ClassA&M Consolidated Elementary School1940-1941Moving Off CampusA&M Consolidated Rural School As the city of College Station grew so too did the educational facilities of the district. Another bond election was held to finance a gymnasium-auditorium building, an athletic field complex, a bus garage and bleachers at the stadium. These were completed in 1942. In 1948 a new high school was built Another bond election was held to finance a gymnasium-auditorium building, an athletic field complex, a bus garage and bleachers at the stadium. These were completed in 1942. A District Growth Spurt New High School built in 1948 at 1300 Jersey StreetA District Growth Spurt A&M Consolidated Rural School cafeteria and 1stgrade wing were added in 1951. These two buildings are the oldest remaining buildings from the original property site. A&M Consolidated Rural School cafeteria and 1st grade wingA District Growth Spurt A&M Consolidated Rural School cafeteria and 1st grade wingA District Growth SpurtCurrent cafeteria building and 1stgrade wing constructed in 1951. The cafeteria now houses the Barbara Bush Parent Center. The 1stgrade wing now serves as classrooms for the Venture Centers Alternative Education Campus, administrative offices and a childcare room for the Barbara Bush Parent Center.Barbara Bush Parent Center1stGrade Wing 1966-1967 Fourth GradeA District Growth Spurt New High School Opened 1954 at 200 Anderson StreetA District Growth Spurt The “Dome” located behind the new high school on Anderson Street.This building was a 600 seat multipurpose auditorium. A District Growth Spurt A&M Consolidated Rural School K-12 CampusArial photograph of A&M Consolidated Rural School ComplexBordered by Holik, Jersey (George Bush Drive) and TimberA District Growth Spurt South Knoll Elementary School1220 Boswell StreetOpened in 1967Renovations-1978 added multipurpose building and kindergarten wing1997 Complete renovation began –finished in 1998College Hills Elementary School1101 Williams Opened in 1960Renovations-1978 added multipurpose building and kindergarten wing1997 – added new building with eight classroomsPresent Day College Station ISDPicture of the actual facilities is difficult to take because of the design of the school. Oakwood Intermediate School 106 Holik Street Opened in 19781994 – new addition opened1999 – additional facilities opened new constructionAnother new high school was built in 1972. This time at the site of the current high school.1801 Harvey Mitchell Parkway SouthRenovations-1978 – added vocation wing1983 - added music wing, gymnasium, cafetorium and classrooms1989 – new athletic complex opened1998 – large scale remodel completed 19992000 – Greenhouse addedPresent Day College Station ISD Rock Prairie Elementary School 3400 Welsh Opened 1989Southwood Valley Elementary School 2700 Brothers BoulevardOpened 1983Present Day College Station ISD Pebble Creek Elementary School200 ParkviewOpened 1996Willow Branch Intermediate School105 HolikOpened 19942000 - Name changed to A&M Middle School. Significant remodel completed the same year. Present Day College Station ISD Forest Ridge Elementary School1950 Greens Prairie RoadOpened 2005Cypress Grove Intermediate School900 Graham Road SouthOpened 1999Present Day College Station ISD Present Day College Station ISDHistorical Marker erected in 1991A&M College Consolidated Rural SchoolThe State of Texas granted a charter for an independent school district to encompass the Texas A&M College campus in 1909. Because there was not a sufficient number of students in the district to support a school, A&M president William Bizzell and professor Martin Hayes, head of the department of vocational teaching, persuaded the leaders of three surrounding common school districts to send their students to a new school to be located on the college campus. The new school opened in 1920 with 304 students. It was supported by A&M college with funding for buildings, teacher salaries, furniture and equipment. It became a model for rural schools in the area, and by 1928 the surrounding school districts officially dissolved and merged with A&M College Consolidated Independent School District. By 1938 the school facilities had become overcrowded. Because the college was not able to increase its contributions to the institution, the school moved off the A&M campus in 1940. With the move came the genesis of the College Station Independent School District. ReferencesBalliew, D.L. (1987). History of College Station Texas 1938-1988. College Station, TX: Intaglio Press. Retrieved November 8, 2006, from http://docarc.cstx.gov/DocView.aspx?id=248347&dbid=1Beyer, K. (1991). Narrative for the application for a Texas state historical site marker for Shiloh community. Retrieved November 1, 2006, from http://docarc.cstx.gov/DocView.aspx?id=45524&dbid=1Borden, R. (2005). Historic Brazos county: An illustrated history. San Antonio, TX: Historical Publishing Network: A Division of Lammert Incorporated. Bunting, W.D. (1945, August 9). Your city. The Battalion. College Station school district history. (n.d.). Retrieved November 8, 2006, from http://docarc.cstx.gov/DocView.aspx?id=48089&dbid=1Fox, S. (1998). The architecture and design review of Houston. Rice Design Alliance. Retrieved October 23, 2006, from http://docarc.cstx.gov/DocView.aspx?id=73263&dbid=1Garcia, L.M., & Donaldson, M.R. (1991, June, 30). A&M college consolidated rural school. The Eagle. The handbook of Texas online. (n.d.). Retrieved September 1, 2006, from http://www.tsha.utexas.edu/handbook/online/articles/CC/hdc2.htmlHughes, W.L. (1945, July 19 – August 2). Your city. The Battalion.Landis, G.B. (n.d.). Memories of the A&M consolidated school in the 1940s. Retrieved October 23, 2006, from http://docarc.cstx.gov/DocView.aspx?id=55612&dbid=1Robertson, J.R. (n.d.). East Gate memory lane: Early education, location of school, teachers, etc. Retrieved November 8, 2006, from http://docarc.cstx.gov/DocView.aspx?id=61429&dbid=1Texas Historical Commission. (1990). Application for a Texas state historical site marker for A&M college consolidated rural school. Retrieved November 1, 2006, from http://docarc.cstx.gov/DocView.aspx?id=45804&dbid=1Texas Historical Commission. (1992). Application for a Texas state historical site marker for Rock Prairie school and church, College Station, Texas. Retrieved November 1, 2006, from http://docarc.cstx.gov/DocView.aspx?id=45803&dbid=1A university tradition: College Station and Texas A&M take the leap from railroad flag stop to high tech center. (n.d.) Retrieved November 8, 2006, from http://docarc.cstx.gov/DocView.aspx?id=52426&dbid=1Van Riper, P.P. (n.d.). Evolution of Bryan and College Station. Retrieved September 23, 2006, from http://docarc.cstx.gov/DocView.aspx?id=51732&dbid=1 Slide#Slide#22One Railroad Depot One Railroad Depot ––http://docarc.cstx.gov/DocView.aspx?id=51813&dbid=1http://docarc.cstx.gov/DocView.aspx?id=51813&dbid=133Two Depots Two Depots --http://docarc.cstx.gov/DocView.aspx?id=247579&dbid=1http://docarc.cstx.gov/DocView.aspx?id=247579&dbid=144City Limits City Limits --http://http://docarc.cstx.gov/DocView.aspx?iddocarc.cstx.gov/DocView.aspx?id=50243&dbid=1=50243&dbid=155Shiloh School Shiloh School --http://http://docarc.cstx.gov/DocView.aspx?iddocarc.cstx.gov/DocView.aspx?id=28121&dbid=1=28121&dbid=166Rock Prairie School and Church Rock Prairie School and Church ––http://www.lifeinthebrazos.com/articles/churches_in_the_brazoshttp://www.lifeinthebrazos.com/articles/churches_in_the_brazos77Campus Housing Campus Housing --http://http://docarc.cstx.gov/DocView.aspx?iddocarc.cstx.gov/DocView.aspx?id=60633&dbid=1=60633&dbid=199GuionGuionHall Hall ––http://cushing.tamu.edu/collections/images/pages/basicsearch.phphttp://cushing.tamu.edu/collections/images/pages/basicsearch.php?s?s=search=search1010School on Campus School on Campus --http://http://docarc.cstx.gov/DocView.aspx?iddocarc.cstx.gov/DocView.aspx?id=60641&dbid=1=60641&dbid=11111A&M Map A&M Map ––www.tamu.edu/map/gifs/campus1.pdfwww.tamu.edu/map/gifs/campus1.pdf1212CloseClose--up of School on Campus up of School on Campus --http://http://docarc.cstx.gov/DocView.aspx?iddocarc.cstx.gov/DocView.aspx?id=64273&dbid=1=64273&dbid=11414PfeufferPfeufferHall Hall --http://docarc.cstx.gov/DocView.aspx?id=60638&dbid=1http://docarc.cstx.gov/DocView.aspx?id=60638&dbid=11616Report Card Report Card --http://http://docarc.cstx.gov/DocView.aspx?iddocarc.cstx.gov/DocView.aspx?id=49960&dbid=1=49960&dbid=12020Arial view Arial view ––courtesy of Royce Hickman, College Station ISDcourtesy of Royce Hickman, College Station ISD2222Class picture Class picture --http://http://docarc.cstx.gov/DocView.aspx?iddocarc.cstx.gov/DocView.aspx?id=24987&dbid=1=24987&dbid=124241950 High School 1950 High School ––1988 A&M Consolidated Yearbook, 1988 A&M Consolidated Yearbook, TigerlandTigerland2525Cafeteria and 1st Grade Wing Cafeteria and 1st Grade Wing ––1988 A&M Consolidated Yearbook, 1988 A&M Consolidated Yearbook, TigerlandTigerland2727Class Picture Class Picture --http://http://docarc.cstx.gov/DocView.aspx?iddocarc.cstx.gov/DocView.aspx?id=200505&dbid=1=200505&dbid=12828Modern High School Modern High School ––1988 A&M Consolidated Yearbook, 1988 A&M Consolidated Yearbook, TigerlandTigerland2929Dome Dome --http://http://docarc.cstx.gov/DocView.aspx?iddocarc.cstx.gov/DocView.aspx?id=181457&dbid=1=181457&dbid=13131--3535CSISD School Photos CSISD School Photos ––www.csisd.orgwww.csisd.orgPhoto and Picture Credits