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Willis Independent School District

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Willis Independent School District
Address
204 W Rogers St
Willis
, Texas, 77378
United States
District information
TypePublic
MottoOne Team, One Purpose
GradesPK–12
SuperintendentKimberley James
Governing agencyTexas Education Agency
Schools11
NCES District ID4845900[1]
Students and staff
Enrollment8,793 (2022–2023)[1]
Teachers488.31 (on an FTE basis)
Student–teacher ratio18.01
Other information
Websitewww.willisisd.org

The Willis Independent School District is a public school district based in Willis, Texas, United States.

Located in Montgomery County, the district extends into a portion of San Jacinto County. The cities of Willis and Panorama Village and a small northern portion of the city of Conroe are within WISD.

For the 2021–2022 school year, the district received a "C" from the Texas Education Agency.

History

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In 1881 the citizens of Willis, Texas contracted a college building. When final payments were made in 1884, the title was passed to Rev. and MRs. S. N. Barker, who opened Willis Male and Female College in September 1885. In 1890, the location was sold to F.P. Crow and C.H. Stovall, who operated the college for 4 years. In 1894 the college was briefly sold to Cyril M. Jansky and Marion Kiline before operations were returned to Crow. The college was officially closed in 1901 after being sold to the public schools of Willis County.[2]

Effective September 10, 1906, a public school was opened in the building, marking the beginning of the Willis Independent School District.[3]

There have been a total of three different Willis High Schools. In 1939, the first Willis High School was built. It became the Cargill Education Support Center sometime after 1944 when it was replaced by a new campus now called Lynn Lucas Middle School. The second Willis High School was then replaced by the current and third Willis High School in 1995[4]

Sometime after 1995, C.C. Hardy Middle School was turned into C.C. Hardy Elementary School.[5][6]

In 2001, three new board members took their positions.[7]

In 2013, an individual sued the district in federal court, accusing it of ignoring a teacher sex abuse case.[8]

Academics

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For each school year, the Texas Education Agency rates school district performance using an A–F grading system based on statistical data. For the 2021–2022 school year, the district received a score of 76 out of 100, resulting in a "C".[9]

Bonds

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The district has done multiple bonds for additional schools and improvements to the district and current schools.

Bond 2015

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In 2015, the Willis ISD board of trustees approved a bond that addressed concerns about the district's future growth at no tax increase.[10] Willis ISD community members voted on November 3, 2015 to approve the bond which included a new elementary school (Eddie Ruth Lagway Elementary School), an expansion to Brabham Middle School, new field turf for Yates Stadium at Lynn Lucas Middle School, driveway improvements at four campuses, and land purchases. There were also renovations and additions to Willis High School, which included a new agricultural science center, a new performing arts center, and a new career & technology education center.[11] The new auditorium would replace the districts only auditorium at Lynn Lucas Middle School. There were also other additions to the high school, including expanding the choir and band areas.[12]

Bond 2020

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In 2020, the Willis ISD board of trustees approved a bond consisting of three propositions that each addressed concerns about the district's future growth.[13][14] The vote was originally slated for May, but because of the COVID-19 pandemic, it was delayed to November. The original bond, however, was canceled, and was replaced with a new bond which only included Proposition A of the original bond but with no tax increase.[15] Willis ISD community members voted in the 2020 general election to approve Proposition A which included an expansion to Lynn Lucas Middle School, a new Pre-kindergarten center (Roark Early Education Center), additions to the gymnasiams of the elementary schools (excluding C. C. Hardy Elementary School), and other renovations to all of the campuses.[16]

Bond 2022

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In 2022, the Willis ISD board of trustees approved a bond consisting of three propositions that each addressed concerns about the district's future growth.[17] Willis ISD community members voted on May 7, 2022 to approve Proposition A which included a new middle school (Calfee Middle School), a new elementary school, and a fine arts expansion to Lynn Lucas Middle School, upgrades to playground equipment, synthetic turf at Willis High School baseball and softball fields, and future land purchases. All this totaled to around 143 million dollars. The rest of the propositions were denied.[18]

Bond 2024

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Results for disapproval of all the proposals of the bond from the 2024 general election.[a]

In 2024, the Willis ISD board of trustees approved a bond consisting of four propositions that each addressed concerns about the district's future growth.[19] Willis ISD community members voted in May to approve Proposition A to build a 9th-grade expansion to the high school, parking lot upgrades to the high school, and a new district transportation center. The rest of the propositions were denied.[20] In the 2024 general election, the failed propositions were reconsidered but were rejected.[21]

Schools

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High Schools

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Middle Schools

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  • Grades 6-8
    • Robert P. Brabham Middle – School located in Unincorporated Montgomery County (opened 2004)[22]
    • Lynn Lucas Middle School – located in Willis (opened as Willis High School)
    • Calfee Middle School – located in Conroe (opens 2025)[23]

Elementary Schools

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  • Grades K-5
    • Edward B. Cannan Elementary School – located in Willis (opened 2004 or earlier)[citation needed]
    • C. C. Hardy Elementary School – located in Willis (opened 1983 as C. C. Hardy Middle School)[5]
    • Mel Parmley Elementary School – located in Willis (opened as Willis Elementary School)[4]
    • A. R. Turner Elementary School – located in Unincorporated Montgomery County
      • It was named after an African-American school principal. The first Turner ES, a twelve-room building then only for black students, opened in 1956.[24]
    • William Lloyd Meador Elementary School l ocated in Willis (opened 2008)[25]
    • Eddie Ruth Lagway Elementary School – located in Willis (opened 2021)[26]

Other schools

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  • Roark Early Education Center – a school for Pre-kindergarten – located in Willis (opened 2021)
  • Stubblefield Alternative Academy – a Disciplinary Alternative Education Program – located in Willis

The district also participates in the Montgomery County JJAEP alternative education program, which is operated by Montgomery County in partnership with Conroe Independent School District.[27]

Notes

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  1. ^ The results for San Jacinto County are not included in this image.

References

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  1. ^ a b "Search for Public School Districts – District Detail for Willis Isd". National Center for Education Statistics. Institute of Education Sciences. Retrieved September 12, 2021.
  2. ^ Association, Texas State Historical. "Willis Male and Female College". Texas State Historical Association. Archived from the original on August 24, 2020. Retrieved October 25, 2023.
  3. ^ Whisenhunt, Donald (1986). The Encyclopedia of Texas Colleges and Universities. Eakin Press. ISBN 9780890155813.
  4. ^ a b c Willis A Proud Past and Brighter Future...Collector's Limited Edition 1995 (PDF). 1995. p. 10. Archived (PDF) from the original on August 7, 2024. Retrieved December 16, 2024.
  5. ^ a b "About CCH". Willis ISD. Willis ISD. Archived from the original on September 28, 2023. Retrieved October 25, 2023.
  6. ^ Willis A Proud Past and Brighter Future...Collector's Limited Edition 1995 (PDF). 1995. p. 11. Archived (PDF) from the original on August 7, 2024. Retrieved December 16, 2024.
  7. ^ Micek, Kassia (May 5, 2001). "Patton takes over as Willis High principal". Houston Chronicle. Archived from the original on April 30, 2017. Retrieved April 30, 2017.
  8. ^ Stanton, Robert. "Federal lawsuit accuses Willis ISD of ignoring classroom sex." Houston Chronicle. July 15, 2013. Retrieved on July 15, 2013.
  9. ^ "TEA". Texas Education Agency. Retrieved May 3, 2024.
  10. ^ Mendoza, Jesse (August 13, 2015). "Willis ISD approves $109.5 million bond referendum". Community Impact. Retrieved March 27, 2025.
  11. ^ Mendoza, Jesse (November 3, 2015). "Voters approve $109.5 million Willis ISD school bond". Community Impact. Retrieved March 27, 2025.
  12. ^ Ellsworth, Meagan (February 2, 2018). "Foundation poured for new $15M Willis ISD auditorium bond project". Chron.com. Retrieved March 27, 2025.
  13. ^ Li, Andy (February 11, 2020). "Willis ISD places $175 million bond package on May ballot". Community Impact. Retrieved March 27, 2025.
  14. ^ Ellsworth, Meagan (February 12, 2020). "$175M Willis ISD bond includes new stadium, pre-k center". The Courier (Conroe newspaper). Retrieved March 27, 2025.
  15. ^ Ellsworth, Meagan (August 15, 2020). "Willis school board sets new $100M bond election for November". The Courier (Conroe newspaper). Retrieved March 27, 2025.
  16. ^ Ellsworth, Meagan (November 4, 2020). "Voters pass $100M Willis ISD bond". The Courier (Conroe newspaper). Retrieved March 27, 2025.
  17. ^ Kirby, Maegan (February 10, 2022). "Willis ISD calls $225 million bond election for May 7". Community Impact. Retrieved March 26, 2025.
  18. ^ Swinnerton, Jamie (May 8, 2022). "Willis ISD passes $143M portion of bond election". The Courier (Conroe newspaper). Retrieved March 26, 2025.
  19. ^ Jenkins, Cassandra (January 11, 2024). "Willis ISD board calls for $218.1 million school bond election on May". Community Impact. Retrieved November 13, 2024.
  20. ^ Holt, Vanessa (May 4, 2024). "Willis ISD voters approve 1 of 4 propositions in $218.1M bond election". Community Impact. Retrieved November 13, 2024.
  21. ^ Spangler, Lizzy (November 5, 2024). "Voters reject all 3 propositions in Willis ISD's $115.4M bond". Community Impact. Retrieved November 13, 2024.
  22. ^ Howie, Bob (April 1, 2004). "Willis will open doors of new middle school". Chron.com. Retrieved March 27, 2025.
  23. ^ Bonilla, Angela (February 14, 2025). "Willis ISD approves attendance boundaries for new middle school". Community Impact. Retrieved March 27, 2025.
  24. ^ Hernandez, Sondra (February 15, 2024). "Montgomery County's early Black schools laid the groundwork for today's education ecosystem". Houston Chronicle. Archived from the original on February 16, 2024. Retrieved February 15, 2024.
  25. ^ "About Us - Meador Elementary". mes.willisisd.org. Retrieved March 27, 2025.
  26. ^ "Willis ISD opens new $23M Lagway Elementary". Chron.com. August 11, 2021. Retrieved March 27, 2025.
  27. ^ Sutton, Kimberley (August 6, 2013). "CISD OKs pact with juvenile justice program". The Courier of Montgomery County. Archived from the original on August 19, 2022. Retrieved April 30, 2020.

Further reading

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