The El Paso Independent School District (or EPISD) is one of several public school district

School district

School districts are a form of special-purpose district which serves to operate the local public primary and secondary schools.-United States:...

s serving El Paso

El Paso, Texas

El Paso, is a city in and the county seat of El Paso County, Texas, United States, and lies in far West Texas. In the 2010 census, the city had a population of 649,121. It is the sixth largest city in Texas and the 19th largest city in the United States...

, Texas

Texas

Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...

 (USA

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

). Originally organized in 1883, it is currently the largest district in the Texas Education Agency

Texas Education Agency

The Texas Education Agency is a branch of the state government of Texas in the United States responsible for public education. The agency is headquartered in the William B...

's Educational Service Center (ESC) Region 19, as well as the largest district within the city of El Paso and El Paso County. The EPISD also provides public education to the children of U.S. Army

United States Army

The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...

 soldiers stationed at Fort Bliss

Fort Bliss

Fort Bliss is a United States Army post in the U.S. states of New Mexico and Texas. With an area of about , it is the Army's second-largest installation behind the adjacent White Sands Missile Range. It is FORSCOM's largest installation, and has the Army's largest Maneuver Area behind the...

. The district headquarters are located in El Paso.

In 2009, the school district was rated "academically acceptable

Texas Education Agency accountability ratings system

The Texas Education Agency accountability ratings system rates all public schools, charter schools, and school districts in the State of Texas.The criteria are the same for schools and districts, and are discussed below...

" by the Texas Education Agency

Texas Education Agency

The Texas Education Agency is a branch of the state government of Texas in the United States responsible for public education. The agency is headquartered in the William B...

.

School Board (Board of Trustees)

The EPISD is managed by a school board (called the Board of Trustees) composed of seven publicly elected

Election

An election is a formal decision-making process by which a population chooses an individual to hold public office. Elections have been the usual mechanism by which modern representative democracy operates since the 17th century. Elections may fill offices in the legislature, sometimes in the...

 school board trustee

Trustee

Trustee is a legal term which, in its broadest sense, can refer to any person who holds property, authority, or a position of trust or responsibility for the benefit of another...

s and a single superintendent

Superintendent (education)

In education in the United States, a superintendent is an individual who has executive oversight and administration rights, usually within an educational entity or organization....

. Each trustee represents one of the seven districts in the EPISD. The current EPISD superintendent is Dr. Lorenzo Garcia.

Statistics

• More than 63,000 students.
• 92 campuses.
• With more than 9,000 employees, it is the largest employer in El Paso
  El Paso, Texas
  El Paso, is a city in and the county seat of El Paso County, Texas, United States, and lies in far West Texas. In the 2010 census, the city had a population of 649,121. It is the sixth largest city in Texas and the 19th largest city in the United States...
  
  .
• Covers more than 253 square miles (655.3 km²).
• Estimated annual operating budget is $403-million.
• Seventh largest school district
  School district
  School districts are a form of special-purpose district which serves to operate the local public primary and secondary schools.-United States:...
  
   in Texas
  Texas
  Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
  
  
• 57th largest school district
  School district
  School districts are a form of special-purpose district which serves to operate the local public primary and secondary schools.-United States:...
  
   in the United States
  United States
  The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
  
  .

History

• In 1882, El Paso Independent School District was established, with Joseph Magoffin, Samuel Freudenthal and Edward Pew as the founding trustees and Calvin W. Esterly as the first superintendent.
• In 1889, the first kindergarten
  Kindergarten
  A kindergarten is a preschool educational institution for children. The term was created by Friedrich Fröbel for the play and activity institute that he created in 1837 in Bad Blankenburg as a social experience for children for their transition from home to school...
  
   ever established in Texas
  Texas
  Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
  
   was established at Alamo Elementary School in the EPISD.
• In 1916, the first high school in the EPISD was established: El Paso High School
  El Paso High School
  El Paso High School is the oldest operating high school in El Paso, Texas and is part of the El Paso Independent School District. It serves the West-Central section of the city, roughly west of the Franklin Mountains and north of Interstate 10 to the vicinity of Executive Center Boulevard...
  
  .
• In 1927, Bowie High School was established to reduce overcrowding at El Paso High School
  El Paso High School
  El Paso High School is the oldest operating high school in El Paso, Texas and is part of the El Paso Independent School District. It serves the West-Central section of the city, roughly west of the Franklin Mountains and north of Interstate 10 to the vicinity of Executive Center Boulevard...
  
   by converting a grammar school built in 1923 in Central El Paso
  Central El Paso
  Central El Paso is part of the city of El Paso, Texas, USA, and contains some of the city's oldest and most historic neighborhoods. Located in the heart of the city, it is home to approximately 130,000 people. Development of Central El Paso started around 1875, when the city was barely beginning to...
  
  .
• In 1930, Austin High School
  Austin High School (El Paso, Texas)
  Stephen F. Austin High School is a secondary school in El Paso, Texas, opened in 1930. It is part of the El Paso Independent School District. The school's mascot is a Golden Panther named "Henry." The school was designed by Texas contractor and architect Robert E. McKee. When the local school...
  
   was established as the third high school in the EPISD, admitting its first students following its construction in 1929.
• In 1949, Jefferson High School
  Jefferson High School (El Paso, Texas)
  Jefferson High School is a public high school located in South-Central El Paso, Texas. It is part of the El Paso Independent School District and serves mainly the eastern half of South-Central El Paso, generally from the Rio Grande north to Interstate 10 west of Raynolds Street and railroad tracks...
  
   was established in Central El Paso
  Central El Paso
  Central El Paso is part of the city of El Paso, Texas, USA, and contains some of the city's oldest and most historic neighborhoods. Located in the heart of the city, it is home to approximately 130,000 people. Development of Central El Paso started around 1875, when the city was barely beginning to...
  
  
• In 1955, Burges High School
  Burges High School (El Paso, Texas)
  Burges High School in El Paso, Texas, USA, is a comprehensive high school in the El Paso Independent School District. It is located in the Cielo Vista neighborhood on the near east side of El Paso, north of the large shopping center Cielo Vista Mall and south of El Paso International Airport, and...
  
   was established in East El Paso
  East El Paso
  East El Paso is an area of El Paso, Texas, United States, that is located north of Interstate 10, east of Airway Blvd., and south of Montana Ave. East El Paso is the fastest growing area of town. With a population of over 150,000, East El Paso is also the largest area of town...
  
  .
• In 1959, Irvin High School was established in Northeast El Paso
  Northeast El Paso
  Northeast El Paso is part of the city of El Paso, Texas and is located North of Central El Paso, and East of the Franklin Mountains. Development of the area started during the 1950s, when many homes were demolished in the process of the construction of Interstate 10...
  
  .
• In 1961, Andress High School
  Andress High School
  Andress High School is a public high school located on the northeast side of El Paso, Texas. The school serves about 2,000 students in the El Paso Independent School District. It is located in the Sun Valley neighborhood at the intersection of Sun Valley Drive and Mackinaw Street...
  
   was established in Northeast El Paso
  Northeast El Paso
  Northeast El Paso is part of the city of El Paso, Texas and is located North of Central El Paso, and East of the Franklin Mountains. Development of the area started during the 1950s, when many homes were demolished in the process of the construction of Interstate 10...
  
  .
• In 1962, Coronado High School was established in Northwest El Paso
  Northwest El Paso
  Northwest El Paso is an area of El Paso, Texas that is located on the west side of the Franklin Mountains. It is home to some of the most affluent neighborhoods within the city of El Paso, Texas. It has magnificent houses perched high on the mountains, as well as some spectacular houses in the...
  
  .
• In 1993, Franklin High School
  Franklin High School (El Paso, Texas)
  Franklin High School is a public high school located on the west side of El Paso, Texas which is part of the El Paso Independent School District. It opened in 1993. Its name refers to the nearby Franklin Mountains.-Air Force JROTC Program:...
  
   was established in Northwest El Paso
  Northwest El Paso
  Northwest El Paso is an area of El Paso, Texas that is located on the west side of the Franklin Mountains. It is home to some of the most affluent neighborhoods within the city of El Paso, Texas. It has magnificent houses perched high on the mountains, as well as some spectacular houses in the...
  
  .
• In 1999, the district's oldest operating school, Alamo Elementary School, celebrated its 100th birthday.
• In 2000, Chapin High School
  Captain John L. Chapin High School
  Chapin High School is a public high school in El Paso, Texas. Chapin is located at the intersection of Dyer Street and Ellerthorpe Avenue on land reserved for the United States Government and is a part of the El Paso Independent School District. It is the only high school in the continental United...
  
   was established in Northeast El Paso
  Northeast El Paso
  Northeast El Paso is part of the city of El Paso, Texas and is located North of Central El Paso, and East of the Franklin Mountains. Development of the area started during the 1950s, when many homes were demolished in the process of the construction of Interstate 10...
  
  .

High schools

• Located in Central El Paso
  Central El Paso
  Central El Paso is part of the city of El Paso, Texas, USA, and contains some of the city's oldest and most historic neighborhoods. Located in the heart of the city, it is home to approximately 130,000 people. Development of Central El Paso started around 1875, when the city was barely beginning to...
  
  
  • Austin High School
    Austin High School (El Paso, Texas)
    Stephen F. Austin High School is a secondary school in El Paso, Texas, opened in 1930. It is part of the El Paso Independent School District. The school's mascot is a Golden Panther named "Henry." The school was designed by Texas contractor and architect Robert E. McKee. When the local school...
    
    
  • Sunset High School

• Located in East El Paso
  East El Paso
  East El Paso is an area of El Paso, Texas, United States, that is located north of Interstate 10, east of Airway Blvd., and south of Montana Ave. East El Paso is the fastest growing area of town. With a population of over 150,000, East El Paso is also the largest area of town...
  
  
  • Burges High School
    Burges High School (El Paso, Texas)
    Burges High School in El Paso, Texas, USA, is a comprehensive high school in the El Paso Independent School District. It is located in the Cielo Vista neighborhood on the near east side of El Paso, north of the large shopping center Cielo Vista Mall and south of El Paso International Airport, and...
    
    

• Located in Northeast El Paso
  Northeast El Paso
  Northeast El Paso is part of the city of El Paso, Texas and is located North of Central El Paso, and East of the Franklin Mountains. Development of the area started during the 1950s, when many homes were demolished in the process of the construction of Interstate 10...
  
  
  • Andress High School
    Andress High School
    Andress High School is a public high school located on the northeast side of El Paso, Texas. The school serves about 2,000 students in the El Paso Independent School District. It is located in the Sun Valley neighborhood at the intersection of Sun Valley Drive and Mackinaw Street...
    
    
  • Chapin High School
    Captain John L. Chapin High School
    Chapin High School is a public high school in El Paso, Texas. Chapin is located at the intersection of Dyer Street and Ellerthorpe Avenue on land reserved for the United States Government and is a part of the El Paso Independent School District. It is the only high school in the continental United...
    
    
  • Irvin High School
  • Transmountain Early College High School
    Transmountain Early College High School
    Transmountain Early College High School, commonly referred to as TMECHS, is an EPISD Early College High School and STEM School which allows students to take courses at the El Paso Community College Transmountain Campus and receive an Associate's Degree by the time they graduate high school....
    
    

• Located in Northwest El Paso
  Northwest El Paso
  Northwest El Paso is an area of El Paso, Texas that is located on the west side of the Franklin Mountains. It is home to some of the most affluent neighborhoods within the city of El Paso, Texas. It has magnificent houses perched high on the mountains, as well as some spectacular houses in the...
  
  
  • Coronado High School
  • Franklin High School
    Franklin High School (El Paso, Texas)
    Franklin High School is a public high school located on the west side of El Paso, Texas which is part of the El Paso Independent School District. It opened in 1993. Its name refers to the nearby Franklin Mountains.-Air Force JROTC Program:...
    
    

• Located in South Central El Paso
  • Bowie High School
    Bowie High School (El Paso, Texas)
    Bowie High School is one of the oldest operating high schools in El Paso, Texas and is part of the El Paso Independent School District. It is located in the Chamizal neighborhood in the South Central part of the city next to the border with Mexico, not far from the Bridge of the Americas linking El...
    
    
  • Jefferson High School
    Jefferson High School (El Paso, Texas)
    Jefferson High School is a public high school located in South-Central El Paso, Texas. It is part of the El Paso Independent School District and serves mainly the eastern half of South-Central El Paso, generally from the Rio Grande north to Interstate 10 west of Raynolds Street and railroad tracks...
    
    
  • Silva Health Magnet High School
    Maxine L. Silva Magnet High School for Health Care Professions
    Silva Magnet High School is a health-focused magnet high school within the El Paso Independent School District in El Paso, Texas.It is named after lifelong El Pasoan Maxine L...
    
    
    • 2003 National Blue Ribbon School
      Blue Ribbon Schools Program
      The Blue Ribbon Schools Program is a United States government program created in 1981 to honor schools which have achieved high levels of performance or significant improvements with emphasis on schools serving disadvantaged students. The program centers around a self-assessment conducted by the...
      
      

• Located in West Central El Paso
  West Central El Paso
  West Central El Paso is part of the city of El Paso, Texas, USA. The area is located North of Interstate 10 Highway and West of the Franklin Mountains. The University of Texas at El Paso is located in the heart of the area...
  
  
  • El Paso High School
    El Paso High School
    El Paso High School is the oldest operating high school in El Paso, Texas and is part of the El Paso Independent School District. It serves the West-Central section of the city, roughly west of the Franklin Mountains and north of Interstate 10 to the vicinity of Executive Center Boulevard...
    
    

Middle schools

• Located in Central El Paso
  Central El Paso
  Central El Paso is part of the city of El Paso, Texas, USA, and contains some of the city's oldest and most historic neighborhoods. Located in the heart of the city, it is home to approximately 130,000 people. Development of Central El Paso started around 1875, when the city was barely beginning to...
  
  
  • Armendariz Middle School
  • Bassett Middle School
  • Ross Middle School

• Located in East El Paso
  East El Paso
  East El Paso is an area of El Paso, Texas, United States, that is located north of Interstate 10, east of Airway Blvd., and south of Montana Ave. East El Paso is the fastest growing area of town. With a population of over 150,000, East El Paso is also the largest area of town...
  
  
  • MacArthur Elementary-Intermediate School

• Located in Northeast El Paso
  Northeast El Paso
  Northeast El Paso is part of the city of El Paso, Texas and is located North of Central El Paso, and East of the Franklin Mountains. Development of the area started during the 1950s, when many homes were demolished in the process of the construction of Interstate 10...
  
  
  • Canyon Hills Middle School
  • Charles Middle School
  • Magoffin Middle School
  • Richardson Middle School
  • Terrace Hills Middle School

• Located in Northwest El Paso
  Northwest El Paso
  Northwest El Paso is an area of El Paso, Texas that is located on the west side of the Franklin Mountains. It is home to some of the most affluent neighborhoods within the city of El Paso, Texas. It has magnificent houses perched high on the mountains, as well as some spectacular houses in the...
  
  
  • Brown Middle School
  • Hornedo Middle School
  • Lincoln Middle School
  • Morehead Middle School

• Located in South Central El Paso
  • Guillen Middle School
  • Henderson Middle School

• Located in West Central El Paso
  West Central El Paso
  West Central El Paso is part of the city of El Paso, Texas, USA. The area is located North of Interstate 10 Highway and West of the Franklin Mountains. The University of Texas at El Paso is located in the heart of the area...
  
  
  • Wiggs Middle School

Elementary schools

• Located in Central El Paso
  Central El Paso
  Central El Paso is part of the city of El Paso, Texas, USA, and contains some of the city's oldest and most historic neighborhoods. Located in the heart of the city, it is home to approximately 130,000 people. Development of Central El Paso started around 1875, when the city was barely beginning to...
  
  
  • Alta Vista Elementary School
  • Clendenin Elementary School
  • Coldwell Elementary School
  • Crockett Elementary School
    • 1985-86 National Blue Ribbon School
      Blue Ribbon Schools Program
      The Blue Ribbon Schools Program is a United States government program created in 1981 to honor schools which have achieved high levels of performance or significant improvements with emphasis on schools serving disadvantaged students. The program centers around a self-assessment conducted by the...
      
      
  • Hillside Elementary School
    • 2000-01 National Blue Ribbon School
      Blue Ribbon Schools Program
      The Blue Ribbon Schools Program is a United States government program created in 1981 to honor schools which have achieved high levels of performance or significant improvements with emphasis on schools serving disadvantaged students. The program centers around a self-assessment conducted by the...
      
      

• • Hughey Elementary School
  • Moreno Elementary School
  • Rusk Elementary School
  • Travis Elementary School

• Located in East El Paso
  East El Paso
  East El Paso is an area of El Paso, Texas, United States, that is located north of Interstate 10, east of Airway Blvd., and south of Montana Ave. East El Paso is the fastest growing area of town. With a population of over 150,000, East El Paso is also the largest area of town...
  
  
  • Bonham Elementary School
  • Cielo Vista Elementary School

• Located on Fort Bliss
  Fort Bliss
  Fort Bliss is a United States Army post in the U.S. states of New Mexico and Texas. With an area of about , it is the Army's second-largest installation behind the adjacent White Sands Missile Range. It is FORSCOM's largest installation, and has the Army's largest Maneuver Area behind the...
  
  
  • Bliss Elementary School
  • Logan Elementary School
  • Milam Elementary School
  • Powell Elementary School

• Located in Northeast El Paso
  Northeast El Paso
  Northeast El Paso is part of the city of El Paso, Texas and is located North of Central El Paso, and East of the Franklin Mountains. Development of the area started during the 1950s, when many homes were demolished in the process of the construction of Interstate 10...
  
  
  • Barron Elementary School
  • Bradley Elementary School
  • Burnet Elementary School
  • Collins Elementary School
  • Crosby Elementary School
  • Dowell Elementary School
  • Fannin Elementary School
  • Lee Elementary School
  • Moye Elementary School
  • Newman Elementary School
  • Nixon Elementary School
  • Park Elementary School
  • Schuster Elementary School
    • 1987-88 National Blue Ribbon School
      Blue Ribbon Schools Program
      The Blue Ribbon Schools Program is a United States government program created in 1981 to honor schools which have achieved high levels of performance or significant improvements with emphasis on schools serving disadvantaged students. The program centers around a self-assessment conducted by the...
      
      
  • Stanton Elementary School
  • Tom Lea Elementary School
  • Whitaker Elementary School

• Located in Northwest El Paso
  Northwest El Paso
  Northwest El Paso is an area of El Paso, Texas that is located on the west side of the Franklin Mountains. It is home to some of the most affluent neighborhoods within the city of El Paso, Texas. It has magnificent houses perched high on the mountains, as well as some spectacular houses in the...
  
  
  • Bond Elementary School
  • Green Elementary School
  • Guerrero Elementary School
  • Herrera Elementary School
  • Johnson Elementary School
  • Kohlberg Elementary School
  • Lundy Elementary School
  • Polk Elementary School
  • Putnam Elementary School
  • Rivera Elementary School
  • Roberts Elementary School
  • Tippin Elementary School
  • Western Hills Elementary School
  • White Elementary School

• Located in South Central El Paso
  • Aoy Elementary School
  • Beall Elementary School
  • Burleson Elementary School
  • Clardy Elementary School
  • Cooley Elementary School
  • Douglass Elementary School
  • Hart Elementary School
  • Hawkins Elementary School
  • Zavala Elementary School

• Located in West Central El Paso
  West Central El Paso
  West Central El Paso is part of the city of El Paso, Texas, USA. The area is located North of Interstate 10 Highway and West of the Franklin Mountains. The University of Texas at El Paso is located in the heart of the area...
  
  
  • Lamar Elementary School
  • Mesita Elementary School
  • Vilas Elementary School

Special campuses

• Center For Career And Technical Education
• Delta Academy
• Occupational Center
• Regional Day School For The Deaf
• San Jacinto Adult Learning Center
• Telles Academy
• Transmountain Early College High School
  Transmountain Early College High School
  Transmountain Early College High School, commonly referred to as TMECHS, is an EPISD Early College High School and STEM School which allows students to take courses at the El Paso Community College Transmountain Campus and receive an Associate's Degree by the time they graduate high school....
  
  

Former campuses

• Alamo Elementary School (in South-Central El Paso; closed 2005; initially slated to reopen following renovations, but consolidated with Hart Elementary School in 2011)
• Dudley Elementary School (replaced by Mesita Elementary School in 1948)
• Highland Elementary School (replaced by Moreno Elementary School in 2000)
• Houston Elementary School (in Central El Paso; closed in 2010 due to declining enrollment, now the Houston School of Choice, a continuation high school)
• Jones Elementary School (in West-Central El Paso; closed and razed in 1972 along with the Smeltertown neighborhood it served and in which it was located)
• Lincoln Elementary School (in South-Central El Paso; moved and reconfigured, now Lincoln Middle School)
• Roosevelt Elementary School (closed in 2006, consolidated with Aoy Elementary School)
• San Jacinto Elementary School (closed in 1976, now San Jacinto Adult Learning Center)

Dormant campuses

• Wainwright Elementary School (in Northeast El Paso; mothballed since 2005; currently used as a science resource center)

Notable EPISD alumni

• F. Murray Abraham
  F. Murray Abraham
  Fahrid Murray Abraham is an American actor. He became known during the 1980s after winning the Academy Award for Best Actor for his role as Antonio Salieri in Amadeus. He has appeared in many roles, both leading and supporting, in films such as All the President's Men and Scarface...
  
  , an award-winning actor
  Actor
  An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
  
  , is a graduate of El Paso High School
  El Paso High School
  El Paso High School is the oldest operating high school in El Paso, Texas and is part of the El Paso Independent School District. It serves the West-Central section of the city, roughly west of the Franklin Mountains and north of Interstate 10 to the vicinity of Executive Center Boulevard...
  
  .
• Brandon Arpin, the current drummer for the rock band Murder F.M., is a graduate of Andress High School
  Andress High School
  Andress High School is a public high school located on the northeast side of El Paso, Texas. The school serves about 2,000 students in the El Paso Independent School District. It is located in the Sun Valley neighborhood at the intersection of Sun Valley Drive and Mackinaw Street...
  
  .
• Alan Culpepper
  Alan Culpepper
  Alan Culpepper is an American distance runner and two time United States Olympian. Along with competing on four World Championship Teams, his accomplishments include finishing fourth in the Boston Marathon in 2005, winning the 2004 U.S. Olympic Trials Marathon and finishing 12th at the 2004...
  
  , a two-time Olympian (2000, 2004) and three-time US Cross-Country Champion, is a graduate of Coronado High School.
• Sam Donaldson
  Sam Donaldson
  Samuel Andrew "Sam" Donaldson, Jr. is a reporter and news anchor, serving with ABC News from 1967 to the present, best known as the network's White House Correspondent and as a panelist and later co-anchor of the network's Sunday Program "This Week."-Early life and career:Donaldson was born in El...
  
  , a famous television journalist, is a graduate of El Paso High School
  El Paso High School
  El Paso High School is the oldest operating high school in El Paso, Texas and is part of the El Paso Independent School District. It serves the West-Central section of the city, roughly west of the Franklin Mountains and north of Interstate 10 to the vicinity of Executive Center Boulevard...
  
  .
• Eddie Guerrero
  Eddie Guerrero
  Eduardo Gory "Eddie" Guerrero was a Mexican-American professional wrestler born into the Guerrero wrestling family. He wrestled in Mexico and Japan for several major professional wrestling promotions...
  
  , a former professional wrestler for World Wrestling Entertainment
  World Wrestling Entertainment
  World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. is an American publicly traded, privately controlled entertainment company dealing primarily in professional wrestling, with major revenue sources also coming from film, music, product licensing, and direct product sales...
  
   (WWE) who was WWE Champion
  WWE Championship
  The WWE Championship is a professional wrestling world heavyweight championship in WWE. It is the world title of the Raw brand and one of two in WWE, complementing the World Heavyweight Championship of the SmackDown brand. It was established under the then WWWF in 1963...
  
  , two-time WWE Intercontinental Champion
  WWE Intercontinental Championship
  The WWE Intercontinental Championship is a professional wrestling championship in WWE. It is the original secondary title of the promotion. Currently, it is the secondary championship exclusive to the SmackDown brand...
  
   and member of the WWE Hall of Fame
  WWE Hall of Fame
  The WWE Hall of Fame is a hall of fame for professional wrestlers maintained by WWE. It was officially created on the February 1, 1993 episode of the World Wrestling Federation's Monday Night Raw television program...
  
  , was a graduate of Jefferson High School
  Jefferson High School (El Paso, Texas)
  Jefferson High School is a public high school located in South-Central El Paso, Texas. It is part of the El Paso Independent School District and serves mainly the eastern half of South-Central El Paso, generally from the Rio Grande north to Interstate 10 west of Raynolds Street and railroad tracks...
  
  .

• Shoshana Johnson
  Shoshana Johnson
  Shoshana Nyree Johnson is a Panamanian former United States soldier, and was the first black female prisoner of war in the military history of the United States. Johnson was a Specialist of the U.S. Army 507th Maintenance Company, 5/52 ADA BN, 11th ADA Brigade. During a gun fight that led to her...
  
  , a famed Iraq War POW
  Prisoner of war
  A prisoner of war or enemy prisoner of war is a person, whether civilian or combatant, who is held in custody by an enemy power during or immediately after an armed conflict...
  
  , is a graduate of Andress High School
  Andress High School
  Andress High School is a public high school located on the northeast side of El Paso, Texas. The school serves about 2,000 students in the El Paso Independent School District. It is located in the Sun Valley neighborhood at the intersection of Sun Valley Drive and Mackinaw Street...
  
  .
• Tom Lea
  Thomas C. Lea, III
  Thomas Calloway "Tom" Lea, III was a noted American muralist, illustrator, artist, war correspondent, novelist, and historian....
  
  , famed author and painter, was a graduate of El Paso High School
  El Paso High School
  El Paso High School is the oldest operating high school in El Paso, Texas and is part of the El Paso Independent School District. It serves the West-Central section of the city, roughly west of the Franklin Mountains and north of Interstate 10 to the vicinity of Executive Center Boulevard...
  
  .

• Tom Moore
  Tom Moore (cartoonist)
  Tom Moore is a cartoonist, known for being the talent behind the Archie Comic Book series from 1953 through 1988. Moore was also an illustrator for Snuffy Smith, Underdog and Mighty Mouse. Moore worked with other Archie creators George Gladir, Orlando Busino, Sy Reit, and Frank Doyle.Moore is a...
  
  , a cartoonist best known for the "Archie" comic books series, is a 1946 graduate of Austin High School
  Austin High School (El Paso, Texas)
  Stephen F. Austin High School is a secondary school in El Paso, Texas, opened in 1930. It is part of the El Paso Independent School District. The school's mascot is a Golden Panther named "Henry." The school was designed by Texas contractor and architect Robert E. McKee. When the local school...
  
  .
• John Moyer
  John Moyer
  John Moyer is the bassist and back up vocalist for the heavy metal band Disturbed, replacing their former bassist Steve "Fuzz" Kmak...
  
  , the current bassist for the rock band Disturbed, is a graduate of Coronado High School .

• Sandra Day O'Connor
  Sandra Day O'Connor
  Sandra Day O'Connor is an American jurist who was the first female member of the Supreme Court of the United States. She served as an Associate Justice from 1981 until her retirement from the Court in 2006. O'Connor was appointed by President Ronald Reagan in 1981...
  
  , a former U.S. Supreme Court
  Supreme Court of the United States
  The Supreme Court of the United States is the highest court in the United States. It has ultimate appellate jurisdiction over all state and federal courts, and original jurisdiction over a small range of cases...
  
   Associate Justice, is a graduate of Austin High School.
• John D. Olivas, a NASA astronaut, is a graduate of Burges High School
  Burges High School (El Paso, Texas)
  Burges High School in El Paso, Texas, USA, is a comprehensive high school in the El Paso Independent School District. It is located in the Cielo Vista neighborhood on the near east side of El Paso, north of the large shopping center Cielo Vista Mall and south of El Paso International Airport, and...
  
  .
• Lupe Ontiveros
  Lupe Ontiveros
  Lupe Ontiveros is an American film and television actress. Ontiveros has acted in numerous films and television shows, most often playing a maid or, more recently, an all-knowing grandmother; she estimates she has played a maid between 150 and 300 times on screen.-Early life:Ontiveros was born...
  
  , a veteran actress, is a graduate of El Paso High School
  El Paso High School
  El Paso High School is the oldest operating high school in El Paso, Texas and is part of the El Paso Independent School District. It serves the West-Central section of the city, roughly west of the Franklin Mountains and north of Interstate 10 to the vicinity of Executive Center Boulevard...
  
  .
• Nolan Richardson
  Nolan Richardson
  Nolan Richardson is an American basketball head coach, who was elected to the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame. He has coached teams to winning a NCAA Men's Division I Basketball National Championship, a NIT, and a Junior College National Championship, the only coach to do so. Most...
  
  , a nationally recognized basketball coach, graduated from Bowie High School
  Bowie High School (El Paso, Texas)
  Bowie High School is one of the oldest operating high schools in El Paso, Texas and is part of the El Paso Independent School District. It is located in the Chamizal neighborhood in the South Central part of the city next to the border with Mexico, not far from the Bridge of the Americas linking El...
  
  .
• Rubén Salazar
  Ruben Salazar
  Rubén Salazar was a Mexican-American journalist killed by a Los Angeles County Sheriff's deputy during the National Chicano Moratorium March against the Vietnam War on August 29, 1970 in East Los Angeles, California. During the 1970s, his killing was often cited as a symbol of unjust treatment of...
  
  , a noted Mexican-American journalist, was a graduate of El Paso High School
  El Paso High School
  El Paso High School is the oldest operating high school in El Paso, Texas and is part of the El Paso Independent School District. It serves the West-Central section of the city, roughly west of the Franklin Mountains and north of Interstate 10 to the vicinity of Executive Center Boulevard...
  
  .

Other notables who have attended EPISD schools

• Richard Ramirez
  Richard Ramirez
  Ricardo "Richard" Muñoz Ramírez is a convicted serial killer awaiting execution on California's death row at San Quentin State Prison...
  
  , a serial killer currently on California's death row, attended Jefferson High School
  Jefferson High School (El Paso, Texas)
  Jefferson High School is a public high school located in South-Central El Paso, Texas. It is part of the El Paso Independent School District and serves mainly the eastern half of South-Central El Paso, generally from the Rio Grande north to Interstate 10 west of Raynolds Street and railroad tracks...
  
   but dropped out.
• Sharon Tate
  Sharon Tate
  Sharon Marie Tate was an American actress. During the 1960s she played small television roles before appearing in several films. After receiving positive reviews for her comedic performances, she was hailed as one of Hollywood's promising newcomers and was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for...
  
  , actress and Manson Family murder victim, attended Irvin High School briefly in 1959 and 1960.