Tarkington Independent School District
Encyclopedia
Tarkington Independent School District is a public school district
in north central Liberty County
, Texas
(USA
). All 4 campuses are located on the same plot of land, with the High School facing County Road 2268, and the other three campus are along Farm to Market Road 163. The district covers 238 square miles (616.4 km²); and the schools are located seven miles (11 km) southeast of Cleveland
and fifty miles northeast of Houston
.
The communities served include Dolen
, Hightower
, Rayburn
, and Tarkington Prairie
.
The boundaries of the district are the Liberty/San Jacinto county line to the north, the Trinity River
to the east, Luce Bayou to the south, and Tarkington Bayou to the east.
In 2009, the school district was rated "academically acceptable
" by the Texas Education Agency
.
The many smaller schools soon became five school districts: Dolen, Hightower, East Tarkington, North Tarkington, and West Tarkington. There was a rivalry among the schools in academic and sporting competitions.
The five districts consolidated into the Tarkington Consolidated School District in 1931. In 1954, Tarkington became an Independent School District. The number of students has grown, and the number of facilities has grown.
The old school building destroyed by fire in 1937 still stands in east Tarkington on County Road 2296.
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 north central Liberty County
Liberty County, Texas
Liberty County is a county located in Texas within the Houston–Sugar Land–Baytown metropolitan area. As of the 2010 United States Census, the population was 75,643. Its county seat is Liberty.-Geography:According to the U.S...
, 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...
). All 4 campuses are located on the same plot of land, with the High School facing County Road 2268, and the other three campus are along Farm to Market Road 163. The district covers 238 square miles (616.4 km²); and the schools are located seven miles (11 km) southeast of Cleveland
Cleveland, Texas
Cleveland is a city in Liberty County, Texas, United States. The population was 7,605 at the 2000 census.-History:In 1854, a church and convent was built by Father Peter La Cour near the town's present site...
and fifty miles northeast of Houston
Houston, Texas
Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ...
.
The communities served include Dolen
Dolen, Texas
Dolen is an unincorporated community in Liberty County, Texas, United States.-Notable Residents:-Rufus Hales - Grandfather extraordinaire-George Hayden - Father, Uncle, and Preacher at Pin Oak Baptist Church-External links:...
, Hightower
Hightower, Texas
Hightower is an unincorporated community in Liberty County, Texas, United States. It is a geographic area without official borders, centered on the intersection of FM 787 and FM 2518...
, Rayburn
Rayburn, Texas
Rayburn is an unincorporated community in Liberty County, Texas, United States.-External links:...
, and Tarkington Prairie
Tarkington Prairie, Texas
Tarkington Prairie is a primarily rural unincorporated community spread out over approximately in northeastern Liberty County, Texas, United States...
.
The boundaries of the district are the Liberty/San Jacinto county line to the north, the Trinity River
Trinity River (Texas)
The Trinity River is a long river that flows entirely within the U.S. state of Texas. It rises in extreme north Texas, a few miles south of the Red River. The headwaters are separated by the high bluffs on the south side of the Red River....
to the east, Luce Bayou to the south, and Tarkington Bayou to the east.
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...
.
Schools
- Tarkington High School (3A; Grades 9-12)
- Tarkington Middle School (Grades 6-8)
- Tarkington Intermediate School (Grades 4-5)
- Tarkington Elementary School (Grades PK-3)
History
The area that now constitutes the Tarkington Independent School District was settled in 1826 when the first settlers purchased land from the Mexican government and became ranchers. The flat, wooded land was once open prairie where cattle grazed. Tarkington Prairie settlers wanted their children to have a good education so they built several different schools with colorful names such as Box Island, Little Flock, and Pelican.The many smaller schools soon became five school districts: Dolen, Hightower, East Tarkington, North Tarkington, and West Tarkington. There was a rivalry among the schools in academic and sporting competitions.
The five districts consolidated into the Tarkington Consolidated School District in 1931. In 1954, Tarkington became an Independent School District. The number of students has grown, and the number of facilities has grown.
The old school building destroyed by fire in 1937 still stands in east Tarkington on County Road 2296.