Union Grove Independent School District
Encyclopedia
Union Grove Independent School District is a public school district
based in Union Grove
, Texas
(USA
).
Union Grove ISD has Two campuses - Union Grove High and Junior High (Grades 6-12 ), and Union Grove Elementary (Grades PK-5).
The schools athletic teams are known as the Lions.
In 2009, the school district was rated "recognized
" by the Texas Education Agency
.
, area was held at the home of pioneer settler, John O'Byrne, a former banker from Alabama
. In 1888, a public school opened with JH Sheppard as teacher. The first half of the 20th Century saw much growth for the Union Grove School, with the creation of the Union Grove Common School District, No. 42 in 1907. In 1909, 1920, and 1933, new buildings were constructed on the current site of the UG Elementary School. The 1930s oil boom greatly increased the tax base and population of the Union Grove community, with students coming in from nearby Gladewater, Texas
, and Gilmer, Texas
. Over the years, the UG School has expanded to include elementary and junior-senior high campuses, an auditorium, cafeteria, library, shop buildings, and in 1996, a new football stadium located at the high school. In 1965, Union Grove became a Texas
Independent School District (ISD).
program, under the helm of Mark Melton. Since 1988, Mr. Melton has made the band from a 12-member ensemble (as it was at the time) into an 80-something-member marching force. "Upshur County's Finest" has blown away the competition at many marching contests including the East Texas Yamboree marching contest in Gilmer, Texas
, every October and the University Interscholastic League
State Marching Contest, in which Union Grove has marched in three times, the most recent being the 2009 AA State Contest, in which Union Grove placed 8th, coming in behind the Regiment of Roughnecks Band from the neighboring White Oak Independent School District
of White Oak, Texas
by judges preference. This marked a special feat for both White Oak and Union Grove, being the only two military style marching bands at the state contest. In May, 2011, Mr. Melton announced he was leaving "the Grove" to take over as head band director at the much larger Pine Tree Independent School District
in Longview, Texas
, in August, 2011.
Union Grove is also known for its agriculture and shop programs. With Mr. Garry T. Boyd as ag director at Union Grove since the early-1970s, the ag program has grown to be one of the best in the entire state of Texas
.
, Cierra Grubbs, with a GPA of 105.09, will be attending The University of Texas at Austin as a pre-med major and will be playing on the Women's Longhorn Soccer Team. Also, four other Seniors from the 2011 class will be playing athletics at the collegiate level; including Beau Davis (football at East Texas Baptist University
in Marshall, Texas
), Dalton Bowery (football at Lon Morris College
in Jacksonville, Texas
), and Brianna Waddell (volleyball at Lon Morris).
School district
School districts are a form of special-purpose district which serves to operate the local public primary and secondary schools.-United States:...
based in Union Grove
Union Grove, Texas
Union Grove is a city in Upshur County, Texas, United States. The population was 346 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Union Grove is located at ....
, 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...
).
Union Grove ISD has Two campuses - Union Grove High and Junior High (Grades 6-12 ), and Union Grove Elementary (Grades PK-5).
The schools athletic teams are known as the Lions.
In 2009, the school district was rated "recognized
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...
.
History
The earliest recorded school in the southern Upshur County, TexasUpshur County, Texas
As of the census of 2000, there were 35,291 people, 13,290 households, and 10,033 families residing in the county. The population density was 60 people per square mile . There were 14,930 housing units at an average density of 25 per square mile...
, area was held at the home of pioneer settler, John O'Byrne, a former banker from Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
. In 1888, a public school opened with JH Sheppard as teacher. The first half of the 20th Century saw much growth for the Union Grove School, with the creation of the Union Grove Common School District, No. 42 in 1907. In 1909, 1920, and 1933, new buildings were constructed on the current site of the UG Elementary School. The 1930s oil boom greatly increased the tax base and population of the Union Grove community, with students coming in from nearby Gladewater, Texas
Gladewater, Texas
Gladewater is a city in Gregg and Upshur Counties in the U.S. state of Texas. The population was 6,228 at the 2010 census. U.S. Highway 80 traverses the city....
, and Gilmer, Texas
Gilmer, Texas
Gilmer is also the name of a county in West Virginia.Gilmer is a town in and the county seat of Upshur County, Texas, United States. It is best known for being the birthplace of popular music singer Johnny Mathis. The population was 4,799 at the 2000 census...
. Over the years, the UG School has expanded to include elementary and junior-senior high campuses, an auditorium, cafeteria, library, shop buildings, and in 1996, a new football stadium located at the high school. In 1965, Union Grove became a 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...
Independent School District (ISD).
Lion Pride
Union Grove is known for its marching bandMarching band
Marching band is a physical activity in which a group of instrumental musicians generally perform outdoors and incorporate some type of marching with their musical performance. Instrumentation typically includes brass, woodwinds, and percussion instruments...
program, under the helm of Mark Melton. Since 1988, Mr. Melton has made the band from a 12-member ensemble (as it was at the time) into an 80-something-member marching force. "Upshur County's Finest" has blown away the competition at many marching contests including the East Texas Yamboree marching contest in Gilmer, Texas
Gilmer, Texas
Gilmer is also the name of a county in West Virginia.Gilmer is a town in and the county seat of Upshur County, Texas, United States. It is best known for being the birthplace of popular music singer Johnny Mathis. The population was 4,799 at the 2000 census...
, every October and the University Interscholastic League
University Interscholastic League
The University Interscholastic League is an organization that creates rules for and administers almost all athletic, music, and academic contests for public primary and secondary schools in the American state of Texas....
State Marching Contest, in which Union Grove has marched in three times, the most recent being the 2009 AA State Contest, in which Union Grove placed 8th, coming in behind the Regiment of Roughnecks Band from the neighboring White Oak Independent School District
White Oak Independent School District
White Oak Independent School District is a public school district based in White Oak, Texas .In 2009, the school district was rated "recognized" by the Texas Education Agency.-Schools:*White Oak High *White Oak Middle...
of White Oak, Texas
White Oak, Texas
White Oak is a city in Gregg County, Texas, United States. The population was 6,469 at the 2010 census.-Geography:White Oak is located at ....
by judges preference. This marked a special feat for both White Oak and Union Grove, being the only two military style marching bands at the state contest. In May, 2011, Mr. Melton announced he was leaving "the Grove" to take over as head band director at the much larger Pine Tree Independent School District
Pine Tree Independent School District
Pine Tree Independent School District is a public school district based in Longview, Texas . Pine Tree ISD serves western portions of Longview.In 2009, the school district was rated "academically acceptable" by the Texas Education Agency.-Schools:...
in Longview, Texas
Longview, Texas
Longview is a city in Gregg and Harrison Counties in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2010 Census, the population was 80,455. Most of the city is located in Gregg County, of which it is the county seat; only a small part extends into the western part of neighboring Harrison County. It is...
, in August, 2011.
Union Grove is also known for its agriculture and shop programs. With Mr. Garry T. Boyd as ag director at Union Grove since the early-1970s, the ag program has grown to be one of the best in the entire state of 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...
.
Other Accomplishments
The 2011 Senior Class of Union Grove High School totaled 45 students, one of the smallest classes to graduate in years. The valedictorianValedictorian
Valedictorian is an academic title conferred upon the student who delivers the closing or farewell statement at a graduation ceremony. Usually, the valedictorian is the highest ranked student among those graduating from an educational institution...
, Cierra Grubbs, with a GPA of 105.09, will be attending The University of Texas at Austin as a pre-med major and will be playing on the Women's Longhorn Soccer Team. Also, four other Seniors from the 2011 class will be playing athletics at the collegiate level; including Beau Davis (football at East Texas Baptist University
East Texas Baptist University
East Texas Baptist University is a private, coeducational Christian university in Marshall, Texas, United States associated with the Baptist General Convention of Texas.- History :...
in Marshall, Texas
Marshall, Texas
Marshall is a city in Harrison County in the northeastern corner of Texas. Marshall is a major cultural and educational center in East Texas and the tri-state area. As of the 2010 U.S. Census, the population of Marshall was about 23,523...
), Dalton Bowery (football at Lon Morris College
Lon Morris College
Lon Morris College is a private junior college located in Jacksonville, Texas, United States, and is the only school affiliated with the United Methodist Church that is owned by an individual conference and not the denomination as a whole...
in Jacksonville, Texas
Jacksonville, Texas
Jacksonville is located in Cherokee County, Texas, United States. The population was 13,868 at the 2000 census. It is the principal city of the Jacksonville Micropolitan Statistical Area, which includes all of Cherokee County and part of the larger Tyler-Jacksonville Combined Statistical...
), and Brianna Waddell (volleyball at Lon Morris).