Wichita Falls Independent School District
Encyclopedia
Wichita Falls Independent School District (WFISD) is a public school district
based in Wichita Falls
, Texas
, United States
and is accredited by the Texas Education Agency
.
Wichita Falls ISD serves most of Wichita Falls (including portions of Sheppard Air Force Base
). Varying parts of north Wichita Falls are included in the City View Independent School District
and the Burkburnett Independent School District
.
The Wichita Falls ISD is one of the few Texas school districts to offer a choice program that gives parents the choice of what secondary school
they would like their child to attend. While elementary school attendance zones exist, parents can opt out of these and send their children to one of the eight magnet schools in the district.
Secondary schools in the WFISD offer Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate courses to students wishing to pursue a more challenging academic curriculum. The WFISD currently operates four schools with the International Baccalaureate program, covering all three segments of the program:
The school district has continuously been recognized for its overall academic success from the Texas Education Agency
and the Magnet Schools of America Association. In 1999 and 2001 respectively, Washington/ Jackson Math/Science Center and G.H. Kirby Junior High were awarded the Ronald P. Simpson award, giving them the title of "Best Magnet School
in America" for a year. The district also boasts that many of its schools have received the Texas Blue Ribbon award or have attained "Exemplary" status from the TEA
.
In 2005, Hirschi High School IB World Topics teacher Sherry Lindemann was named Texas
Teacher of the Year where she represented the WFISD and thousands of Texas teachers at a formal ceremony held by President
George W. Bush
and First Lady
Laura Bush
in the White House Rose Garden
.
In 2009, the school district was rated "academically acceptable
" by the Texas Education Agency
.
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 Wichita Falls
Wichita Falls, Texas
Wichita Falls is a city in and the county seat of Wichita County, Texas, United States, United States. Wichita Falls is the principal city of the Wichita Falls Metropolitan Statistical Area, which encompasses all of Archer, Clay and Wichita counties. According to the U.S. Census estimate of 2010,...
, 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...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and is accredited 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...
.
Wichita Falls ISD serves most of Wichita Falls (including portions of Sheppard Air Force Base
Sheppard Air Force Base
Sheppard Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base located five miles north of the central business district of Wichita Falls, in Wichita County, Texas, United States. It is the largest training base and most diversified in Air Education and Training Command...
). Varying parts of north Wichita Falls are included in the City View Independent School District
City View Independent School District
City View Independent School District is a public school district based in Wichita Falls, Texas .Northwestern portions of Wichita Falls are served by the district.In 2009, the school district was rated "recognized" by the Texas Education Agency....
and the Burkburnett Independent School District
Burkburnett Independent School District
Burkburnett Independent School District is a public school district based in Burkburnett, Texas .The district is located in northeastern Wichita County and also serves the city of Cashion...
.
The Wichita Falls ISD is one of the few Texas school districts to offer a choice program that gives parents the choice of what secondary school
Secondary school
Secondary school is a term used to describe an educational institution where the final stage of schooling, known as secondary education and usually compulsory up to a specified age, takes place...
they would like their child to attend. While elementary school attendance zones exist, parents can opt out of these and send their children to one of the eight magnet schools in the district.
Secondary schools in the WFISD offer Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate courses to students wishing to pursue a more challenging academic curriculum. The WFISD currently operates four schools with the International Baccalaureate program, covering all three segments of the program:
- Lamar Primary Center and Washington/Jackson Math-Science Center offer the Primary Years Programme
- G.H. Kirby Math/ Science Junior High and Hirschi High SchoolHirschi High SchoolJohn R. Hirschi Math/Science International Baccalaureate Magnet High School, or commonly known as Hirschi High School or HHS for short, is a four year public high school in Wichita Falls, Texas located at 3106 Borton Lane...
partner in offering the Middle Years Programme - Hirschi High School, an IB World School, offers the IB Diploma ProgrammeIB Diploma ProgrammeThe International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme is a two-year educational programme for students aged 16–19that provides an internationally accepted qualification for entry into higher education, and is recognised by universities worldwide. It was developed in the early to mid-1960s in Geneva by...
to juniors and seniors
The school district has continuously been recognized for its overall academic success from 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...
and the Magnet Schools of America Association. In 1999 and 2001 respectively, Washington/ Jackson Math/Science Center and G.H. Kirby Junior High were awarded the Ronald P. Simpson award, giving them the title of "Best Magnet School
Magnet school
In education in the United States, magnet schools are public schools with specialized courses or curricula. "Magnet" refers to how the schools draw students from across the normal boundaries defined by authorities as school zones that feed into certain schools.There are magnet schools at the...
in America" for a year. The district also boasts that many of its schools have received the Texas Blue Ribbon award or have attained "Exemplary" status from the TEA
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...
.
In 2005, Hirschi High School IB World Topics teacher Sherry Lindemann was named 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...
Teacher of the Year where she represented the WFISD and thousands of Texas teachers at a formal ceremony held by President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
and First Lady
First Lady of the United States
First Lady of the United States is the title of the hostess of the White House. Because this position is traditionally filled by the wife of the president of the United States, the title is most often applied to the wife of a sitting president. The current first lady is Michelle Obama.-Current:The...
Laura Bush
Laura Bush
Laura Lane Welch Bush is the wife of the 43rd President of the United States, George W. Bush. She was the First Lady of the United States from January 20, 2001, to January 20, 2009. She has held a love of books and reading since childhood and her life and education have reflected that interest...
in the White House Rose Garden
White House Rose Garden
The White House Rose Garden is a garden bordering the Oval Office and the West Wing of the White House. The garden is approximately 125 feet long and 60 feet wide...
.
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
- The Wichita Falls ISD is overseen by a SuperintendentSuperintendent (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....
(Dr. George Kazanas), an Assistant Superintendent (Dr. Timothy Powers), and a seven-member Board of Trustees who are elected either as at-largeAt-LargeAt-large is a designation for representative members of a governing body who are elected or appointed to represent the whole membership of the body , rather than a subset of that membership...
or district members. President of the Board of Trustees is currently Rev. Reginald Blow.
Teacher Experience
- Average Years Experience - 12.8 years
- Average Years Experience with WFISD - 10 years
- 31.9% of WFISD Teachers Have 11-20 Years Experience
Budget
- 2005-2006 $88,026,794 (includes debt service, maintenance & operations, campus activity funds, special revenue funds)
- Tax rate per $100 valuation: $1.56
Facilities
- 20 Elementary Schools
- 1 Early Childhood Center
- 4 Junior High Schools grades 7-8
- 3 High Schools grades 9-12
- 1 Career & Applied Technology Center
- 1 Accelerated Learning Center
- 1 Student Adjustment Center
- 1 Sports Complex - Memorial Stadium (Wichita Falls)Memorial Stadium (Wichita Falls)Memorial Stadium is an American football and soccer stadium in Wichita Falls, Texas located on Southwest Parkway at Barnett Road. It is owned and operated by the Wichita Falls Independent School District....
- 1 Administration Center
- 1 Support Center
High schools
- John Hirschi Math/Science IB Magnet High School - Principal Wanda Jackson
- S. H. Rider High SchoolS. H. Rider High SchoolS.H. Rider High School is a public school in Wichita Falls, Texas . It is part of the Wichita Falls Independent School District and is one of the district's three high schools....
- Principal Judie McDonald - Wichita Falls High SchoolWichita Falls High SchoolWichita Falls High School or WFHS is a public school in Wichita Falls, Texas . It is part of the Wichita Falls Independent School District and is one of the district's three high schools....
- Principal Kevin Shipley
Alternative Schools
- Carrigan Vocational Center - Principal Leah Ford
- Denver Alternative Center - Principal David Anderson
- Harrell Accelerated Learning Center - Principal Gena Woodard
Junior High Schools
- Joseph Barwise Junior High - Principal Linda Muehlberger
- G.H. Kirby Math/Science Junior High - Principal Larry Menefee
- 2001-02 National Blue Ribbon School
- Joe B. McNiel Junior High - Principal Carol English
- Zundelowitz Junior High - Principal Linda Young
Elementary schools
- Alamo Elementary - Principal
- Ben Franklin Elementary - Principal
- Ben Milam Elementary - Principal Pat Baggs
- Bonham Elementary - Principal Joyce Shepard
- Brook Village Early Childhood - Principal Rose Partridge
- Crockett Elementary - Principal Cathy Rule
- Cunningham Elementary - Principal Christina Henry
- 2000-01 National Blue Ribbon School
- Fain Elementary - Principal Clarisa Richie
- Fannin Elementary - Principal Dotsie Mergerson
- Fowler Elementary - Principal Tania Rushing
- Huey Montessori - Principal Dotsie Mergerson
- Jefferson Elementary - Principal Pat Page
- Kate Burgess Elementary - Principal Jackie Jacobs
- Kate Haynes Elementary - Principal Mickey Galyean
- Lamar Elementary - Principal Gail Anderson
- Sam Houston Elementary - Principal Omar Montemayer
- Sheppard Elementary - Principal Kim Meyer
- Southern Hills - Principal Joyce Shepard
- Washington/Jackson elementary - Principal Sandy Camp
- West Foundation Elementary - Principal Kim Smith
Defunct Schools
- Booker T. Washington High School (closed 1969, currently Washington/Jackson Math/Science Center)
- Reagan Junior High School (currently Wichita Falls ISD Administration Building)
- Booker T. Washington Middle School (closed 1970)
- Travis Elementary School
- Austin Elementary (closed 2005)
- Holland School
- Bonham Elementary (closed 2008)
- McGaha Elementary