Jacksonville Independent School District

Duane's take

Here's how the official marker tells it, and I'll do my best to do it justice. Now, some towns get their story told through battles or booms or bigger-than-life characters. Jacksonville's story gets told through something a little quieter, and maybe a little more powerful: a schoolhouse.

The marker goes all the way back to 1846, when Jacksonville's early settlers, at the original townsite, already had a school up and running. Think about that. The ink on Texas statehood was barely dry, and these folks were already making sure their children had somewhere to learn.

That's not an accident. That's a priority. The Texas Legislature authorized creation of county school districts in 1854, and by the 1860s, Old Jacksonville was supporting at least two schools.

Two. The town was growing, and so was its commitment to education. Then came the railroad, the way it always does in these Texas stories, and in 1872, residents moved closer to it.

By 1873, they had established their first public school at the new location. More schools followed, including, right at this very site, the town's first free public school. Between 1905 and 1907, the city formed its own district, with campuses for both white and black students.

The schools integrated in the late 1960s, a chapter the marker notes plainly and one that deserves to sit with you for a moment. From that single schoolhouse in 1846, across all those decades and all that change, Jacksonville kept building. And the graduates who walked out of those doors?

Olympic and professional athletes. Grammy winners. Tony award nominees.

And, as the marker quietly puts it, many other successes. From 1846 to now, Jacksonville bet on education early, and by the look of things, it paid off.

What the marker says

Jacksonville Independent School District Jacksonville's early settlers valued education and had a school as early as 1846 at the original townsite. The Texas Legislature authorized creation of county school districts in 1854, and by the 1860s, Old Jacksonville supported at least two schools. In 1872, residents moved closer to the railroad, and by 1873, they established their first public school. More schools opened, including, at this site, the town's first free public school. Between 1905 and 1907, the city formed its own district with campuses for both white and black students. The schools integrated in the late 1960s. The district's notable graduates include Olympic and professional athletes, Grammy winners, Tony award nominees and many other successes. (2003)