Highland School in Pflugerville, Texas is one of the many Austin/Travis County institutions that have been long forgotten which has faded away with time and history. Most local citizens have forgotten about Highland School in Pflugerville, Texas. In fact, most have never knew about this school’s existence.
For those who didn’t remember and for those who did not know, Highland School was a public school that operated from 1873 to 1942. Highland School was located near the intersection of Vision Drive & Foothill Farms near I 35 (IH 35) out on the rural countryside.
In early 1873, Highland School was built as a one room school building. At one point Highland School was built as a log cabin before becoming a modern one room school building. 1880 was the year Highland School was rebuilt and modernized into a one room school building. Overall Highland School was a rural school that grades 1st through 10th. 11th grade was later added.
Year of 1882 is when the Highland School District aka Highland School District No. 56 (School District No. 56) was established. Highland School had its own school district (as many rural schools in Travis County/Austin did during that time. Highland School District operated as a school district from 1882 to 1936 for Pflugerville and Austin before consolidating into Pflugerville ISD in 1936.
Beginning in 1900, Highland School added 11th grade classes to their school. Highland School then taught grades 1st through 11th. 10th grade and 11th grade classes were held in a separate room. The Highland School expanded from being a one-room school with one teacher into a three-room school with three teachers in 1901.
1902 is when some children from Merrilltown School in the Merrilltown School District were transferred to Highland School. Students were transferred from Merrilltown School (also known as Merrilltown Elementary School) and Merrilltown High School as an effort to relive overcrowding in rural schools of Round Rock, Travis County, Austin, and Pflugerville.
In 1908 is when Richland School consolidated into Highland School as was later consolidated by Plfugerville ISD shortly after. During the 1908-1909 school year is when Pflugerville ISD began having Highland School admitting students from Richland School as the Pflugerville School District consolidated Richland School in 1908. Despite Richland School being consolidated into Pflugerville ISD, Richland School continued to operate until 1938.
Highland School never went past 11th grade until the 1934-1935 school year. 1935 is when Highland School began accepting 12th grade students from schools in the Pflugerville School District and neighboring school districts. This practice continued through 1940 until the school closed for good.
Prior to 1935, Pflugerville ISD did not have buses as a method of transportation for students. Most students, including those who lived in town, walked to school. Some students walked more than 2 miles to school everyday. Highland School was no exception. By the 1935-1936 school year, Pflugerville ISD had their own transportation with buses now provided. However Pflugerville ISD only operated on bus route. Despite this improved method of transportation, everyone had their own transportation.
In 1936, Pflugerville ISD was about to lose state certification and accreditation because the school district did not have a sufficient amount of students for their tax base. Travis County Schools Superintendent Irvin W. Popham held many meetings and the solution was to consolidate the surrounding schools and its school districts into Pflugerville ISD. Consolidation saved Pflugerville ISD.
Highland School met its fate as most rural school across the United States did. The school was consolidated into a larger school district. Highland School and its school district were consolidated into Pflugerville ISD (Pflugerville Independent School District) in 1936.
Pflugerville ISD continued to let Highland School operate until 1942 due to lack of state funding as funds were going to soldiers fighting in World War II. So Highland School closed down in 1942. Its students were moved to the Pflugerville School.
The building was moved onto to the site of where Timmerman Elementary School is now located in 1943. The building was destroyed by a tornado that hit Pflugerville in 1957. Highland School is no longer extant today as the building has been demolished.
The location of Highland School was Vision Drive, Pflugerville, Texas, US 78660.
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