History of Colorado White School No. 2 explored.

The Colorado White School No. 2 was a for white students only and was operated by Colorado Common School District  from 1922 to 1961. This school was known as Colorado White School as well.

Colorado White School No. 2 was established on land owned by S. O. Stamey and Stanley Thomas in Del Valle, Texas in 1922. The school was located on Highway 71 (TX 71) north of modern day Austin Bergstrom International Airport .

In 1922, a single story masonry brick building at a height of 12 feet was constructed in to replace the log cabin school to accommodate growth in enrollment as the log cabin school became overcrowded due to lack of space in classrooms. A sign with the words "Colorado School" had been placed on top of the school painted in a blackish brown color. Roof replacement was installed in the same year.


Average daily attendance was 26 to 30 students for Colorado White School No. 2. Some days 30 students attended school at best. Attendance was never very high due to the agricultural lifestyle. Students had to tend to family farms during harvesting season. Students had to pick cotton and work in the fields.

Students had to use outhouses located not too far away from the school as Colorado White School No. 2 did not receive indoor plumbing until near mid-20th century. 2 separate outhouses were located outside the school. The wait to use these facilities was long and time consuming. Some students and teachers simply used the forest that surrounded the area.

A Travis County Map shows a “Colorado White School” located north of Highway 71 (TX 71) on flat vacant land. It could have been possible that 2 white schools were located on this plot of land owned by Stanley Thomas and S. O. Stamey before Del Valle ISD came into existence. (Ref: 1932 Travis County Map)

Average daily attendance was 26 to 30 students on daily basis during the 1930s. But the attendance rate still remained low as it historically was and has been. A number of additional rooms were later added to be expanded.

By the 1940s, the Colorado White School No. 2 received indoor plumbing with 2 separate toilets inside the brick building. Water pipes were upgraded and fixed. (Ref: Austin American Statesman, Crowded Rural Schools Lack Pioneer Facilities, January 26, 1947)


1950 is when the Del Valle schools became slowly integrated. Some schools were no longer separated by race or ethnicity. Integration was slow to come to liberal Austin and Del Valle, but it came easy as the racial integration process went smooth with no trouble.

In 1952, Colorado White School No. 2 reopened after much remodeling and improvements along with both Popham School (Popham Elementary School) & Del Valle Junior High School. (From 1955 to 1961, both Popham School and Del Valle Junior High School shared the same building. Del Valle Junior High School was located on the east portion of the building.)

A new ten-room school, named I. W. Popham School in honor of the Travis County School Superintendent, was opened in 1950 and rebuilt in 1952. Designed by architect Arnold E. Wittman, the school was built for 300 students at a cost of $84,000.  

The school is modern with spacious grounds, but water for the drinking fountains must be hauled from Austin. It is placed in an underground cistern for use through the fountains. (Ref: Lubbock Evening Journal, Page 23, July 10, 1957)

In 1956, Colorado White School No. 2 was demolished. All outbuildings have been demolished. The site had been buried with the reconstruction of Popham School (Popham Elementary School) and Del Valle Junior High School.

Today no trace remains of the Colorado White School No. 2. The site is now home to Travis County Fire Rescue and Austin Fire Department.


Colorado White School No. 2 was located at the address of 2434 Cardinal Loop, Del Valle, Texas, US 78617.