History of Cedar Park School in Cedar Park, Texas revisited.

Not much is known about the Cedar Park School in Cedar Park, Texas. Only so much history about Cedar Park School has been saved and archived on documentation. Cedar Park School is one the many forgotten schools of Williamson County next to Round Rock Mexican School, Caldwell Heights School, Stony Point School, Monodale School, and Chandler Branch School among other schools in that area. This news article will explain the history behind Cedar Park School.


A community school called Cedar Park School was constructed sometime during the 19th century possibly by 1878. Exact date is unknown. The community school and church building were said to have been constructed at the same time according to the Williamson County Historical Commission. (Ref: http://www.williamson-county-historical-commission.org/CEDAR_PARK/Cedar_Park_Texas_Historical_Marker_williamson_county.html)

The school was a one-room frame building built on a box frame plan with double front doors at the entrance which were painted white. The school building was painted white as well. The building was said to have 6 windows with 3 of each on both sides. The school classroom was divided with boys sitting on one side of the room and girls on the other. (Ref: www.williamson-county-historical-commission.org/CEDAR_PARK/HISTORY_OF_CEDAR_PARK_TEXAS_narrative.pdf)

The Cedar Park School served as a church also called “Cedar Park School/Church”. J. M. McNeeley served as superinten­dent and reverend on Sunday afternoons. This building served as both a church and school.

The town of Cedar Park even had its own school district called Cedar Park School District. Running Brushy School, New Hope School, New Hope High School, Block House School, and Bagdad School were a part of the “Cedar Park School District”. Cedar Park School District was a “common school district” which sent its students in secondary grades to attend school in the Leander Common School District (now Leander ISD).
(Ref: Williamson County Deed Book 12, pg. 446)


Cedar Park School was a 1-7 school where grades 1 through 7 were taught which was not uncommon during that time period. Usually those students wanting an education past the 7th grade rode the train to Leander for a secondary education at a cost of 5¢ cents per day.

According to Williamson County Historical Commission, Cedar Park School was located at Buttercup Creek Boulevard & US 183 and southeast of White Stone School located at the intersection of FM 1431 & US 183. (Ref: http://www.williamson-county-historical-commission.org/CEDAR_PARK/Cedar_Park_Narrative_footnotes.pdf)


Mr. George Allen became superintendent of Cedar Park School in 1908 during the 1908-1909 school year. Cedar Park School had 20 students attending school daily. Many students were 8 or 9 years old. Mr. Walker Barton began grouping the students by grade rather than gender. (Ref: Land of Good Water, pg. 319, Clara Scarbrough)

Thomas L. Allen was appointed trustee of the Cedar Park School District in 1920. At that time the school, Cedar Park School was more than 40 years old and in need of repair. The school was considered obsolete by Williamson County Common School District officials. (Ref: http://www.williamson-county-historical-commission.org/CEDAR_PARK/Cedar_Park_Texas_Historical_Marker_williamson_county.html)

During the same year is when Thomas Allen began plans for consolidating Cedar Park School with Block House School located 2 miles north. A petition led to each of the two schools closing. Block House and Cedar Park consolidated to form the new White Stone School District in 1923. Cedar Park School District was consolidated into Leander Independent School District Leander ISD 1923. It was a petition that led the Cedar Park School to close down. (Ref: www.williamson-county-historical-commission.org/CEDAR_PARK/HISTORY_OF_CEDAR_PARK_TEXAS_narrative.pdf)

The Cedar Park School more or less sat abandoned sat abandoned for more than 3 decades. This was from the 1920s to the 1950s. White Stone School District was consolidated into Leander Independent School District (Leander ISD) in 1952. At one point in time the former Cedar Park School was used as a hay barn to store hay. Somehow Cedar Park School eventually fell to the ground and was later demolished due to suburban development. (Ref: http://www.cedarparktexas.gov/home/showdocument?id=1337)

 

Today the Cedar Park School has faded away with time from peoples memories. The school only exists in historical reports from Williamson County Historical Commission.

Cedar Park School was located at Buttercup Creek Boulevard & US 183, Cedar Park, Texas, US 78613. Century Food Store and Cash America Pawn stand where the Cedar Park School once stood. (Ref: https://communityimpact.com/wp-content/uploads/archives/LCP/issues/LCP-2009-01.pdf)