History of J. B. Norwood White School explored in retrospect.

J. B. Norwood White School is one of the many forgotten schools in Travis County and Austin. Not too much information is known about this school.

J. B. Norwood School (J. B. Norwood White School) was named after James B. Norwood (James Bascum Norwood aka James Bascom Norwood). James B. Norwood was a white landowner that relocated to Texas after being in Tennessee for many years. He donated land for many schools in the area.

J. B. Norwood donated land for a school in 1890. This land would become home to J. B. Norwood School aka J. B. White School in beginning of 1892. J. B. Norwood White School was built in 1892 as a long and narrow rectangular wooden frame building which was a one-room school house. This long rectangular wooden frame building had many windows.

The J. B. Norwood School started life out first as the Cloud School which was its first name. The Cloud School was an early incarnation of the J. B. Norwood School. Cloud School eventually became J. B. Norwood School in 1894. J. B. Norwood White School was a 1-8 school which educated students in grades 1 through 8. 9th grade students and older students were transferred to Austin ISD to attend high school.


During its time of operation, J. B. Norwood School had its own school district called J. B. Norwood School District better known as School District No. 66 from 1892 to 1935. The J. B. Norwood Schools in both Del Valle, Texas and Austin, Texas were named after James B. Norwood The J. B. Norwood Schools were segregated by race.

Of course racism and segregation were law of the land in Texas prior to integration. J. B. Norwood School District had its own separate “J. B. Norwood School’s” for each race and ethnicity. A J. B. Norwood School for white students, a J. B. Norwood School for negro students, and a “Mexican School” for Hispanic students. Each school in School District #66 was designated as a “J. B. Norwood School”.


By 1933, many students from this school began attending schools in the Colorado Common School District (now Del Valle ISD). When the Bergstrom Air Force Base was being built in 1933, School District No. 66 was forced to relocate its schools elsewhere. J. B. Norwood Schools were located inside the property of today’s Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (ABIA).

Finally after much delay, School District No. 66 relocated its schools in 1935. The school relocation displaced many students. J. B. Norwood School (J. B. Norwood Negro School) was relocated to Norwood Lane & Burleson Road (FM 812) in 1935. J. B. Norwood School (J. B. Norwood White School) relocated across the street from J. B. Norwood Negro School later on in 1935.

In 1935, the J. B. Norwood School District was consolidated into Colorado Common School District (now Del Valle ISD). Many students were displaced when this happened. This shut down J. B. Norwood White School. Soon J. B. Norwood White School was demolished shortly after. Sometime in the 20th century, the J. B. Norwood Schools were demolished.

The property of 8016 Norwood Lane was sold to a homeowner who lived on the property until 1995. In 1996, the house on that property was demolished. Today the property of 8016 Norwood Lane is the future home for Friendly Will Baptist Church.

There are no traces of J. B. Norwood White School remaining today. None are extant. However the Norwood School Tract still is documented in legal documents and land deeds.


J. B. Norwood White School was located at the intersection of Norwood Lane & Burleson Road. The address for J. B. Norwood White School was 8016 Norwood Lane, Austin, Texas, US 78744.