Cloud School is one of the forgotten schools of Austin, Texas. It was also one of numerous Travis County rural schools which operated as a 1-8 school. This news article will explain the history behind Cloud School.
J. B. Norwood donated land for a school in 1890. He owned much land in the area which he donated to several local school districts. This land would become home to The Cloud School aka J. B. Norwood School in 1892 just 6 miles southeast of Austin at the corner of Burleson Road & Norwood Lane. The Cloud School was an early incarnation of the J. B. Norwood School which was its first name. Now the Cloud School was named after John Wirt Cloud. He was a landowner who owned land property in Del Valle and Austin. (Ref: Austin Weekly Statesman, Wednesday, June 24, 1896)
The Cloud 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. Only white students attended Cloud School. J. B. Norwood School District operated Cloud School.
The Cloud School would eventually become J. B. Norwood School for which the school would eventually form into during 1894. However the Austin Weekly Statesman would still refer to this school as the Cloud School whenever a news article mentioned that school. (Ref: Austin Weekly Statesman, Thursday, April 22, 1897)
Austin Weekly Statesman reported that the Cloud School was destroyed by fire in late April 1897. The fire was ignited by some defect. “Cloud School House was totally destroyed by fire. The unusual coolness of the morning made it necessary to have a fire, and the roof was ignited through some defect. The children escaped without harm.” (Ref: Austin Weekly Statesman, Page 11, Thursday, April 22, 1897)
Cloud School also served as a place for monthly worship. The Salem Lutheran Church used Cloud School as a chapel for church services. Rev. William Feller was a pastor of the church. German Lutheran settlers in the Del Valle community arranged to have Lutheran worship services. The first of these services were held in an unusual chapel which was a blacksmith shop owner by Ernest Schoedel and later Cloud School. Other services were held in homes of members. (Ref: Austin American, Page 17, Sunday, June 12, 1955)
The idea of Colorado School, Three Island Bottom School, and Cloud School was brought to discussion in 1909. This was an effort to have a high school construction closer to home that way students would not have to travel so far to attend school. The Colorado Common School District did not have a high school at that time. High school students attended school in Austin at Austin High School. Colorado Common School District did not have a graded school until 1921. (Ref: Austin Weekly Statesman, SCHOOLS MAY CONSOLIDATE THREE DISTRICTS COMBINED COULD HAVE HIGH SCHOOL Page 2, Wednesday, June 9, 1909)
SCHOOLS MAY CONSOLIDATE THREE DISTRICTS COMBINED COULD HAVE HIGH SCHOOL
Leading Citizens of Colorado, Three Island Bottom and Cloud School Districts Appear Favorable to the Proposition
The subject for discussion was the consolidation of the Colorado, Three Island Bottom, and Cloud School District, to erect a six-room brick or concrete school house near where the Colorado School House now stands and establish a graded school there. It is estimated that the parents of the school have and will in the near future have children ready for the high school. This will save thousands of dollars by having a high school right at home, and besides many children whose parents could not afford to send them to the high school will have an “opportunity of attending the high school” there. The children in the lower grades will, however, enjoy the superior advantage of a graded school. These schools now employ five teachers altogether, so that a five-teacher school will be ran and maintained without additional expense. All of those present expressed themselves unanimously in favor of the proposition. It was derided to appoint a committee of twenty of the citizens to canvass the district. In order to win approval for the plan. The committee will meet at the Colorado School House in several weeks in order to organize.
Racism was an issue Cloud School faced during the early 20th century. Austin Weekly Statesman reported about the strong sentiment among the American residents having an adversary against Mexicans students attending school with white students. A number of children living in the Cloud School had been attendants of the Colorado School by the 1910s. (Ref: Austin Weekly Statesman, SCHOOL FOR MEXICANS They Have Been Deprived of Public School Facilities, Page 3, Thursday, December 5, 1912)
“Some forty-five Mexican children of the Cloud School District, near Del Valle, have been without school facilities owing to the strong sentiment among the American residents adverse to the mingling of the two races. In the same school. Beginning Monday, however, according to Miss Maud Douglas, County Superintendent, the Mexicans will have a school of their own. This has been made possible by the fact that one of the large farmers of that section, Charles G. Jones, has erected a building at his own expense for the accommodation of the Mexican children. Mr. Jones employs many laborers of this nationality on his farm. A teacher has been employed and will conduct a five months' school.”
J. S. Swafford was appointed as a trustee for this school late in December of 1927. Austin American reported this news under the headlines of Swafford Appointed Cloud School Trustee. (Ref: Austin American, Swafford Appointed Cloud School Trustee, 1927)
The Cloud School was often referred to as the “Norwood-Cloud School” in the Austin American newspaper starting in March 1929. W. A. Setliff was a trustee and chair board member. (Ref: Austin American, Sunday. March 24. 1929)
In 1948, the J. B. Norwood School District and Cloud School were consolidated into Colorado Common School District (now Del Valle ISD). Many students were displaced when this happened. This shut down the Cloud School. Now Cloud School served as a private residence for a private homeowner for a certain amount of years. Sometime in the 20th century is when the Cloud School was demolished. Exactly when though is unknown.
Cloud School was located at 8016 Norwood Lane, Austin, Texas, US 78744. Today the property is the future home for Friendly Will Baptist Church.
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