Longview ISD is the gold standard for education in East Texas. As a district of innovators, we set trends rather than follow them. Our over 8,000 students have access to a world-class education tailored to their needs and interests.
Our nationally-acclaimed Montessori program, one of the largest public programs nationwide, provides tuition-free access to this prestigious education model. We are expanding our Montessori offerings into Ware Elementary to create the East Texas Montessori Academy for grades 1-5.
Longview leads in accolades like National Merit Scholars, International Baccalaureate distinctions, and GLOBE awards. Our dual-credit program outpaces the region with more college hours earned. And each year, our graduates matriculate to top universities at a higher rate than any neighboring district.
Our teachers are among the highest paid in the region with Board-approved raises for over a decade. We invest in talent through programs like the LIFT bonus fund for standout teachers.
At Longview ISD, we empower each child to achieve excellence – academic, social and beyond. Our diverse community is our strength, and we leverage partnerships to provide quality education for all Longview students.
Don't just take our word for it. See for yourself the Longview difference. Contact us anytime to learn more about our gold standard district setting the pace for education in Texas.
Believing in excellence for all, the District will guarantee the highest level of academic achievement and character development of each learner by providing a challenging curriculum and exemplary instruction within a safe environment.
The District has identified the following beliefs underlying the values of its educational philosophy. The District believes: Every individual has intrinsic worth and is able to contribute to society. Every student has a right to a high-quality, equitable education. Every individual has the ability to learn and an innate desire to succeed. A safe, healthy, and orderly environment is critical for learning. A community holding high academic expectations will reap educational, economic, cultural, and societal benefits. High morals, strong character, and personal integrity are essential for the betterment of society. Honoring diversity and building on individual strengths contribute to growth. School-community partnerships are vital for success. Change is essential for continuous improvement. Every learner must be prepared to compete globally. Education immeasurably enriches the quality of life. Learning is a life-long quest.
Origins and Early Development (1874–1909)
Longview Independent School District (LISD), located in Longview, Texas, has roots stretching back to the late 19th century. The city’s first notable educational institution, the Longview Male and Female Institute, opened on September 7, 1874, operating with monthly tuition fees ranging from $2 to $3. However, it wasn't until 1880 that a dedicated public school structure emerged, a three-story frame building located at Green and College streets. This facility, serving Longview's growing population, featured four rooms on the first two floors and two attic rooms. Other schools during this era were funded through a combination of state assistance and tuition.
The city's educational landscape remained somewhat informal until the creation of Longview Independent School District by a special act of the 31st Texas Legislature in March 1909. This marked the formal birth of LISD as a structured entity, overseeing the education of Longview's children and setting the foundation for future growth and development.
Original Longview High School
LOCATION: southeast corner of Green and College Streets
This 3-story frame school opened for white children in 1890. It had four rooms on the first floor, four on the second floor, and two in the attic. In 1888 Longview's negro children attended a 4-room frame building located on the Marshall Highway north of town. Before 1908 a two-story frame building was built for secondary education, and was called the Colored High School. It was later enlarged and renamed North Ward High School. Longview Independent School District was formed in 1909. In 1910 it and Kilgore were the only independent school districts in Gregg County. County schools included Harmony Grove, Judson, Peatown, Elderville, Spring Hill, Pine Tree, Gladewater, Sabine, Danville and White Oak.
Growth and Expansion (1909–1930)
The early 20th century saw significant advancements for LISD. Under the leadership of Superintendent S.J. Blocker, who was also an architect, in 1909 the district constructed the first brick high school in Gregg County. By 1913, Longview High School had a faculty of six and an enrollment of 110 students. The community continued to grow, particularly after the discovery of oil in East Texas in 1927, which led to a surge in population and school enrollment, increasing from 1,970 to 4,400 within two years.
LOCATION: southeast corner of Green and College Streets
In 1912, the growth of the community prompted four additional elementary schools to be built. They were First Ward, Northcutt Heights, Campus Ward, and Northside Elementary for Negroes. At Longview High School in 1913 there were 6 members of faculty and administrative staff, and 110 students - 15 seniors, 25 juniors, 21 sophomores and 39 freshmen.
To accommodate this expansion, the district purchased land at Green and College streets and built a multicolored brick high school, which operated until 1932. Following its replacement by a new high school on East Whaley Street, the Green Street building was repurposed as Longview Junior High. The Whaley Street campus, designed by famed architect Mark Lemmon, showcased a three-story brick building with art deco features. This campus included a football stadium (1933) and an administration building added in 1955.
LOCATION: southeast corner of Green and College Streets
This brick High School was built in 1927 on the site where the 3-story frame structure had stood, and was used as a high school for 4 years. With the discovery of oil, after the high school building on Whaley Street was completed, the high school building on Green Street was converted to Longview Junior High and housed grades 6-9. Former Campus Ward school was converted to a Junior High Annex. Campus Ward was the oldest school building in Longview when it burned down in 1944. Students from Longview Junior High rotated classes with South Ward students until the new addition was built in 1945. In 1955 another addition was constructed. In 1957 Longview Junior High was renamed Henry L. Foster Junior High School in honor of long time LISD superintendent H. L. Foster. It was renamed to Henry L. Foster Middle School in 1976 and grade 6 was moved to the elementary schools, and grade 9 moved the the new high school on Loop 281. In 1987 the building that housed Nicholson Memorial Library became an addition to Foster Middle School.
Segregation and Integration (1888–1970)
Like many Southern districts, LISD's early history was marked by segregation. In 1888, the district built its first dedicated school for African American students, a four-room structure on East Marshall Avenue. This evolved into North Ward High School, the first school for Black students in Longview. In 1930, a new Longview Negro High School was constructed to serve over 200 students under the leadership of principal Leslie J. White. A fire in 1946 destroyed this building, and in 1948, the district opened a new high school, later renamed Mary C. Womack High School in 1959. This institution played a significant role in the education of Longview’s African American community until the federally mandated desegregation of 1970.
LISD's transition to full integration was turbulent. In July 1970, just weeks before the integration of Black and White schools, 36 school buses were bombed in the district's bus yard. Despite these challenges, the district successfully integrated its schools in the fall of 1970. African American students from Mary C. Womack High School, Southside Elementary, Rollins Elementary, and Ned E. Williams Elementary were transferred to previously all-White schools.
Consolidations and Modern Growth (1936–Present)
LISD underwent numerous consolidations over the 20th century. In 1936, it annexed the Rollins Common School District, followed by the Elderville Common School District in 1961. One of the most significant consolidations came in 1965 when LISD merged with Judson Independent School District, expanding its jurisdiction and student base.
1931 Longview High School
LOCATION: the corner of Second and Whaley Streets
In 1931 LISD purchased the city block known as the R. C. DeGraffenreid homestead on North Second street. This new high school was built there in 1932. Mark Lemmon of Dallas, raised in Longview, was the architect. The design featured art deco entrances and wooden floors in the classrooms. The football stadium was added in 1933, and the building housing T. G. Field auditorium, the cafeteria and administration building was completed in 1955. Longview Negro High School was built in 1930, and served more then 200 students. After this school was destroyed by fire in 1948, Mary C. Womack High School was opened at the corner of Boyd and Luckett Streets. The school mascot was the Leopard. J. L. Everhart served as principal of Longview Colored High School and Womack High School from 1945-1970. In 1965 Longview I. S. D. and Judson I. S. D. were consolidated. The summer of 1970 when desegregation was federally mandated was a challenging time for Longview. On July 4, 1970, 36 school buses in LISD's bus yard were bombed. That fall African-American students from Mary C. Womack High School, Southside Elementary, Rollins Elementary and Ned E. Williams Elementary were transferred to previously all white schools. FBI investigations into the bus-bombing resulted in the conviction of two people on civil conspiracy charges in 1971. The new Longview High School, located on Loop 281, was dedicated on August 19, 1976. The ninth grade, which since the middle 1930s had been considered part of the senior high program but had been housed in the junior high building, was added to the new high school. The Mary C. Womack school building was torn down in 1983, and after a failed attempt by former alumni to save the old Longview High School building, it was demolished in the summer of 1988.
The district's modern era is marked by the construction of new, state-of-the-art facilities. In 1976, Longview High School was relocated to its current site on Tomlinson Parkway, a project designed by Robert Allen & Associates of Longview and Perkins & Will of Chicago. The new campus reflected LISD’s commitment to growth and modernization, featuring a coliseum and an annex added later by Rick Malloy of Longview.
1971 "New" Longview High School
LOCATION: Loop 281 and Tomlinson Parkway
Longview High School today is the home of over 2,000 students who attend classes in a beautiful structure, located on Tomlinson Parkway north of downtown Longview. It was designed by architects Robert Allen & Associates of Longview and Perkins & Will of Chicago. The coliseum and ninth grade addition were designed by Rick Malloy of Longview. Completed in 1976, it is a school with teachers and students who are representative of a richly diverse community. Its history goes back to the late 1880s and spans years of growth in Longview, consolidation with smaller schools including Judson Grove, and total integration in 1970. The former Judson High School is now Judson Middle School, one of three middle schools in the Longview Independent School District. The combining of the early schools through the years laid the foundation for one great high school, home of the Lobos.
Former LISD Campuses
LISD has seen many schools come and go, each contributing to the district's rich history:
- Erskine Bramlette Elementary (1956)
- East Ward Elementary (1953)
- Forest Park Junior High (1957)
- G.K. Foster Elementary (1953)
- Jodie McClure Elementary (1956)
- South Ward Elementary (1934, with additions in 1947 and 1954)
- Valley View Elementary (1953)
Desegregation Legacy and Cultural Impact
LISD’s journey through the tumultuous era of segregation and integration has left a lasting mark on the district’s identity. The destruction of Mary C. Womack High School in 1983, following its closure after integration, symbolized the district’s difficult transition but also its evolution into a more inclusive system. The alumni of Longview Negro High School and Mary C. Womack High School remain proud of their heritage, organizing reunions and events to honor their schools’ legacy.
Modern Challenges and Achievements
Today, LISD is home to over 8,000 students and continues to adapt to the ever-changing landscape of public education in Texas. The district has faced challenges, such as the national trend of school vouchers and increasing competition between public and private education. However, LISD remains committed to providing a high-quality education for all students, with a focus on innovation and customer service, as seen in its modern approach to community engagement and student success.
LISD’s current high school stands as a testament to its long-standing tradition of excellence and resilience, serving as a hub of academic achievement, extracurricular success, and community involvement. The district continues to expand its facilities, provide state-of-the-art educational resources, and foster a spirit of diversity and inclusion that reflects its storied past.
DID YOU KNOW: Longview ISD is among a select few districts nationwide to win a Magna Award from the National School Boards Association (NSBA), recognizing programs that advance equity and break down barriers for underserved students.
DID YOU KNOW: Longview ISD leads East Texas in state TEA distinctions and dual-credit college hours earned, and each year graduates more students to prestigious universities than any other district in the region.
DID YOU KNOW: Judson Middle School has earned recognition as a 'Texas School to Watch' by the National Forum to Accelerate Middle-Grades Reform along with the Texas Association of Secondary School Principals (TASSP).
DID YOU KNOW: Longview ISD's International Baccalaureate project partners with "We Help Two" and sells "funky socks" to help supply prosthetic legs and feet to amputees worldwide!
DID YOU KNOW: Longview ISD has the largest FREE public Montessori school (for 3-to-5 year-olds) in the Nation, provided free of charge to Longview area children.
DID YOU KNOW: Our Johnston-McQueen program brings in a "Signing Santa" to assist deaf education students in communicating with Santa during the holidays?
DID YOU KNOW: The Longview Lobos are the only football program in East Texas to have won a State Championship in Class 6A (the largest division in Texas).
DID YOU KNOW: Our elementary, middle school, and high school choir programs consistently win awards for their exceptional performances?
DID YOU KNOW: The dropout rate at Longview High School is consistently low, highlighting our commitment to student success and retention?
DID YOU KNOW: The U.S. News & World Report's Best High Schools list regularly ranks Longview High School among the top campuses in the entire East Texas region.
DID YOU KNOW: Our students shine as State and National Technical Student Association winners, showcasing their technical expertise?
DID YOU KNOW: Over 100 incoming freshmen apply for dual credit courses each year, a testament to their eagerness for advanced learning?
DID YOU KNOW: We have a dedicated summer backpack program that ensures kids are fed year-round, even during the summer break?
DID YOU KNOW: LISD runs a farm-to-table program that partners with local farmers, providing fresh produce for our cafeterias?
DID YOU KNOW: The LHS Horticulture Program harvests its own bee hives to sell honey, wax, and wax products at FFA shows.
DID YOU KNOW: More than 500 LHS students engage in dual-credit courses annually, accelerating their academic journeys?
DID YOU KNOW: We offer orchestra programs at the elementary, middle, and high school levels, fostering musical talents?
DID YOU KNOW: US News and World Report School Rankings consistently place Hudson PEP among the top-ranked Elementary Schools in Texas.
DID YOU KNOW: Longview ISD hosts the only free public K-12 International Baccalaureate program in the entire world?
DID YOU KNOW: Our Wall of Honor pays tribute to Veteran alumni and their families, recognizing their contributions?
DID YOU KNOW: Numerous LHS students graduate with Associate Degrees before receiving their high school diplomas.
DID YOU KNOW: Longview ISD consistently receives the Gold Standard Award for maintaining financial transparency?
DID YOU KNOW: Lobo Band has earned first-level honors at State Sweepstakes for over SEVEN STRAIGHT DECADES!
DID YOU KNOW: The Longview ISD Board of Trustees has lowered the property tax rate for multiple consecutive years.
DID YOU KNOW: Longview ISD's School Board has been named the School Board of the Year for Region VIII multiple times.
DID YOU KNOW: Our International Baccalaureate program is the only one situated east of Interstate 45?
DID YOU KNOW: Each year, LHS graduating classes earn millions of dollars in college scholarships.
WE ARE LONGVIEW.
The district website provides the most current information for our district. If at any point you cannot find the information you are looking for, please contact our Community Relations department via email at ask@lisd.org or call 903-381-2235.