Each month leading up to The Woodlands 50th Anniversary celebration, content is created to honor the past, present and future of our community. During August, education will be featured. This article focuses on Public Schools. The next article will feature Private Schools.
By Annierose Donnelly
Some of the best schools in the United States call The Woodlands home — and that’s no accident. Since its founding in 1974 (the official 50th anniversary is this October), this pioneering master planned community was developed with a focus on education. Founder George Mitchell’s original vision for The Woodlands centered around creating a place to live, work, play, learn and pray.
An excellent public school system always stood out as an essential bedrock component.
Tim Welbes, former co-president of The Woodlands Development Company (now Howard Hughes), notes how the school system in The Woodlands plays a key role in how the community is designed, setting it apart from so many others.
“The vision for The Woodlands is unique when you consider other master planned communities of
significant size,” Welbes says. “When developing the villages, neighborhoods were designed so that every child could walk or ride a bike to school along a path. There was a consciousness to how the entire community was going to work together, with a nod to sustainability.”
The Woodlands Public Schools
A distinguished public school system that has long served as a cornerstone of the community’s success centers around three independent school districts: Conroe Independent School District (CISD), Tomball
Independent School District (TISD) and Magnolia Independent School District (MISD). These schools are celebrated for academic excellence, innovative programs and a strong sense of community involvement.
Many families are drawn to move to The Woodlands because of the excellent schools and educational
opportunities. Dr. Ann Snyder, who served on the Conroe ISD school board for 15 years, always appreciated the developer and community’s dedication to supporting schools and educational excellence.
“Our public schools are second to none,” Snyder says. “We are rated the number one community to live in because our public schools are A plus.”
Parents, local businesses and community leaders are all deeply involved in the schools, providing resources and volunteer hours to enhance the educational experience. “For all 50 years, education has been the focus of our community,” Snyder says. “It’s important to have strong public schools for all children. Every child is important.”
Inside the School Districts
Over the last 50 years, this community-wide commitment to education has paid off. The Woodlands’ schools consistently rank among the very best in the entire state of Texas.
Conroe ISD
Conroe ISD boasts a number of highly-rated schools, including The Woodlands High School and College Park High School, which both boast a 96 percent graduation rate. In the last decade, more than 50 graduates of The Woodlands High School and more than 60 graduates of College Park High School have been accepted at Ivy League universities.
Conroe ISD is the primary district serving The Woodlands with a range of top elementary and high schools for all grades, with many opportunities in academics, athletics and the arts.
The district regularly wins prestigious accolades, and it is currently second in Texas for its academic and financial performance.
Magnolia ISD
Magnolia ISD serves the western parts of The Woodlands and is highly regarded for its
commitment to the students, with a nurturing educational atmosphere. Magnolia ISD focuses on fostering leadership and community service, with programs that encourage students to develop both academically and personally.
Magnolia’s high schools — Magnolia High and Magnolia West — frequently rank highly among the top schools in Texas and are nationally rated.
Tomball ISD
Tomball ISD includes Tomball High School, Tomball Memorial High School and Tomball Star Academy, and is known for its personalized learning environments and strong emphasis on technology integration. The district boasts outstanding early college programs that prepare students for the future with hands-on learning opportunities.
Commitment to Education
The public school system in The Woodlands has shown a strong historical commitment to bolstering family life. Whatever village someone lives in, great choices for a quality education beckon. Superior elementary schools feed into top middle schools and high schools, creating a chain of success. A number of top private schools, among the best in the nation, also educate students at a world class level in The Woodlands.
The collaborative efforts of Conroe, Tomball and Magnolia ISDs ensure that students in The Woodlands receive a topnotch education, setting themselves and the community up for much future success. This community emphasis all started five decades ago, from the very beginnings of The Woodlands.
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Many thanks to The Woodlands 50th Anniversary Sponsors:
FOUNDING – Howard Hughes
PRODUCER – The Woodlands Township
LEGACY – Woodforest National Bank
HERITAGE – Waste Connections Inc.
GOLD – Entergy Texas, Houston Methodist The Woodlands Hospital
SILVER – SVN|JBeard Real Estate, The John Cooper School