Wichita Falls Independent School District

School district in Texas, United States

Wichita Falls Independent School District (WFISD) is a public school district based in Wichita Falls, Texas, United States and is accredited by the Texas Education Agency. Wichita Falls ISD serves most of Wichita Falls (including portions of Sheppard Air Force Base). Varying parts of north Wichita Falls are included in the City View Independent School District and the Burkburnett Independent School District. The Wichita Falls ISD was one of the few Texas school districts to offer a choice program that gives parents the choice of what secondary school they would like their child to attend. Wichita Falls ISD ended the choice program for all schools beginning with the 2015 2016 year. Secondary schools in the WFISD offer Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate courses to students wishing to pursue a more challenging academic curriculum. The WFISD currently operates two schools with the International Baccalaureate program, covering two segments of the program:
G. H. Kirby Math/ Science Junior High and Hirschi High School partner in offering the Middle Years Programme
Hirschi High School, an IB World School, offers the IB Diploma Programme to juniors and seniors

The school district has continuously been recognized for its overall academic success from the Texas Education Agency and the Magnet Schools of America Association. In 1999 and 2001 respectively, Washington/ Jackson Math/Science Center and G. H. Kirby Junior High were awarded the Ronald P. Simpson award, giving them the title of "Best Magnet School in America" for a year. The district also boasts that many of its schools have received the Texas Blue Ribbon award or have attained "Exemplary" status from the TEA. In 2005, Hirschi High School IB World Topics teacher Sherry Lindemann was named Texas Secondary Teacher of the Year, and selected as a nominee for National Teacher of the Year. Ms. Lindemann represented the WFISD and thousands of Texas teachers at a formal ceremony held by President George W. Bush and First Lady Laura Bush in the White House Rose Garden. In 2022, the school district was given an overall accountability rating of 'B' (80) by the Texas Education Agency.

The first high school in Wichita Falls was built in 1890, and the first graduating class was 1892. In 1908 the Texas Legislature issued a special charter for the Wichita Falls Independent School District. A new high school opened in 1910, and the original 1890 high school was converted into an elementary school. The A. E. Holland school, constructed in 1921, wasn't originally known as Holland. It was named Barwise in honor of Wichita Falls pioneer J. H. Barwise. Because of segregation, white students attended Barwise, while black students went to school at Booker T. Washington. The Brown v. Board of Education Supreme Court decision in 1954 ruled against school segregation, but like a lot of districts in the south, it took Wichita Falls many years to catch up to that decision. The construction of two new high schools Legacy and Memorial were both on schedule and on budget as of January 2023, and are scheduled to open for classes in Fall 2024. The opening of these two new schools means the three existing high schools – Wichita Falls, Rider, and Hirschi – will close at the end of the 2023 2024 school year. All three old high school campuses will sit vacant until a potential bond election is proposed for 2027 to convert the campuses into middle schools.

The Wichita Falls ISD is overseen by a Superintendent (Dr. Donny Lee), an Assistant Superintendent (Peter Griffiths), and a seven member Board of Trustees who are elected either as at large or district members. President of the Board of Trustees is currently Mike Rucker.

There are approximately 13,309 students in grades K 12 as of October 2022.

Average Years Experience 12.9 years
Average Years Experience with WFISD 10.8 years
31.9% of WFISD Teachers Have 11 20 Years Experience