El Paso’s school history is rich and varied, dating back to a time before El Paso was a booming town. Prior to incorporation of the city, and even after, schoolhouses were few and far between, much of the instruction occurring in homes or makeshift buildings. Even after the arrival of the railroads in 1881 necessitated the creation of permanent schools with full-time instructors, El Paso spent years founding a school district. Soon, however, the El Paso Independent School District was established and schools flourished throughout the city and its outskirts. Throughout the years, students have been educated in iconic buildings and facilities–from Douglass to Aoy to El Paso and Ysleta High Schools, and by motivational and inspiring teachers. Our educational system is the consequent of years of hard work, progress, development, and post Civil-War and even Mexican and Spanish history.
This week, thousands of El Pasoans headed back to school to continue the region’s school history and embark on a months long journey of classroom instruction and growth. Take a look at some of the photos we have at the Burges House of schools in this area; many of the facilities are still used today.
