Educational Excellence
The Next Level
Preparing the Minds of Future Generations
BY JOANNE KOHL
dedicated to providing excellence in
education for all its
Temple
Ten elementary schools, 17 private schools, three middle students.
public
schools, an award-winning high school, and nine colleges
schools
within a 40-mile radius contribute to a level of education not
instruction
found anywhere else but Temple.
June 13, 1883,
but TISD was not
established until 1961. TISD is currently a
From the elementary level to the college
5A school district that includes 16
level, students are given an education that is
education sites serving approximately
well-rounded, diversified and cutting-edge.
8,400 students.
Access to the latest technology is present in
TISD has produced 179 National Merit
both public and private schools and is conScholar
Awards,
including
Black
tinually supported by a caring community.
Achievement and Hispanic Recognition
Scholars; 28 TEA exemplary and
PUBLIC SCHOOLS
recognized ratings for academic accountTEMPLE INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT
Temple Independent School District ability; and 58 International Baccalaureate
(TISD) is a "Children First" district diplomas. The district has exceeded state
and national averages in SAT scores for 11
consecutive years.
These accomplishments are the direct
result of a competent and dedicated staff.
This dedicationbegan
is defined by TISD's motto,
"We educate all on
students. We are responsible. We find a way." All employees and
administrators bring their full potential to
the workplace. Parents, students and visitors
all understand TISD's motto by the
treatment they experience.
After extensive planning and development, in 2005 TISD unveiled TISD 2010. It
is a three-phase, five-year comprehensive
plan designed to take the school district to
the next level of educational excellence.
TISD 2010 includes higher standards of
accountability, expansion of
service, and a reconfiguration of grade
levels one through eight.
It is a time of change at
Temple Hig col, which is
preparing students fo -century
college and work by prc g
experiential learning
opportunitie in career
academies. Students nee e
independent thinkers and
problem ers. All Wildcats will
be prepared fo !ge and/or work
and will be ready t. ige jobs
several times in their adul
bringing with them the ability t, k
deeply, communicate effectively, cal to
solutions, understand the worl, live in,
and master evolving technol "T High"
will continue to feature any in its
outstanding
extracurricular
any
urricular programs.
rON INDEPENDENT
SCHOOL DISTRICT emple
has a unique relationship
wit
of the 2006 school year. Bond projects
approved this past May call for construction
of a new elementary school to open in the
fall of 2007 and construction of a swim
center at Belton High School. This center
will be available for community use.
The district staff has also developed
extensive curriculum documents in all subject areas to be used by teachers in the classroom. The documents are in their second
printing and are under continual revision.
According to Superintendent Dr. Vivian
Baker, "BISD has grown by over 700 students
in the past two years. We strive to be good
stewards of taxpayer dollars as recognized by
the passage of bond elections in 2004 and
2006 for campus improvements and construction. The community recognizes that
our primary focus is our students and supports us by seeing that our facilities are special places for our students to learn. Staff has
"We educate all students.
We are responsible.
We find a way."
trict (BISD) because
BISD campuses are ted
within the Temple limits. "Every Kid
/inner" is the motto expresses the
heart 3ISD's mission: to pro-an
education that chal-;es all BISD
students to :eed. BISD is a key reathat families and businesses choose
acate in Belton. BISD has over 7,900
ents, over 1,100 employees and an ual
budget of over $65 million.
he school district currently has seven
entary schools (three K-5, four preergarten-5), two middle schools ), and
two high schools (9-12).
1e district maintains consistently high
'ards for both students and staff. The
'intendent for BISD is Dr. Vivian
and the deputy superintendent is e
Carpenter. Dr. Baker has been d
Region 12 Superintendent of the or
2006 and is among the top five
ntendents named in Texas by the
Association of School Boards.
D provides a variety of programs to
udents succeed, such as dual language
iglish as a Second Language classes, a
services, a and gifted/talented pro3ISD also excels in sports at all levels.
district has completed bond proj)proved in 2004, which included
additions to four campuses. This 's
those most recently completed m
High School in time for the start
atso gone the extra mite in developing curriculum documents to improve instruction at
all levels. BISD is a great place to be."
OTHER REGIONAL DISTRICTS
Academy Independent School District
(AISD), a 2A school district located southeast of Temple, is rich in history and
tradition. The school district motto is
"Academy Independent School District ...
Where Success Begins." The transformation
of this motto from words to reality is
reflected in the high level of academic
performance of its students. The Academy
Middle School has won the district UIL
academic meet 13 of the last 15 years. Over
the past two years, all three campuses and
the district have been rated "Recognized" by
the Texas Education Agency.
The mission of Troy Independent School
District (TISD) is to provide its students the
opportunity to develop the ability to think
logically, independently and creatively, as
well as to communicate effectively, through
educating the whole child. Four campuses
serve approximately 1,280 students in early
childhood through
grade 12. Troy Elementary and Mays Elementary were rated
"Recognized" for the 2005–2006 school year.
PRIVATE SCHOOLS
Central Texas Christian School (CTCS) is a fully accredited
private Christian school serving students in grades pre-kindergarten through 12. CTCS educators practice "Kingdom Education," a
philosophy that includes high academic expectations to prepare
the minds, as well as spiritual and value training to prepare the
hearts, of a future generation of thinkers and leaders. CTCS
recently was blessed to move into a new state-of-the-art facility
and looks forward to continued service to Central Texas.
Immanuel Lutheran School serves students from kindergarten
through eighth grade and is committed to providing a loving,
Christian environment focused on equipping young people with a
spiritual, academic, social, emotional and physical foundation.
The school plans to add a high school program in the future. Their
annual enrollment is approximately 130 students.
St Mary's Catholic School and Holy Trinity Catholic High
School work together to seamlessly offer a quality Catholic-based
education to students in grades K–12. The curriculum used by
these schools is intended to help students develop the knowledge,
skills and values needed to face the challenges of the future. Holy
Trinity Catholic High School is a private, coeducational collegepreparatory school dedicated to the fulfillment of the educational
ministry of the Catholic church. The primary mission is the formation of the Christian leaders of tomorrow, using a curriculum
designed to challenge the intellect and form the students' character
by giving witness to the teaching of Jesus Christ.
Temple Montessori School provides individualized education
to children in kindergarten through fifth grade. The basic premise
in the Montessori philosophy of education is that all children learn
differently and need freedom of independence and self-discipline
at an early age. It introduces children to the joy of learning at an
early age and provides a framework in which intellectual and
social discipline go hand in hand.
Christ Church School McGowen Stephens serves students in
pre-kindergarten through first grade. Their mission is to provide a
foundation for a lifetime of learning, service and leadership
Temple public school students have received state and national recognition
for outstanding academic achievement.
through education that develops mind, body and spirit. Christ
Church School is committed to using a classical approach in
educating its students. They are accredited by the Southwestern
Association of Episcopal Schools and admit students of any race,
color, national or ethnic background.
HIGHER EDUCATION
If it's higher education you're looking for,
you'll find it in Temple or the surrounding
community.
Temple College is a public community
college founded in 1926 through the joint
efforts of civic, business and educational
leaders. The mission of Temple College is
to serve the founders' vision by meeting the
needs of individual students and area
communities and businesses through quality
educational programs and services that
prepare a diverse population to enter an
ever-changing global society.
The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor
(UMHB) is a four-year private Christian
university located in nearby Belton. For
more than 160 years, UMHB has provided a
personalized approach to education that has
helped students prepare for exceptional
careers and lives. The focus at UMHB is on
the student. Total enrollment at the
university is more than 2,700 students, with
a student-to-teacher ratio of 15-to-1. Faculty
and staff members are competent and
caring. They are committed to helping
students develop intellectually, ethically,
emotionally, spiritually and socially.
Tarleton State University-Central Texas,
a member of the Texas A&M University
System, offers upper-level undergraduate
and graduate courses toward bachelor's and
master's degrees. Currently, undergraduate
degrees in 3 6 areas and graduate degrees in
26 areas are offered at Tarleton-Central
Texas. Located in Killeen, the university
serves nearly
There's abundant opportunity for higher
education in the Temple area.
2,000
students and provides a wide range of
flexible course schedules, including online,
night and weekend classes. As a result of its
diverse and growing student population,
classes are offered for both full- and parttime students at several convenient sites,
including area community
colleges, high schools and Fort Hood. To
encourage a seamless transfer from community colleges to upper-level work at
Tarleton-Central Texas, the university has
developed agreements with Central Texas
community colleges, including Temple
College, that enable smooth transfers
without a loss of credits for students who
begin their community college studies with
Tarleton-Central Texas in mind.
Baylor University, chartered in 1845 by
the Republic of Texas, is located on the
banks of the Brazos River in Waco, Texas,
a metropolitan area of 200,000 people.
While remaining true to its heritage, Baylor
has grown to 14,000 students, and its 11
nationally recognized academic divisions
offer 145 undergraduate degrees and 75
master's, 22 doctoral and the Juris Doctor
degree programs. Baylor is the only private
university in the Big 12 Conference, fielding 18 NCAA Division I athletic teams.
Also, Baylor consistently ranks among the
top 100 national doctorate-granting universities by U.S. News & World Report.
Founded in 1977, the Texas A&M
Health Science Center College of Medicine
is committed to educating, training and
equipping
physicians
who
are
compassionate about their patients and
dedicated to the communities in which they
serve. Located on the Texas A&M
University campus in College Station and at
Scott & White Hospital and the Central
Texas Veterans Health Care System in
Temple, the college consists of approximately 700 basic scientists and clinicians
who instruct students during the course of
their medical education. The College of
Medicine's primary clinical affiliate, Scott &
White, is ranked as one of the top 15
teaching hospitals in the nation. For more
information about the TAMHSC College of
Medicine, visit http://medicine.tamhsc.edu
or call 979-845-3431.
GROWING FOR THE FUTURE
Temple is continually planning for the
future enhancement and expansion of the
educational system to meet the needs of a
changing world. Planned expansion
projects at Texas A&M University Health
Science Center/College of Medicine and
the addition of a $7.5 million health science
facility at Temple College are visible signs
of the commitment Temple has made to the
growth of educational excellence in Central
Texas.