Sherman County
Schools
Early settlers in Sherman County taught their children at home. Some families hired teachers to live on the ranch and teach their own children and those living nearby. In 1902, the first public school system was established for Sherman County. Because many children had to walk to school, eight separate districts were established; these later expanded to fourteen districts by 1924. Classes were often held in public buildings; the Coldwater School originally met in the town jail! Some schoolhouses were adapted from deserted shanties on abandoned sections; some were erected by parents on land donated by a local rancher. As population grew and school buses came into use, the districts were consolidated. By the mid-1940s, most of the small schools were closed and their students sent to Stratford or Texhoma for schooling.
Early schools of Sherman County are listed below, with notes
on locations and dates of operation.
Corrections and additions to this page are welcome. Email
me with
your comments.
Stratford
School
Town of Stratford, 1901-present
Law School (District 1)
Section 94, Block 1-T, 1902-1929
Coldwater School (District 2)
Southwest corner of Section 210, 1902-1937
Ruby School (District 3)
Various locations, 1903-1944
Spurlock School (District 4)
Northeast corner of the section containing Spurlock Chapel, 1903-1940
Boney School (District 5)
Also known as Ideal School and Amend School. Various locations, 1902-c1931
Snyder School (District 6)
Also known as Thompson School. First at Snyder Ranch then at Section 24, Block
1-C, 1903-c1931
Texhoma School (District 7)
Also known as Texas Side School. Located in Texhoma, 1907-c1921
Stevens School (District 8)
Rock Island vicinity, 1902-1940
Whaley School (District 9)
East line of Section 386, Block 1-T, 1906-c1927
Palo Duro School (District 10)
Various locations, 1909-1944
Pronger School (District 11)
East line of Section 300, Block 1-T, 1910-1933
Lone Star School (District 12)
Near Browder home, c1918-1941
Parsons School (District 13)
Formerly the Ike Barnett or Frisco School, District 8. Originally located in
the north half of Section 35, Block 1-C, later moved to Section 65, c1906-c1940
Harris School (District 14)
Section 277, Block 1-T, 1924-1935
Adapted from: God, Grass & Grit : History of the Sherman Trade Area,
Volume 1
compiled and edited by Marylou McDaniel
(Hereford, TX: Pioneer Book Publishers, Inc., 1971)
Ask your local library about borrowing this book through interlibrary loan,
or purchase from:
Sherman County Depot Museum
Hwy 54 & Main
Stratford, TX 79084
(806) 396-2852
This page was last updated July 19, 2003.