Texas City Independent School District is a public school district based in Texas City , Texas . It serves most of Texas City and La Marque as well as a portion of Tiki Island .
86-590: In 2009, the school district was rated " academically acceptable " by the Texas Education Agency . Beginning in the 1870s, children in the small developing town of Texas City, Tx were educated in various locations throughout the city by an ever-changing staff of teachers, as there was no formal education system yet available to the town. This all changed, however, in December 1904 as the very first School Board of Trustees were elected and by January of
172-609: A Chief of School Safety and Security within the Texas Education Agency (TEA) to coordinate efforts across various agencies and divisions, ensuring effective implementation of safety policies and best practices. This position was to report directly to the Commissioner and have a direct line to the Governor’s Office, enhancing communication and collaboration without duplicating existing work. Abbott underscored
258-526: A Junior High to help ease overcrowding, but was then heavily damaged by a hurricane in 1943 and would be closed again, this time permanently. In 1945, a new brick building would be built to educate the black residents of Texas City from the first through seventh grades on the site of the existing Booker T. Washington School as it was called since the late 1930s by principle George Sanders. Those black students who wished to attend high school had to travel to Central High School in nearby Galveston, Tx. In July 1945
344-511: A direct line to the Governor’s Office. He will coordinate safety efforts among multiple state agencies and school districts. Governor Abbott has also outlined significant actions to support the Uvalde community and enhance school safety statewide, including financial investments, mental health services, and legislative initiatives. The mission of the Office of School Safety and Security is to build
430-455: A federal investigation. State education officials set an arbitrary limit of 8.5% for the number of students who could receive special education services. By strictly enforcing district compliance with the benchmark, the rate of students receiving special education in Texas fell to 8.5% in 2015, far below the national average of 13%. School districts implemented a wide range of practices to reduce
516-527: A former education board chairman who was the leader of the conservative bloc. Ratliff said in 2013 that the board is "far different" in political complexion that it was in 2010. In 2022, the GOP captured an additional seat, bringing their total to 10 of the 15-member board. Many are social conservatives, campaigning against critical race theory and gender identity lessons. [1] To serve the large number of individual school districts and charter schools in Texas, TEA
602-401: A letter dated June 9, 2022, to Commissioner Morath, Governor Abbott emphasized the urgent need to prevent future tragedies like the one in Uvalde by enhancing school safety measures. Despite the comprehensive school safety and mental health legislation passed in 2019 and subsequent efforts, he stated that further actions were necessary before the next school year. Abbott called for the creation of
688-666: A major port. Shoal Point had existed since the 1830s, when veterans of the Texas Revolution (1835–1836) were awarded land for their services. The name was applied to the community when a post office opened in 1878. The duck hunters were three brothers from Duluth, Minnesota , named Benjamin, Henry, and Jacob Myers. After they returned to Duluth, they formed the Myers Brothers syndicate, convinced other investors to put up money to buy 10,000 acres (4,000 hectares) of Galveston Bay frontage, including Shoal Point. They renamed
774-423: A new Texas City High School was constructed on 9th Avenue and the previous location was transitioned into William R. Blocker Middle School. Roosevelt and Wilson Elementary schools were combined to form Roosevelt-Wilson Elementary in the 1970s as the city's growth began to stabilize. Heights Elementary and Roosevelt Elementary would later be built on the same sight as the original schools in 1995. In November 2007
860-468: A new bond issue totaling $ 750,000.00 passed providing the district with enough funding for several new facilities which included a new building for black eighth and ninth graders at Booker T. Washington, a new high school on 14th Ave which would be called Texas City High School, Roosevelt Elementary and Wilson Elementary. Kofheldt Elementary was rebuilt in 1954 along with the new schools of Levi Fry Intermediate and Northside Elementary. Also around this time
946-437: A very large bond issue was presented to the community for a vote which would allow for the building of a new Levi Fry Intermediate at a new location on the north side of town, a new Kofheldt Elementary behind the existing high school, a new high school on the sight now vacated by the old Levi Fry and Kohfeldt, the old Texas City High School would be renovated as the new Blocker Middle School and part of Blocker would be renovated as
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#17327900947561032-648: Is Mike Morath. A former member of the Dallas Independent School District's board of trustees, he was appointed commissioner of education by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott on December 14, 2015. The commissioner's role is to lead and manage the Texas Education Agency. The commissioner also co-ordinates efforts between state and federal agencies. TEA is overseen by a 15-member State Board of Education (SBOE) elected from single-member districts. There are no term limits . Terms are four years in length, with one two-year term each decade. Similar to
1118-434: Is a 2,300-acre (930-hectare) nature preserve located on the shores of Moses Lake opposite the city. The terrain of the preserve includes prairie and wetland habitats. The preserve includes 40 acres (16 hectares) of public-access areas, including campsites. The remainder of the preserve is available for tours, including boardwalk access through the marshes . The Bay Street Park is a 45-acre (18-hectare) property near
1204-434: Is a separate entity not under TEA oversight. In addition to primary and secondary education, TEA has oversight duties with respect to driver's education courses (initial permits) and defensive driving courses (used to have a ticket dismissed and/or for lower insurance premiums). On November 7, 2007, Christine Comer resigned as the director of the science curriculum after more than nine years. Comer said that her resignation
1290-471: Is divided in the monitoring and technical assistance division and the school readiness division. Texas City, Texas Texas City is a city in Galveston County, Texas , United States. Located on the southwest shoreline of Galveston Bay , Texas City is a busy deepwater port on Texas's Gulf Coast , as well as a petroleum-refining and petrochemical-manufacturing center. The population
1376-813: Is divided into 20 regions, each containing an Education Service Center (ESC, sometimes called regional service center or regional education service center). Under Chapter 8 of the Texas Education Code, ESCs perform the following tasks on behalf of TEA: The assistance applies to both districts and schools, including charter schools. Notably, the ESCs have no regulatory authority over districts or schools (TEA headquarters reserves this right to itself). ESCs are not political units, and as such have no taxing authority. They are funded by state and federal funding, as well as by contracts made with individual districts and schools. TEA rates schools and districts using
1462-709: Is the branch of the government of Texas responsible for public education in Texas in the United States. The agency is headquartered in the William B. Travis State Office Building in downtown Austin . Mike Morath , formerly a member of the Dallas Independent School District 's board of trustees, was appointed commissioner of education by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott on December 14, 2015, and began serving on January 4, 2016. Prior to
1548-670: Is the former residence of one of the city's fathers, Frank B. Davison . The Victorian-styled Davison Home was completed in 1897. Most of Texas City is served by the Texas City Independent School District , which has four elementary schools for grades K–4: Kohfeldt Elementary, Roosevelt-Wilson Elementary, Heights Elementary, and Guajardo Elementary. The TCISD intermediate school, Levi Fry Intermediate, provides for fifth and sixth graders, and one TCISD middle school, Blocker Middle School, provides for seventh and eighth graders. Texas City High School serves
1634-433: Is to instill a culture of constant vigilance and accountability across all Texas schools. A statutory addition from HB3 charged the agency with establishing the Office of School Safety and Security - a division consisting of individuals with substantial expertise and experience in school or law enforcement safety and security operations. The passage of this bill created Texas Education Code, Section. 37.1083 and 37.1084. In
1720-478: The 2000 census , there were 41,521 people, 15,479 households, and 10,974 families resided in the city. The population density was 665.7 inhabitants per square mile (257.0/km ). The 16,715 housing units averaged 268.0/sq mi (103.5/km ). The racial makeup of the city was 60.75% White, 27.47% African American, 0.50% Native American, 0.88% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 8.23% from other races, and 2.12% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 20.52% of
1806-812: The Dickinson Independent School District . The Texas Department of Criminal Justice maintains the Young Medical Facility Complex for females in Texas City. Young opened in 1996 as the Texas City Regional Medical Unit. In 1928, the city dedicated a room in city hall to form a municipal library, operated by the Texas City Civic Club. In 1947, city hall received damage from the Texas City explosion; it
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#17327900947561892-480: The Galveston Bay Refinery operated by Marathon is the second-largest petroleum refinery in Texas and third-largest in the United States. The Port of Texas City became the third-leading port in Texas by tonnage and ninth in the nation. In recent decades, the city's planners have made efforts to diversify the economy into tourism, health care, and many other sectors. As early as 1974, Texas City
1978-589: The La Marque Independent School District (LMISD) effective July 1, 2016. By February 2016 TCISD began doing job interviews of teachers at LMISD schools, and it was checking to see what renovations are needed at LMISD schools. The LMISD annexation increased the size of TCISD by about 33%. Texas City High School has repeatedly produced winning records in numerous sports throughout the years. Originally in Class 5A Division I league, it
2064-533: The United States Census Bureau , the city has a total area of 186.58 square miles (483.24 km ), of which 66.27 square miles (171.64 km ) is land and 120.31 square miles (311.60 km ), or 67.61%, is covered by water. Officially, the elevation of Texas City is 10 feet above sea level, though some areas are even lower. It was naturally vulnerable to flooding by hurricane storm surges and heavy rainstorms. The land south and west of
2150-644: The 1st Aero Division, and the Wright brothers trained over a dozen soldiers as military pilots, essentially turning Texas City into the birthplace of what became the United States Air Force , as the city claims at its monument of the birthplace of the Air Force at Bay Street City Park. Speed and distance records were set by pilots trained and planes flying out of Texas City's impromptu military air base. An August 1915 hurricane completely demolished
2236-729: The Stingarettes, and a National Champion cheerleading squad who has brought home many honors since the school has opened. La Marque High School competes in Class 4A. The Hispanic and Latino population's percentage of the overall population of Texas City had increased to 29.9% in 2017 from 27% in 2010, and as a result TCISD increased services catering to Hispanics. Initially the La Marque PreKindergarten through 8 schools were to continue having mandatory school uniforms after being acquired by TCISD. La Marque High has no standardized dress policy since it began following
2322-513: The TCIC went bankrupt in 1897. Its assets were reorganized into two new companies: Texas City Company (TCC), and Texas City Railway Terminal Company (TCRTC). TCC acquired 3,000 city lots and provided water, gas, and electricity to the town. TCRTC operated the railroad. These companies were chartered on February 4, 1899. A grid of streets and avenues was laid out during the 1890s, and houses and other structures began to appear. The Davison Home , where
2408-614: The TCISD portion of Texas City. Other portions are a part of the Dickinson Independent School District . Some were previously in the La Marque Independent School District . On December 2, 2015, Texas Education Agency (TEA) Commissioner Michael Williams announced that the Texas City Independent School District would absorb the La Marque district effective July 1, 2016. Our Lady of Fatima School,
2494-631: The TCISD school dress policy. However the TCISD school board decided that requiring uniforms at much of its schools would be difficult as its other schools had not adopted uniforms, so the board decided to make school uniforms optional. In July 2016 the district voted to end mandatory uniforms at former La Marque campuses. For a complete listing, see list of cities and towns in Houston–The Woodlands–Sugar Land MSA Texas Education Agency accountability ratings system The Texas Education Agency ( TEA )
2580-627: The United States Army deployed to Texas City in 1913 to guard the Gulf Coast from incursions during the Mexican Revolution, essentially encamping nearly half of the nation's land military personnel there, due to the perceived double threat that the Mexican Revolution might spill over across the border or that the neighboring country might become a German ally in the incipient World War. The military deployment also included
2666-490: The area Texas City. By 1893, the investors had formed the Texas City Improvement Company (TCIC), which plotted and filed the townsite plan. A post office opened in 1893 with Frank B. Davison appointed as the town's first postmaster, to serve about 250 people who had moved there from Minnesota and Michigan. TCIC also received permission from the federal government to dredge an eight-foot channel in
Texas City Independent School District - Misplaced Pages Continue
2752-641: The arrangement of the Texas Senate , SBOE members are divided into two groups based in part on the intervening Census: As such, every two years, about half of the SBOE is on the ballot. The board devises policies and sets academic standards for Texas public schools, and oversees the state Permanent School Fund and selects textbooks to be used in Texas schools. Since 2011, the board can still recommend textbooks, but public school districts can order their own books and materials even if their selections are not on
2838-615: The bay and the levee. Part of the park commemorates the Aero Squadron, one of the first U.S. Army air squadrons and a precursor to the modern Air Force . The rest of the park features wilderness trails and family entertainment areas. Nessler Park is a 55-acre (22-hectare) property used for community events such as the annual "Music Fest by the Bay". Other large city parks include Carver Park, Godard Park, and Holland Park. The centerpiece of Texas City's Heritage Square historical district
2924-527: The bay from Bolivar Roads (at the east end of Galveston Island) to serve Texas City. In 1894, the channel was first used commercially. TCIC eventually dredged the channel to a 40-foot depth and extended the length of the port to 1.5 mi. TCIC also built a 4-mi railroad to the Texas City Junction south of town, where it connected to two other rail lines: Galveston, Houston and San Antonio and Galveston-Houston and Henderson. Despite these successes,
3010-401: The blast. At least 63 who died and were not able to be identified are memorialized in a cemetery in the north part of town. The Texas City disaster is widely regarded as the foundation of disaster planning for the United States. Monsanto and other plants committed to rebuilding, and the city ultimately recovered quite well from the accident. Numerous petrochemical refineries are still located in
3096-449: The capacity of the regional education service centers (ESCs) and local education agencies (LEAs) to promote the physical and psychological well-being of students and staff - recognizing that safer schools positively impact student outcomes. We align school safety and security expertise with guidance provided through technical assistance to ensure effective best practices are implemented across the state. The Office of School Safety and Security
3182-486: The channel dredging was complete, the first ocean-going ship, SS Piqua , arrived at the port from Mexico on September 28, 1904. Dredging was completed March 19, 1905, when the US government opened a customs house in Texas City. Port growth progressed rapidly after this, from 12 ships in 1904, to 239 in 1910. Texas City Refining Company was chartered in 1908 to build a refinery adjacent to the port facility. For several years, it
3268-578: The cities first school for black students was opened at the First Baptist Church on first avenue with Mrs. Drucilla Kittrell teaching grades one through seven. In the late 1920s the city saw continued growth and in 1928 passed more bond issues allowing for the construction of the new Central High School which would house students from eighth to eleventh grades, as well as the conversion of Wolvin High School into an elementary school. As
3354-557: The citizens, then we ought to take) a thorough look at what they are doing." In 2010, Al Jezeera stated that it was "drafting its own version of American history", including altering school textbooks to remove what it said was a "left-leaning bias" and making changes that are said to have "religious and racial overtones". A series of reports in 2016 by the Houston Chronicle found that since at least 2004, TEA denied special education services to thousands of students, prompting
3440-475: The city continued to grow into the mid 1930s yet another bond issue was passed to expand the high school adding a gymnasium, home economics and vocational facilities in separate buildings on the sight of Central High. Also two new elementary schools, Danforth and Heights, would be open in September 1939 and the aging facilities of Kofheldt, Wolvin and Gonne would be closed. However, in 1941, Wolvin would reopen as
3526-488: The city had a Hispanic supermarket and other businesses catering to Hispanics. The African-American percentage had declined to 28% in 2017 from 30.8% in 2010. The Texas City economy has long been based on heavy industry , particularly shipping at the Port of Texas City, as well as petroleum and petrochemical refining. The Texas City Industrial Complex is a leading center of the petrochemical industry . Within this complex,
Texas City Independent School District - Misplaced Pages Continue
3612-411: The city is flat coastal plain. A large part of this area to the south is marshland. Texas City is bounded on the north by Moses Lake, which is fed by Moses Bayou, a freshwater stream. The lake drains into Galveston Bay, which bounds the city on the east. As of the 2020 census , there were 51,898 people, 19,526 households, and 13,005 families residing in the city. There were 21,493 housing units. As of
3698-588: The city suffered another explosion in a local BP (formerly Amoco ) oil refinery which killed 15 and injured 180. In the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) 's final report on the accident, published in March 2007, they described the event as "one of the worst industrial disasters in recent U.S. history." The BP facility in Texas City is the United States' third-largest oil refinery, employing over 2,000 people, processing 460,000 barrels (73,000 m³) of crude oil each day, and producing roughly 4% of
3784-566: The collective responsibility to provide a safe environment for all students, educators, and staff. Governor Greg Abbott announced the appointment of John P. Scott as the new Chief of School Safety and Security within the Texas Education Agency (TEA) on October 3. This position was created following the tragedy at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde to ensure the implementation of school safety policies and best practices across Texas. Scott, who has an extensive background in security and intelligence, will report directly to Commissioner Mike Morath and have
3870-501: The country's gasoline. Even in the widespread destruction throughout Galveston County caused by the wind and surge associated with Ike, Texas City was largely spared the devastation that other low-lying areas suffered. Texas City is mostly surrounded by a 17-mile-long (27 km) levee system that was built in the early 1960s following the devastating floods from Hurricane Carla in 1961. Together with pump stations containing several Archimedes' screws located at various places throughout
3956-469: The curriculum controversy, was released. In late January 2013, PBS's Independent Lens aired an abridged version the film. Texas House Speaker Joe Straus of San Antonio, Texas said that the government should "take a look" at the structure of the board and consider a nonpartisan or appointed board if the elected members are "not getting their job done and they're not pleasing the Legislature or
4042-641: The encampment. Nine soldiers were killed. Military leaders promptly moved the camp to San Antonio. In 1921, the Texas City Railway Terminal Company took over operations of the port facilities. Hugh B. Moore was named president of the company and began an ambitious program of expansions. He was credited with attracting a sugar refinery, a fig processing plant, a gasoline cracking plant, and a grain elevator . Also, more warehouses and tank farms were built to support this growth. By 1925, Texas City had an estimated population of 3,500 and
4128-473: The first childbirth in the town took place, was constructed between 1895 and 1897. As the TCIC, the TCC, and TCRTC expanded, urbanization expanded. Permission was granted in the summer of 1900 to dredge the Texas City channel to a depth of 25 ft. The disastrous Galveston Hurricane of 1900 interrupted the project, washing the dredge ashore. However, the Texas City port remained open after the storm passed. Even before
4214-565: The first through fifth grades, as well as the Wolvin School, which educated students from sixth through eleventh grades and was built at the intersection of 3rd Street and 6th Avenue N. on land donated by A.B. Wolvin. These two schools were both completed and opened in 1912, followed by the Gonne School in 1920 which was a two story office building converted to house the cities students in fifth, sixth and seventh grades. Also, in 1912,
4300-454: The following year the new board established the Texas City Independent School District. The first formal school in TCISD, Central School, was housed in a small wooden building on 3rd Ave and educated students from first to eight grade. As the town quickly grew and Central School was outgrown, the town held and passed a bond election in 1910 to build Kohfeldt Elementary School on land which was donated by Franz Kohfeldt and would house students from
4386-496: The form of requiring the district to submit corrective action plans and regular status reports, assigning monitors to oversee operations (including the authority to assign a management board, which essentially replaces and performs the duties of the elected school board), and in extreme cases closure of a school campus or even the entire school district. The University Interscholastic League (UIL), which oversees academic and athletic interscholastic competition in Texas public schools,
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#17327900947564472-436: The late 1940s, many school districts in Texas did not operate schools but spent money to send children to schools operated by other districts. In the late 1940s, state lawmakers passed a bill abolishing those districts, prompting a wave of mass school district consolidation. TEA is responsible for the oversight of public primary and secondary education in the state of Texas, involving over 1,000 individual school districts in
4558-741: The need to enhance and expand school safety measures in Texas following the Robb Elementary School tragedy. It highlights the efforts and trainings by the Texas School Safety Center (TxSSC) and outlines specific actions for school districts to improve safety and security. These actions include reviewing and updating Emergency Operations Plans, training staff, conducting safety assessments, and ensuring compliance with state laws. The letter also mandates random inspections to test security measures and calls for legislative support to secure necessary resources. The overall goal
4644-420: The new Woodrow Wilson DAEP. With the building of the new schools, renovations to several more including Stingaree Stadium which was opened in 1957, the district was able to save enough money to almost completely demolish the old high school and build a brand new Blocker Middle School at the sight. On December 2, 2015, Texas Education Agency Commissioner Michael Williams announced that Texas City ISD would absorb
4730-441: The northeast periphery of the city adjoining Galveston, Dollar Bay, and Moses Lake, the levee and pump station system may well have saved the city from wholesale devastation at the hands of Ike's powerful tidal surge . Damage in the city was largely limited to that caused by Ike's powerful winds and heavy rains. Beginning Sunday, September 14, 2008, the day after landfall, Texas City's high school football complex, Stingaree Stadium,
4816-620: The nucleus of an even larger petrochemical complex after the war. By 1950, the local population had reached 16,620. The postwar prosperity was interrupted on the morning of April 16, 1947, when the French ship Grandcamp , containing ammonium nitrate fertilizer, exploded, initiating what is generally regarded as the worst industrial accident in United States history, the Texas City disaster . The fertilizer manufactured in Nebraska and Iowa
4902-451: The number of students, including cutting services for certain children with autism and dyslexia, refusing to conduct eligibility evaluations in other languages, and refusing to accept medical records from other countries. Students who are English Language Learners (ELL) also faced a disproportionate impact resulting in a 20% difference in the rate of ELL students getting special education services compared to native speakers. In Houston ISD ,
4988-586: The overhaul of its special education practices. Advocates raised concerns about the lack of a competitive bidding process and the Georgia-based company's qualifications, and a former TEA special education director filed a federal complaint about TEA violating state procurement processes. In 2018, the U.S. Department of Education found that "Texas violated federal law by failing to ensure students with disabilities were properly evaluated and provided with an adequate public education." A multi-year strategic plan
5074-420: The population. Of the 15,479 households, 33.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.6% were married couples living together, 17.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.1% were not families. About 24.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.62 and the average family size
5160-475: The port, handling over 25,000 carloads per year. The Port of Texas City's success as a privately owned port has been aided by its shareholders, the Union Pacific and Burlington Northern Santa Fe railroads, whose connections allow for expeditious interchange of their traffic. The Galveston County Juvenile Justice Department Jerry J. Esmond Juvenile Justice Center is in Texas City. Prisoners there attend
5246-619: The ranking system. The Texas Education Agency is funded by the people of the State of Texas , at the direction of their elected legislature and with the consent of the Governor of Texas . The agency's budget must be approved on the legislature's biannual schedule. Revenues for the agency come from the state general fund (primarily sales taxes), the federal government, the Permanent School Fund (a sovereign wealth fund created by
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#17327900947565332-490: The region in the early-morning hours of Saturday, September 13, 2008. Although all buildings, piers, and the Dike Road were destroyed, the dike itself weathered the storm. The dike was closed for three years while the road and supporting facilities were rebuilt. It was reopened to traffic in September 2011. Texas City is 10 miles (16 km) northwest of Galveston and 37 miles (60 km) southeast of Houston. According to
5418-590: The same four criteria. According to the TEA, the number of state schools and districts receiving the top ratings of "exemplary" and "recognized" increased from 2,213 in 2005 to 3,380 in 2006. In 2020, all schools were given a "not rated" designator due to the COVID-19 pandemic . In addition to the state ranking, districts and schools can be awarded additional commendations (referred to as Gold Performance acknowledgements) for other noteworthy accomplishments not included in
5504-591: The same port area of Texas City. The city has often referred to itself as "the town that would not die," a moniker whose accuracy would be tested once again in the days surrounding Hurricane Ike 's assault on the region early on September 13, 2008. On October 30, 1987, a crane at the Marathon Oil refinery accidentally dropped its load on a tank of liquid hydrogen fluoride , causing a release of 36,000 pounds (16,000 kg) of hydrogen fluoride gas and requiring 3,000 residents to be evacuated. On March 23, 2005,
5590-445: The slip. Both ships also carried ammonium nitrate fertilizer and were ablaze. They, too, exploded. In all, the explosions killed 581 and injured over 5,000 people. The explosions were so powerful and intense that many of the bodies of the emergency workers who responded to the initial explosion were never accounted for. The entire Texas City and Port Terminal Fire departments were wiped out. The steel-reinforced concrete grain elevator
5676-527: The southeast into the mouth of Galveston Bay. Prosperity and industrial expansion returned as the United States became more involved in World War II. Enemy submarines had almost completely stopped the shipment of petroleum products to friendly countries from the Middle East, South America, and Southeast Asia. Texas City refineries and chemical plants worked around the clock at full capacity to supply
5762-532: The state and charter schools . It is also responsible for the safety of students. However, it does not have any jurisdiction over private or parochial schools (whether or not accredited ) nor over home schools . Although school districts are independent governmental entities, TEA has the authority to oversee a district's operations (either involving an individual school or the entire district) if serious issues arise (such as poor standardized test performance, financial distress, or mismanagement). This can be in
5848-408: The state with revenues from public lands), and other sources. * Budget figure is projection; all other years are actual expenditure as reported by TEA After the Uvalde school shooting, Governor Greg Abbott instructed state school safety and education officials to conduct random assessments on access control in Texas public and charter schools. In a letter dated June 1, 2022, Gov. Abbott emphasized
5934-411: The state's largest school district, after the 8.5% goal was met the standard was lowered to 8%. As a result, the district cut hundreds of special education positions, postponed diagnostic evaluations to second grade, and created a list of disqualifying factors that keep students from getting services. TEA issued a no-bid contract for $ 4.4 million to SPEDx in 2017 to analyze student records to assist with
6020-452: The state-approved list. So far, most districts have continued to follow the state-endorsed textbooks, but that trend is expected to change in the next two years as the districts become more cognizant of their available options. Thomas Ratliff, a moderate Republican and the son of former Lieutenant Governor Bill Ratliff of Mount Pleasant , in 2010 unseated the Bryan dentist Don McLeroy ,
6106-493: The war effort. Realizing that all of the world's tin smelters could no longer supply the US demand, Jesse H. Jones , head of the Defense Plant Corporation, decided to build the Texas City tin smelter . The government also funded construction of a petrochemical plant to make styrene monomer , a vital raw material for synthetic rubber. Monsanto Chemical Company contracted to operate the facility, which became
6192-431: Was $ 42,393. Males had a median income of $ 36,463 versus $ 24,754 for females. The per capita income for the city was $ 17,057. About 12.0% of families and 14.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.5% of those under age 18 and 11.2% of those aged 65 or over. The Hispanic and Latino population's percentage of the overall population of Texas City had increased to 29.9% in 2017 from 27% in 2010, and by then
6278-407: Was 3.13. In the city, the population was distributed as 26.7% under the age of 18, 9.6% from 18 to 24, 27.8% from 25 to 44, 22.4% from 45 to 64, and 13.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 89.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.7 males. The median income for a household in the city was $ 35,963, and for a family
6364-530: Was 51,898 at the 2020 census , making it the third-largest city in Galveston County, behind League City and Galveston . It is a part of the Houston metropolitan area. It is notable as the site of a major explosion in 1947 that demolished the port and much of the city. Three duck hunters in 1891 noted that a location along Galveston Bay, known locally as Shoal Point, had the potential to become
6450-493: Was a result of pressure from officials who claimed that she had given the appearance of criticizing the teaching of intelligent design . In 2009, the board received criticism from more than 50 scientific organizations over an attempt to weaken science standards on evolution . In October 2012, The Revisionaries , a documentary film about the re-election of the chairman of the Texas Board of Education Don McLeroy and
6536-591: Was a thriving community with two refineries producing gasoline, the Texas City Sugar Refinery, two cotton compressing facilities, and even passenger bus service. The Great Depression and competition caused the sugar refinery to fail in 1930. Economic hard times afflicted the city for a few years until the oil business returned to expansion. Republic Oil Refinery opened a gasoline refinery in 1931. In 1934, Pan American Refinery (a subsidiary of Standard Oil Company of Indiana ) began operating. Moore
6622-603: Was able to win this refinery from the Houston Ship Channel because of Texas City's location nearer the Gulf of Mexico. By the end of the 1930s, Texas City's population had grown to 5,200. Seatrain Lines constructed a terminal at the Texas City port during 1939–1940. This was a specialized company that owned ships designed to carry railroad cars from Texas City to New York City on a weekly schedule. By 1940, Texas City
6708-612: Was already overheating when stored at the Texas City docks. The blast devastated the Monsanto plant and offices, which were immediately across the slip from the Grandcamp , blew away the warehouses, showered shrapnel from the ship in all directions, and ignited a second ship, the S.S. High Flyer , docked at an adjacent slip. Released from its mooring by the blast, the High Flyer rammed a third ship, SS Wilson B. Keene , docked across
6794-699: Was later demolished. In 1948, the library moved to a former house. In 1964, the library moved into its current building. In 1984, the Moore Memorial Public Library was expanded to 21,000 square feet (2,000 m ). The Texas City Museum includes the Galveston County Model Railroad Club exhibit. The city operates 42 parks, some of which are part of the Great Texas Coastal Birding Trail . The Texas City Prairie Preserve
6880-635: Was moved down to Class 4A in 1996 due to lower enrollment. Since the realignment of UIL divisions, Texas City is once again 5A. Even with its enrollment being between 3,000 and 4,000, the school has made several trips to the state playoffs in both divisions. It has two State Championships in football (1997 and 1999) as well as deep runs into the playoffs in Men's basketball, Men's and Women's Soccer, and has State Championships in Golf, Tennis, Swimming, and Track & Field. TCHS also has an award-winning drill team, known as
6966-492: Was placed on the top-ten list for the EPA superfund. Outdated practices for the disposal of toxic waste have continued there for years. The Port of Texas City , operated by the Port of Texas City / Texas City Terminal Railway , is the eighth-largest port in the United States and the third-largest in Texas, with waterborne tonnage exceeding 78 million net tons. The Texas City Terminal Railway Company provides an important land link to
7052-614: Was pockmarked with shrapnel and the drive shaft of the Grandcamp was embedded in the headhouse. The ship's anchor was hurled several miles away, where it was discovered embedded in the ground at the PanAmerican refinery. School children and townspeople who were attracted to the smoke also died, and entire blocks of homes near the port were destroyed. People in Galveston 14 miles (23 km) away were knocked to their knees. Surrounding chemical and oil tanks and refineries were ignited by
7138-410: Was released in 2018. In a grant application to the agency, TEA stated that they will not be able to ensure adequate services for special education students until June 2020. In September 2020, in the midst of several attempts to place Houston ISD under state control, TEA investigators recommended a state-appointed conservator be selected to oversee the district. The current commissioner of education
7224-491: Was the fourth-ranked Texas port, exceeded only by Houston , Beaumont , and Port Arthur . Texas City is home to the Texas City Dike , a man-made breakwater built of tumbled granite blocks in the 1930s, that was originally designed to protect the lower Houston Ship Channel from silting . The dike, famous among locals as being "the world's longest man-made fishing pier ", extends roughly 5.2 mi (8 km) to
7310-570: Was the only Texas refinery capable of producing the byproducts wax and lubricating oil. This facility was later acquired and expanded by Texas oilman Sid Richardson . Three more refineries soon followed, making Texas City a major port for deepwater shipping of Texas petroleum products to the Atlantic Coast. Texas City incorporated in 1911 with a mayor and commission form of government. It held its first mayoral election on September 16, choosing William P. Tarpey as mayor. The 2nd Division of
7396-595: Was used as a staging and relocation area for persons evacuated by National Guard Black Hawk helicopters from nearby bayfront communities such as the Bolivar Peninsula and Galveston Island . Also, by the morning of Monday, September 15, the American Red Cross had opened a relief and material distribution center in the city. The Texas City Dike was overtopped by a greater than 12-foot (3.7 m) storm surge when Hurricane Ike barreled through
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