# Willis Independent School District

The Willis Independent School District is a public school district based in Willis, Texas, United States.
Located in Montgomery County, the district extends into a portion of San Jacinto County. The cities of Willis and Panorama Village and a small northern portion of the city of Conroe are within WISD.
For the 2021–2022 school year, the district received a "C" from the Texas Education Agency.

## History

In 1881 the citizens of Willis, Texas contracted a college building. When final payments were made in 1884, the title was passed to Rev. and MRs. S. N. Barker, who opened Willis Male and Female College in September 1885.
In 1890, the location was sold to F.P. Crow and C.H. Stovall, who operated the college for 4 years.
In 1894 the college was briefly sold to Cyril M. Jansky and Marion Kiline before operations were returned to Crow.
The college was officially closed in 1901 after being sold to the public schools of Willis County.
Effective September 10, 1906, a public school was opened in the building, marking the beginning of the Willis Independent School District.
In 1939, the first Willis High School was built. It became the Cargill Education Support Center sometime after 1944. It was replaced by a new Willis High School which is now known as Lynn Lucas Middle School.
In December 1995, the Willis High School at the time became Lynn Lucas Middle School and was replaced by a new Willis High School building.
Sometime after 1995, C.C. Hardy Middle School was turned into C.C. Hardy Elementary School.
In 2001, three new board members took their positions.
In 2013, an individual sued the district in federal court, accusing it of ignoring a teacher sex abuse case.

## Academics

For each school year, the Texas Education Agency rates school district performance using an A–F grading system based on statistical data. For the 2021–2022 school year, the district received a score of 76 out of 100, resulting in a "C".

## Bonds

In 2024, the Willis ISD board of trustees approved a bond consisting of four propositions that each addressed concerns about the district's future growth. Willis ISD community members voted in May to approve Proposition A to build a 9th-grade expansion to the high school, a new transportation center, and parking lot upgrades to the high school. The rest of the propositions were denied. In the November 5, 2024 election, the failed propositions were reconsidered but were rejected.

## Schools
### High Schools

* Grades 9-12
** Willis High School (Unincorporated Montgomery County)

### Middle Schools

* Grades 6-8
** Robert P. Brabham Middle School (Unincorporated Montgomery County)
** Lynn Lucas Middle School (Willis)

### Elementary Schools

* Grades K-5
** Edward B. Cannan Elementary School (Willis)
** C. C. Hardy Elementary School (Willis)
** Mel Parmley Elementary School (Willis)
** A. R. Turner Elementary School (Unincorporated Montgomery County)
*** It was named after an African-American school principal. The first Turner ES, a twelve-room building then only for black students, opened in 1956.
** William Lloyd Meador Elementary School (Willis)
** Eddie Ruth Lagway Elementary School (Willis)

### Other schools

* Roark Early Education Center (Willis) – a school for Pre-kindergarten
* Stubblefield Alternative Academy (Willis) – a Disciplinary Alternative Education Program
The district also participates in the Montgomery County JJAEP alternative education program, which is operated by Montgomery County in partnership with Conroe Independent School District.