This section needs expansionwith: Information on each of the schools. You can help by adding to it. (October 2023)
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.[3]
Effective September 10, 1906, a public school was opened in the building, marking the beginning of the Willis Independent School District.[4]
There have been three different Willis High School campuses. The Cargill Education Support Center was originally built as the first high school in 1939. In 1974, it was replaced by a new campus[citation needed], which is now known as Lynn Lucas Middle School. Lynn Lucas served as the high school until 1995, when it was replaced by the current, third Willis High School.[5]
Sometime after 1995, C.C. Hardy Middle School was turned into C.C. Hardy Elementary School.[6][7]
In 2001, three new board members took their positions.[8]
In 2013, an individual sued the district in federal court, accusing it of ignoring a teacher sex abuse case.[9]
On August 4th, 2025, the city of Conroe deactivated the water service to the brand new Calfee Middle School before school started on August 13th due to an unresolved development agreement between the district and the city.[10] Water was restored days later on August 7th after an agreement between the city of Conroe and Willis ISD.[11]
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 2024–2025 school year, the district received a score of 77 out of 100, resulting in a "C".[2]
Bonds
The district has done multiple bonds for additional schools and improvements to the district and current schools.
Bond 2015
In 2015, the Willis ISD board of trustees approved a bond that addressed concerns about the district's future growth at no tax increase.[12] Willis ISD community members voted on November 3, 2015 to approve the bond which included a new elementary school (Eddie Ruth Lagway Elementary School), an expansion to Brabham Middle School, new field turf for Yates Stadium at Lynn Lucas Middle School, driveway improvements at four campuses, and land purchases. There were also renovations and additions to Willis High School, which included a new agricultural science center, a new performing arts center, and a new career & technology education center.[13] The new auditorium would replace the districts only auditorium at Lynn Lucas Middle School. There were also other additions to the high school, including expanding the choir and band areas.[14]
Bond 2020
In 2020, the Willis ISD board of trustees approved a bond consisting of three propositions that each addressed concerns about the district's future growth.[15][16] The vote was originally slated for May, but because of the COVID-19 pandemic, it was delayed to November. The original bond, however, was canceled, and was replaced with a new bond which only included Proposition A of the original bond but with no tax increase.[17] Willis ISD community members voted in the 2020 general election to approve Proposition A which included an expansion to Lynn Lucas Middle School, a new Pre-kindergarten center to replace the original Roark Early Education Center (built 1965) while maintaining the same name[18], additions to the gymnasiams of the elementary schools (excluding C. C. Hardy Elementary School), and other renovations to all of the campuses.[19]
Bond 2022
In 2022, the Willis ISD board of trustees approved a bond consisting of three propositions that each addressed concerns about the district's future growth.[20] Willis ISD community members voted on May 7, 2022 to approve Proposition A which included a new middle school (Calfee Middle School), a new elementary school, a fine arts expansion to Lynn Lucas Middle School, upgrades to playground equipment, synthetic turf at Willis High School baseball and softball fields, and future land purchases. All this totaled to around 143 million dollars. The rest of the propositions were denied.[21]
Bond 2024
Results for disapproval of all the proposals in the bond from the 2024 general election.
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.[22] Willis ISD community members voted in May to approve Proposition A to build a 9th-grade expansion to the high school, parking lot upgrades to the high school, and a new district transportation center. The rest of the propositions were denied.[23] In the 2024 general election, the failed propositions were reconsidered but were rejected.[24]
Replaced the previous Willis High School, which has since been renamed to Lynn Lucas Middle School.
Middle Schools (Grades 6-8)
Robert P. Brabham Middle – School located in Unincorporated Montgomery County (opened 2004)[25]
Lynn Lucas Middle School – located in Willis (opened 1974 as Willis High School)[citation needed]
Replaced the original Willis High School which was built in 1939. Was then renamed to its current name after the current Willis High School was built.
Calfee Middle School – located in Conroe (opened 2025)[26]
Elementary Schools (Grades K-5)
Edward B. Cannan Elementary School – located in Willis (opened 1999)[citation needed]
C. C. Hardy Elementary School – located in Willis (opened 1983 as C. C. Hardy Middle School)[6]
Renamed to its current name after the current Willis High School was built.
Mel Parmley Elementary School – located in Willis (opened as Willis Elementary School)[5]
A. R. Turner Elementary School – located in Unincorporated Montgomery County (opened 1993)[citation needed]
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.[27]
William Lloyd Meador Elementary School – located in Willis (opened 2008)[28]
Eddie Ruth Lagway Elementary School – located in Willis (opened 2021)[29]
Other schools
Roark Early Education Center – a school for Pre-kindergarten – located in Willis (opened 2022)[30]
Replaced the original Roark Early Education Center which was built in 1965.[18]
Stubblefield Alternative Academy – a Disciplinary Alternative Education Program – located in Willis
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.[31]
↑ Association, Texas State Historical. "Willis Male and Female College". Texas State Historical Association. Archived from the original on August 24, 2020. Retrieved October 25, 2023.
Bremond ISD extends into a portion of Falls County Brazos ISD extends into a portion of Fort Bend County; other districts in the county are served by Region 4 ESC Buffalo ISD extends into a portion of Freestone County Oakwood ISD extends into Freestone County Brenham ISD extends into a portion of Austin County
This list is incomplete. The community is within the district of the Lone Star College System, but no campuses (as of 2019) are in the Conroe city limits.
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