Overton Independent School District
Encyclopedia
Overton Independent School District is a public school district
based in Overton
, Texas
(USA
). In addition to the immediate Overton vicinity, the district serves rural areas in eastern Smith
and western Rusk
counties. There are three campuses in Overton ISD - Overton High (Grades 9-12), Overton Middle (Grades 6-8), and Overton Elementary (Grades PreK-5).
Overton's athletic mascot are Mustangs
, so named for the wild horses which formerly occupied much of the area before it was first settled in 1869.
Classified by the University Interscholastic League
(for academic and athletic competition) as a 1A school, as of 2010 the Overton Mustangs participate in Division I, District 9http://hendersondailynews.com/articles/2010/02/01/news/02realign.txt against Big Sandy
, Hawkins
, Maud
, longtime rival Price-Carlisle
and Simms-James Bowie
.
In 2010 Overton High School received secondary Gold Performance acknowledgments for College-Ready Graduates, and was commended in Social Studies. Overton Elementary also received Gold Performance acknowledgments and was commended in Science, receiving comparable improvement recognition in reading.
The elementary school district was rated "recognized
" by the Texas Education Agency
. Achieving a recognized rating requires meeting a standard of 80 percent or higher on the TAKS tests for each subject and student group.
. Coach Roy's tenure spanned more than thirty years as a coach and educator, before his passing in 2005http://www.kilgorenewsherald.com/news/2005/1213/Obits/018.html and http://www.hendersondailynews.com/articles/2009/12/17/opinion/04opinionwed.txt.
Overton's football program is notable for having won at least one district championship in every single decade starting in the 1930s, including a string of state playoff appearances from the 1980s through the 1990s, with the most recent league title coming in 2005.
During the 2008-2009 baseball season, in only their fifth year of existence, the Overton Mustang baseball team reached the state tournament in Round Rock before losing to the eventual state champion. The Mustang baseball team has continued this success into the 2009-2010 season, beginning the year ranked #1 in the state in Class 1A en route to a 30-3 regular season record, a first district championship, and a second consecutive appearance in the state semifinals.
winning numerous state marching competitions throughout its history and the Theatre department making a string of State UIL One Act Play
appearances, with a 20-year streak of district championships led by longtime Drama instructor Lillian Cohagen, who retired in 1980http://www.hendersondailynews.com/articles/. In 1997 OHS won a state Class 1A One Act Play championship with Confederate Letters, written and directed by Barre Gonzalezhttp://www.uil.utexas.edu/academics/archives/96archiv/96ac_oap.html.
A number of OHS graduates have attended prestigious schools of higher learning. From the Class of 2009, graduates received scholarships to colleges as prestigious as in-state schools Baylor
, TCU
, Texas A&M
and Texas
to such nationally-recognized institutions as Boston University
and Stanford
http://www.hendersondailynews.com/articles/.
School district
School districts are a form of special-purpose district which serves to operate the local public primary and secondary schools.-United States:...
based in Overton
Overton, Texas
Overton is a city in Rusk and Smith Counties in the U.S. state of Texas. The population was 2,350 at the 2000 census.Overton lies in two counties as well as two metropolitan areas...
, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
(USA
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
). In addition to the immediate Overton vicinity, the district serves rural areas in eastern Smith
Smith County, Texas
As of the census of 2000, there were 174,706 people, 65,692 households, and 46,904 families residing in the county. The population density was 188 people per square mile . There were 71,701 housing units at an average density of 77 per square mile...
and western Rusk
Rusk County, Texas
As of the census of 2000, there were 47,372 people, 17,364 households, and 12,727 families residing in the county. The population density was 51 people per square mile . There were 19,867 housing units at an average density of 22 per square mile...
counties. There are three campuses in Overton ISD - Overton High (Grades 9-12), Overton Middle (Grades 6-8), and Overton Elementary (Grades PreK-5).
Overton's athletic mascot are Mustangs
Mustang (horse)
A Mustang is a free-roaming horse of the North American west that first descended from horses brought to the Americas by the Spanish. Mustangs are often referred to as wild horses, but there is intense debate over terminology...
, so named for the wild horses which formerly occupied much of the area before it was first settled in 1869.
Classified by the University Interscholastic League
University Interscholastic League
The University Interscholastic League is an organization that creates rules for and administers almost all athletic, music, and academic contests for public primary and secondary schools in the American state of Texas....
(for academic and athletic competition) as a 1A school, as of 2010 the Overton Mustangs participate in Division I, District 9http://hendersondailynews.com/articles/2010/02/01/news/02realign.txt against Big Sandy
Big Sandy Independent School District (Upshur County, Texas)
Big Sandy Independent School District is a public school district based in Big Sandy, Texas .The district is located in southwestern Upshur County and extends into a small portion of Wood County....
, Hawkins
Hawkins Independent School District
Hawkins Independent School District is a public school district based in Hawkins, Texas .Hawkins ISD has three campuses - Hawkins High , Hawkins Middle , and Hawkins Elementary...
, Maud
Maud Independent School District
Maud Independent School District is a small school district located in Maud, Texas . At the beginning of the 2005-2006 school year it had an enrollment of 471 students in grades pre-kindergarten through twelve. On October 7, 2005, the district celebrated its 100 year anniversary...
, longtime rival Price-Carlisle
Carlisle Independent School District
Carlisle Independent School District is a public school district based in the community of Price, Texas .The district is located in west central Rusk County and extends into a small portion of Cherokee County....
and Simms-James Bowie
Simms Independent School District
Simms Independent School District is a public school district based in the community of Simms, Texas .The district has three campuses - James Bowie High , James Bowie Middle , and James Bowie Elementary ....
.
In 2010 Overton High School received secondary Gold Performance acknowledgments for College-Ready Graduates, and was commended in Social Studies. Overton Elementary also received Gold Performance acknowledgments and was commended in Science, receiving comparable improvement recognition in reading.
The elementary school district was rated "recognized
Texas Education Agency accountability ratings system
The Texas Education Agency accountability ratings system rates all public schools, charter schools, and school districts in the State of Texas.The criteria are the same for schools and districts, and are discussed below...
" by the Texas Education Agency
Texas Education Agency
The Texas Education Agency is a branch of the state government of Texas in the United States responsible for public education. The agency is headquartered in the William B...
. Achieving a recognized rating requires meeting a standard of 80 percent or higher on the TAKS tests for each subject and student group.
Athletics
The Mustang football team competes in Coach Chester Roy Stadium, named in honor of the first African-American member of the faculty following DesegregationDesegregation
Desegregation is the process of ending the separation of two groups usually referring to races. This is most commonly used in reference to the United States. Desegregation was long a focus of the American Civil Rights Movement, both before and after the United States Supreme Court's decision in...
. Coach Roy's tenure spanned more than thirty years as a coach and educator, before his passing in 2005http://www.kilgorenewsherald.com/news/2005/1213/Obits/018.html and http://www.hendersondailynews.com/articles/2009/12/17/opinion/04opinionwed.txt.
Overton's football program is notable for having won at least one district championship in every single decade starting in the 1930s, including a string of state playoff appearances from the 1980s through the 1990s, with the most recent league title coming in 2005.
During the 2008-2009 baseball season, in only their fifth year of existence, the Overton Mustang baseball team reached the state tournament in Round Rock before losing to the eventual state champion. The Mustang baseball team has continued this success into the 2009-2010 season, beginning the year ranked #1 in the state in Class 1A en route to a 30-3 regular season record, a first district championship, and a second consecutive appearance in the state semifinals.
Academics
Overton's academic and fine arts programs are notable as well, with the marching bandMarching band
Marching band is a physical activity in which a group of instrumental musicians generally perform outdoors and incorporate some type of marching with their musical performance. Instrumentation typically includes brass, woodwinds, and percussion instruments...
winning numerous state marching competitions throughout its history and the Theatre department making a string of State UIL One Act Play
One act play
A one-act play is a play that has only one act, as distinct from plays that occur over several acts. One-act plays may consist of one or more scenes. In recent years the 10-minute play known as "flash drama" has emerged as a popular sub-genre of the one-act play, especially in writing competitions...
appearances, with a 20-year streak of district championships led by longtime Drama instructor Lillian Cohagen, who retired in 1980http://www.hendersondailynews.com/articles/. In 1997 OHS won a state Class 1A One Act Play championship with Confederate Letters, written and directed by Barre Gonzalezhttp://www.uil.utexas.edu/academics/archives/96archiv/96ac_oap.html.
A number of OHS graduates have attended prestigious schools of higher learning. From the Class of 2009, graduates received scholarships to colleges as prestigious as in-state schools Baylor
Baylor University
Baylor University is a private, Christian university located in Waco, Texas. Founded in 1845, Baylor is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.-History:...
, TCU
Texas Christian University
Texas Christian University is a private, coeducational university located in Fort Worth, Texas, United States and founded in 1873. TCU is affiliated with, but not governed by, the Disciples of Christ...
, Texas A&M
Texas A&M University
Texas A&M University is a coeducational public research university located in College Station, Texas . It is the flagship institution of the Texas A&M University System. The sixth-largest university in the United States, A&M's enrollment for Fall 2011 was over 50,000 for the first time in school...
and Texas
University of Texas at Austin
The University of Texas at Austin is a state research university located in Austin, Texas, USA, and is the flagship institution of the The University of Texas System. Founded in 1883, its campus is located approximately from the Texas State Capitol in Austin...
to such nationally-recognized institutions as Boston University
Boston University
Boston University is a private research university located in Boston, Massachusetts. With more than 4,000 faculty members and more than 31,000 students, Boston University is one of the largest private universities in the United States and one of Boston's largest employers...
and Stanford
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
http://www.hendersondailynews.com/articles/.