Education in Texas has always been a top priority. Early Texans cited a lack of public education as a reason for independence from Mexico and the 1836 Constitution of the Republic of Texas specifically mentioned the need for a public-school system. What started as local, religious-based learning evolved into private schools and then public schools, colleges and universities.
There are more than 1,000 Official Texas Historical Markers that tell the story of education in Texas, from early German schools to Rosenwald Schools to the first woman’s college. The map below features a number of these markers, including Recorded Texas Historic Landmarks (RTHLs); click on the location dots to learn more about some of these stories. For more stories, use the Texas Historic Sites Atlas to search for other markers and designations by using its keyword function.
Don't find a story that you feel should be interpreted? Do something about it! Check out the THC's Undertold Markers program page for more information.
Learn more about education in Texas at these websites:
National Trust for Historic Preservation – Rosenwald Schools
Fisk University Rosenwald Schools Database
Special thanks to our 2020 Preservation Scholar, Lezlie Hernandez, for creating this map.
