Abilene ISD history

1887–Abilenians rent an old “beer and ice” warehouse at South First and Chestnut streets for the city’s first high school

The first batch of them graduated in 1888.

1889—New high school constructed at South First and Peach Street at a cost of $10,000

1891–Abilene Baptist College (now Hardin-Simmons University) founded on north side of Abilene by the Sweetwater Baptist Association.

Named changed to Simmons College in 1892 in honor of James B. Simmons, who gave the first large donation to the school.

1906–Childers Classical Institute (forerunner to Abilene Christian University) opens at North First Street and Sayles Boulvevard, with A.B. Barret serving as first president.

1916–St Joseph’s Academy founded by the Sisters of Divine Province (later becomes Central Catholic High School)

1923–McMurry College (now McMurry University) opens at South 14th Street and Sayles Boulevard, with James Winford Hunt serving as first president.

Connally, who would return to Abilene after medical school in 1940 as the city’s first female physician, had no intention of becoming a doctor when she enrolled at “Simmons.” But her uncle saw her potential and encouraged her to follow his footsteps.

1953–Woodson school for black children opens

1963–Central Catholic High School opens at 1600 Sherman Drive

1980–New Wylie High School opens on Beltway South, just east of Buffalo Gap Road; Cisco College begins offering courses in Abilene

1985–Texas State Technical College begins offering programs in Abilene and moves into former West Texas Medical Center building on East Highway 80

1986–Abilene Christian Schools became a separate entity from Abilene Christian University and moved to its own campus.

In 1995, as the tenth anniversary of the AISD Mockingbird Program approached, the idea of presenting the winning author/illustrator with a tangible award developed.

2000–National Center for Children’s Illustrated Literature opens at North First and Cedar Streets

2004–Cisco College opens freestanding Abilene Educational Center on Loop 322

2009—ATEMS (Academy of Technology Engineering Math and Science) opened and was housed in a downtown building also occupied at the time by Texas Texas University.

2013–Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center opens School of Nursing adjacent to pharmacy school on Pine Street