NISD pioneers paved the way to education excellence

Northside Through the Decades: From humble beginnings - The 1950's

In the mid-1800s, 12 small schools operated on ranches in northwest Bexar County and parts of Bandera and Medina Counties. These early schools typically served grades 1-8, with high school students traveling quite a distance to attend San Antonio High School.  

In 1949, Leon Springs, Helotes, Locke Hill, Leon Valley, and West San Antonio joined together to form Northside Consolidated Common School District #1 of Bexar, Medina, and Bandera Counties. The primary reason was to build a high school โ€œcloser to home.โ€ At this time, H.M. Biggers is hired as the first superintendent. A 16-acre site for a high school is donated by Stebbins-Haggard, Inc. and a $225,000 bond issue is approved by the voters.

In 1950, NCSD #1 became Northside Rural High School District #1 as Mackey, Lockhart, Clifton, Hoffman, and Culebra schools were added. Northside High School and a new Helotes Elementary School are opened. 

Hereโ€™s a quick timeline of events during the 1950โ€™s. 

1951

  • Northside High Schoolโ€™s first graduating class includes 7 students. 
  • The first cafeteria is built. Telephones are installed in all school offices.
  • A $250,000 bond issue is approved. 

1952

  • Northside High School is fully accredited by the TEA.
  • A new facility for West San Antonio Heights School is opened. 

1953

  • Murray Boone becomes Superintendent.  
  • The Board of Trustees established a dress code by outlawing shorts and requiring boysโ€™ shirt tails to be tucked in.
  • The first microscopes for schools are purchased.

1954

  • The Board approves the long-distance transportation system. The district adds milk to the lunch program.

1955

  • Northside Rural High School District #1 becomes Northside Independent School District. 
  • Board approves integration of Northside High School.
  • A $750,000 bond issue is approved.

1956

  • Northside Elementary School opens. Northside Junior High School opens with 10 classrooms on the Northside High School campus. The Central Administrative Office is established at Leon Valley Elementary by remodeling a 3-classroom building. 

1957

  • A $1 million bond issue was defeated in January, and a $600,000 bond issue was approved in August.
  • Northside Elementary is renamed Sunset Hills Elementary. 

1958

  • Cable Elementary opens. 

1959

  • The Guidance and Counseling Program is established.
  • A $1.25 million bond issue is approved by the voters.