Jacksonville TX Our Town

Jacksonville Schools

Jacksonville schools are a major part of daily life for residents, parents, students, and newcomers. The school system is one of the most important pieces of local information to understand.

This page is a practical overview of schools and education resources in Jacksonville, Texas. It covers Jacksonville ISD, current campuses, parent resources, school board information, school history, Jacksonville College, adult education, and due-diligence resources for childcare and private schools.

This is a hub page. Individual campus pages can later go deeper into each school’s history, programs, contacts, grade levels, and official resources.

Jacksonville ISD Overview

Jacksonville Independent School District, usually called JISD, is the public school district serving Jacksonville and surrounding parts of Cherokee County.

The district is based at:

Jacksonville Independent School District
800 College Avenue
Jacksonville, TX 75766
Phone: 903-586-6511
Website: jisd.org

JISD serves students from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade and operates eight official campuses.

Enrollment numbers vary by school year and source. Most education-data sources place the district at approximately 4,500–4,700 students in recent years. For the most current enrollment, accountability, and district data, use official JISD, Texas Education Agency, NCES, or Texas Tribune Schools sources.

Current JISD Campuses

The current JISD campus structure includes elementary, intermediate, middle school, high school, and alternative instruction options.

Jacksonville High School

Grades: 9–12
Address: 1210 Corinth Road, Jacksonville, TX 75766
Phone: 903-586-3661
Official site: https://jhs.jisd.org

Jacksonville High School is the district’s high school campus. The Tomato Bowl stadium is closely tied to Jacksonville athletics and local sports history.

Jacksonville Middle School

Grades: 7–8
Address: 1541 E. Pine Street, Jacksonville, TX 75766
Phone: 903-586-3686
Official site: https://jms.jisd.org

Jacksonville Middle School serves grades 7–8, the middle-grade years before students move to Jacksonville High School.

Nichols Intermediate

Grades: 5–6
Address: 818 E. Loop 456, Jacksonville, TX 75766
Phone: 903-541-0213
Official site: https://nichols.jisd.org

Nichols Intermediate serves students in grades 5–6, between the elementary campuses and Jacksonville Middle School.

East Side Elementary

Grades: Pre-K–4
Address: 711 Fort Worth Street, Jacksonville, TX 75766
Phone: 903-586-5146
Official site: https://eastside.jisd.org

East Side Elementary is one of the district’s elementary campuses, serving grades Pre-K–4.

Fred Douglass Elementary

Grades: Pre-K–4
Address: 1501 E. Pine Street, Jacksonville, TX 75766
Phone: 903-586-6519
Official site: https://freddouglass.jisd.org

Fred Douglass Elementary carries a name connected to Jacksonville’s Black education history. A future campus page will cover that history with sourced detail.

Joe Wright Elementary

Grades: Pre-K–4
Address: 1055 N. Pineda Street, Jacksonville, TX 75766
Phone: 903-586-5286
Official site: https://joewright.jisd.org

Joe Wright Elementary is one of JISD’s elementary campuses, serving grades Pre-K–4.

West Side Elementary

Grades: Pre-K–4
Address: 1105 College Avenue, Jacksonville, TX 75766
Phone: 903-586-5165
Official site: https://westside.jisd.org

West Side Elementary is one of JISD’s elementary campuses, serving grades Pre-K–4.

The Compass Center

Grades: Alternative instruction / program site
Address: 436 S.W. Loop 456, Jacksonville, TX 75766
Phone: 903-589-3926
Official site: https://compass.jisd.org

The Compass Center is listed by JISD as one of the district’s eight official campuses. Because alternative program structures can change, families should check JISD directly for current grade levels, eligibility, and program details.

Quick Links for Parents and Students

For the most current school information, use official JISD links first. Common parent resources include:

  • District website
  • Student registration and enrollment
  • School calendar
  • Food menus
  • Athletic tickets
  • Campus websites
  • Board agendas and meeting information
  • Grading guidelines

The JISD homepage lists quick links such as Food Menus, the 2025–26 JISD Calendar, and Athletic Tickets. JISD also maintains a student registration/enrollment page.

School Board and Public Meetings

Jacksonville ISD is governed by a Board of Trustees. Board membership, election information, meeting times, agendas, and minutes can change, so residents should use official JISD board pages and BoardBook links for current information.

The school board handles major district decisions including budgets, calendars, policies, facilities, and district leadership.

This site may later maintain a separate Public Meetings page for JISD board meetings, city council meetings, and county meetings.

School History Note

Jacksonville has an education history dating back to the mid-1800s, but this hub page only gives a short overview.

The district’s history is tied to early public schools, the East Side School site, the Tomato Bowl stadium, Fred Douglass School, Black education in Jacksonville, and high school campus moves over time. Those topics deserve careful sourcing and should be handled in dedicated history or individual campus pages.

For now, the important point is simple: Jacksonville schools are part of the city’s civic identity. Schools, campuses, the Tomato Bowl stadium, board meetings, athletics, and campus histories connect to Jacksonville’s larger story.

Jacksonville College and Higher Education

Jacksonville College is a private Christian junior college established in 1899. It is separate from Jacksonville ISD but part of the local education landscape.

For current programs, admissions, tuition, and campus information, use the official Jacksonville College website.

Adult Education and Workforce Resources

Education in Jacksonville includes K–12 and adult options. Adults looking for GED preparation, literacy support, English-language learning, workforce training, or career services should check official adult education and workforce resources.

Useful starting points include:

  • Workforce Solutions East Texas
  • Texas Workforce Commission Adult Education and Literacy
  • Local college and training resources
  • Jacksonville College, when relevant to the student’s goals

Program availability, eligibility, schedules, and locations can change, so use official provider links.

Childcare and Private School Due Diligence

This page does not rank childcare centers or private schools. Families should verify current licensing, accreditation, costs, schedules, and safety records directly.

For childcare, use the official Texas Child Care Regulation search tool to check licensed providers and inspection history.

For private schools, families can use TEPSAC and official school sources to understand accreditation status. Curriculum, tuition, staffing, and program details should be verified directly with the school.

Avoid relying only on social media posts, outdated rankings, or third-party review sites when making education decisions.

How This Page Will Grow

This schools page is the starting point. Future pages can go deeper into:

  • Jacksonville High School
  • Jacksonville Middle School
  • Nichols Intermediate
  • East Side Elementary
  • Fred Douglass Elementary
  • Joe Wright Elementary
  • West Side Elementary
  • The Compass Center
  • Jacksonville College
  • School history
  • School board meetings
  • Youth sports and activities
  • Adult education and workforce training

The goal is to make school information easier to find and understand without forcing parents to dig through scattered links.

Sources and Verification

This page draws from official district, campus, state, and education-data sources. School leadership, calendars, enrollment, board membership, policies, and program details can change. Always check official sources for the most current information. Last reviewed: June 2026.

Official District and Campus Sources

State and Education Data Sources

Higher Education and Adult Education

Childcare and Private School Due Diligence