Alvin ISD started as a two-story, white frame building located on House Street in Alvin, and graduated five students in its first year.

Today, the district serves more than 30,000 students across nearly 40 campuses, with additional schools already in planning to keep pace with growth.

The history

While the district was officially formed in 1925 by the state legislature, AISD began in 1894 when Alvin High School opened. The school graduated its first class in 1897, just three years before a hurricane in 1900 heavily damaged the campus.

Over the next several years, the school was rebuilt and would graduate its first class of students who completed a full four-year term in 1906.


In the 1930s, an oil boom provided new funding for the district, in turn allowing the district to construct a new school. By the 1940s, AISD had established its first three campuses, and the district has continued on its upward growth since then.

From there, enrollment steadily increased as more families moved into the area.

Over the past five years, AISD has added over 3,000 students, an increase of over 11% to the total student body, according to demographic firm Population and Survey Analysts.

This growth has marked the district as the eighth-largest growing district in the Greater Houston area.


The timeline
  • 1894: AHS opens
  • 1900: Hurricane damages AHS
  • 1906: First class of four-year students graduates
  • 1925: Officials incorporate the district
  • 1940s-1960: Officials build new campuses, including Mark Twain Elementary, Alvin Junior High and Bill Hasse Elementary
  • 1973: Voters approve the consolidation of Manvel ISD
  • 2000s: District expands to west Pearland and builds nine more schools, including Nolan Ryan Junior High and Manvel High School
  • 2009: $70 million bond passes to address growth
  • 2010s: Builds 12 more schools, including Pomona Elementary and Shadow Creek High School
  • 2013-2018: Three bonds pass totaling more than $900 million
  • 2020s: District builds eight more schools, including Iowa Colony High School and Barbara Bennett Elementary
  • 2024: $380.1 million bond passes to address growth
Going forward

Looking ahead, the district’s 2023-26 strategic plan will focus on personalized learning, recruiting and retaining staff and expanding support systems for students, documents show.

“It was just amazing to see everyone come together and celebrate Alvin ISD and the last 100 years, and then also looking forward to the next 100 years,” Superintendent Carol Nelson said.