Paris Public Schools

Although attempts to provide a public school system in Paris were made as early as 1877, it was not until 1884 that the system as it is known today was organized. Under the strong leadership of Mayor John C. Gibbons, W. B. Aikin, E. L. Dohoney, and Travis Henderson, the city council appointed a board of trustees to supervise the first full session of the newly organized school system. Three schools comprised the system in 1884. The Aikin Institute, later known as Aikin High School and as Paris High School, was located at this site. The second facility was the Graham School, originally known as the Paris Female Institute. A school for black students was located on North Jefferson Street in 1884. It later was moved to another site and was named Gibbons High School in honor of the former mayor. J. C. Brooks of Tennessee served as first superintendent of Paris Public Schools. A later superintendent, J. G. Wooten, served for 37 years and was responsible for much improvement and expansion, including the 1924 addition of Paris Junior College, which remained part of the public school system until 1949. Through its years of growth and development, the Paris Public Schools have educated and influenced thousands of students throughout the community.

Paris Public Schools is a historical marker in Paris, Lamar County, dedicated in 1984. It is one of 46 historical markers documented in Lamar County in the Texas Historical Commission Atlas, among 89 historic sites cataloged across the county.

The site sits at 33.6615, -95.5536 near Paris. The nearest cataloged historic site is First United Methodist Church of Paris (historical marker), about under a tenth of a mile away. Others within a short drive include Buckner, Robert Cooke, Paris Fire Department, and First Baptist Church of Paris.

This record corresponds to Texas Historical Commission Atlas #5277008219. Use the map below for its exact position and turn-by-turn directions.