Welcome to Brenham ISD

Our History

Brenham ISD is the first public school district to be established in Texas and is one of the finest districts in the state. Brenham ISD was established following a bill passed on March 25, 1875 during the 14th Legislature. This bill gave city councils the power and exclusive control to collect a special school tax for the maintenance and operations of public schools within their corporation limits. Resolutions were passed during a city council meeting on April 26, 1875 accepting the benefits of this new law. An annual ad valorem tax of one quarter of one percent on each dollar’s worth of taxable property was levied.

The first day of classes for Brenham Public Schools was September 6, 1875 and the session lasted forty weeks. Classes were conducted in the old Key Home on the site of the Sacred Heart Convent, with a monthly rental of $50 until the city purchased the property on October 22, 1877 for $2500. A new two story brick building was constructed during 1878 at a cost of $10,000.

Mr. W.C. Rote of Pennsylvania was the first superintendent of Brenham Public Schools and remained in that position until 1879. Since Mr. Rote’s resignation, there have been twenty-three Superintendents for the oldest and finest public school system in Texas.

Facts About Brenham ISD

Brenham is located in southeast Texas, approximately halfway between Houston and Austin. Brenham, with a population of nearly 17,000, is the county seat of Washington County. The Brenham area is famous for its historical significance, beautiful bluebonnets and the best ice cream in the country.

Established in 1875, Brenham had the first public school district in Texas. Brenham ISD is the largest public school in the county with an enrollment of over 4900 students.

The district covers an area of 439 square miles and includes the communities of Brenham, Chappell Hill, Independence, and Washington-on-the-Brazos which is the Birthplace of Texas.