The Amarillo Area's Many School Districts and Their Numbers

The Amarillo area has a number of school districts. These districts do their best to keep our kids in line. They work on keeping them educated. They have the task of disciplining them without disciplining them.

They keep the doors open and the teachers hired. They bring us some great competitions. Whether you support the sports programs or the arts. You have probably gone out to a game at some point and cheered on the team, the cheerleaders, and the band.

Without a good school district, none of that is possible. Of course, in and around Amarillo we have some districts that have many, many schools and students that make up the district.

We have some districts that do a lot with what they have. When talking about the biggest school districts in the area I know a lot of them won't come as a surprise at all. We all know that Amarillo Independent School District leads them all. That is no surprise at all.

Oh, but Canyon is giving them a run for their money. New schools and students are adding to the Canyon Numbers.

There is a lot to say about those smaller school districts though. Those schools where everyone knows each other. The ones that the school will run into your parents at the grocery store and say hi because they know your family. Those districts have a lot to be desired too.

The Numbers in Our Area School Districts

Amarillo Independent School District - 55 Schools - 30,866 students
Canyon Independent School District - 19 Schools - 10,711 students
Bushland Independent School District - 3 schools - 1,550 students
River Road Independent School District - 4 schools - 1,340 students
Highland Park Independent School District - 3 schools - 826 students
Panhandle Independent School District - 3 schools - 664 students
Claude Independent School District - 3 schools - 307 students
Happy Independent School District - 2 schools - 259 students
Wildorado Independent School District - 1 school - 230 students
Boys Ranch Independent School District - 3 schools - 178 students

Ranchotel: The Forgotten Landmark of Old Route 66 in Amarillo, Texas

The Ranchotel, located at 2501 W. 6th St., is a product of Route 66's heyday.

When Americans first began long-distance automotive travel, they typically stayed in hotels or camped beside the road. In response, clever entrepreneurs began to build what were called tourist courts. The Ranchotel is one of these.

It was built in 1940 and until recently, it was considered one of the best preserved examples of Route 66's tourist facilities. It was placed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1995 and was well maintained until 2020.

Even now, in spite of the building's fading beauty, there is still the nostalgic air held by many a historic landmark.

Gallery Credit: Sarah Clark