Finding a great place to raise a family is difficult, but with the educational opportunities afforded to students at all grade levels, Olney ISD makes the decision easy. Olney Elementary School, Olney Junior High and Olney High School are separate, modern and efficient buildings located on the same campus for easy access to all schools for families with multiple children. Each campus offers an array of wonderful opportunities and stellar educational programs for students of all ages.

As a whole, Olney ISD, a 2A district, earned an A rating from the Texas Education Agency in its last score release and is home to approximately 700 students in grades pre-kindergarten through 12. OISD campuses employ dedicated educators and support staff members who come to work each day to make the most of their time with students and leave them with the skills they need for success.

All Olney ISD campuses have teachers who are well-equipped to work with students of all levels, and each campus also is filled with educators who are knowledgeable in working with our growing number of language learning students. Each campus has a counselor on-site available to assist students with both school and personal needs, and a social worker is housed at the high school campus to meet with and serve the more specific needs of students at all campuses.

A full-time School Resource Officer is available on campus anytime school is in session. It is not unusual to see the SRO and other local police officers in the hallways, greeting students and establishing relationships with them. Olney ISD has a commitment to student safety and security that is evident by safety procedures in place on every building on campus.

Olney High School

OHS is home to students in grades 9-12. This campus boasts an experienced staff of educators who care about the educational needs of all students from all different backgrounds. The OHS building was remodeled under five years ago, and supportive local voters recently approved a bond proposal that will soon add a storm-safe hallway to maximize student safety on campus.

As an educational leader in the region, OHS offers students nine different Advanced Placement (AP) course opportunities and beats the national average each year for students who earn college credit through AP exams. High school students may also choose to begin earning college credit early through four different dual credit courses taught by qualified OHS staff members. Seniors also start out on the right foot following graduation thanks to the assistance of a transition coordinator, who works in conjunction with the OHS counselor to make sure all seniors take the necessary steps for life after graduation. This includes assistance with college and technical school applications and financial aid as well as helping with military connections and stepping into skilled trades.

In an effort to help serve all student needs, OHS is also home to a robust CTE program. Students may take advantage of CTE pathways in Animal Science, Welding, Machining, Accounting, Computer Science, Health Science, Culinary Arts, and Education. In the 2023-2024 school year, 15 OHS students earned their welding certifications after completing the welding program, and many also gets hands-on experience in machining from a qualified instructor and top-of-the-line equipment right here on campus.

Outside the classroom, OHS offers competitive athletic, music, and academic extracurricular programs such as:

• UIL Robotics
• Academic UIL events
  • OHS has won the last five District 9-2A Academic UIL championships, won the Regional UIL title in 2024 and sent over two dozen students to the State Academic UIL championships, where multiple teams and individuals brought home medals and finished eighth overall.
• TMSCA events
  • The TMSCA team competes hard all year and regularly takes students to the state meet in Austin.
• One-Act Play
  • On the stage, OHS students take their talents into post-district competition in One Act Play regularly

• The Pride of Olney High School Band excels in marching and concert seasons throughout the year, with numerous students taking part in additional challenges through solo and ensemble contests, All-District and All-Region band, and more.
• National Honor Society
  • Juniors and seniors who qualify get an opportunity to serve the school and community through an active NHS chapter

• FFA
  • The FFA program includes students who regularly excel in showmanship at the county show and others throughout the state, and OHS is a constant fixture in the annual Ag Mechanics show with top projects of all sizes. Students participate in Career and Leadership Development Events, and it’s not unusual for FFA students to head to state for a higher level of competition. 

And you can’t leave out high school athletic events. Students in Olney work all year long to show off their talents and represent Olney ISD in football, cross country, volleyball, girls and boys basketball, softball, baseball, girls and boys track, and powerlifting. Students are challenged to excel both on the field of competition and in the classroom as they develop skills in cooperation and leadership that will help them in the future.

Olney Junior High  

Close to 150 students in grades six through eight call the halls of Olney Junior High home. The building received a facelift and a more modern style in 2016, and a new hallway will soon be added to allow an enclosed storm-safe shelter for all students. At OJHS, students are guided through academic, athletic, and extracurricular programs to challenge them and help prepare them for the rigors of high school once they leave the junior high halls.

Academically, OJHS offers students a wide array of opportunities. Advanced ELAR, math, and science classes are offered, and when it comes to electives, OJHS gives students plenty to choose from. They may choose from options including Health, Data Input, Careers, Media, Speech, Welcome to Life, STEM, Digital Citizenship, and Technology. 

Their competitive nature regularly shines in a wide array of Academic UIL events as well as through participation in TMSCA events. Over 30 students qualified for the State TMSCA meet in San Antonio during the 2023-2024 school year, and the students won the state title in 2022. Students also have the chance to continue their musical education in band during all three junior high years, with participation in full-band and individual contests available. Students at all three levels may also try out for the always-competitive OJHS One Act Play, which won second in district in fall 2023.

Athletically, seventh and eighth grade students compete in cross country, football, volleyball, basketball, and track. Seventh and eighth graders may try out for cheerleading, as well. The skills learned through these athletic contests help the students physically and mentally prepare to compete at the high school level.

Olney Elementary School

The Cubs and Lady Cubs begin at Olney Elementary School, which is home each day to students in pre-kindergarten through fifth grades. Students are nurtured and educated by caring administrators, educators, and staff members who help set up the building blocks for their futures. 

At OES, the campus is led by a principal and assistant principal who work hand-in-hand with a counselor and staff members to make sure the needs of all children are met safely and securely. 

A huge concentration at OES is giving students from all socioeconomic backgrounds a great start on their path to education. This starts with a full-day pre-kindergarten program that sets them up for success. Students at all levels learn basics like math, reading, writing, and science. They get physical activity through recess and PE classes, as well. 

An active elementary PTO helps the school offer a number of fun opportunities, such as book fairs, a book “vending machine,” an AR store, and much more.  The group also hosts a fundraiser each year that helps provide OES with supplies and activities that go above and beyond the call of duty.

Fifth grade students have an opportunity to start on a musical education with inclusion in band, complete with daily rehearsals and two annual concerts for the public. 

Extracurricular activities begin at OES with UIL Academic events. As of the 2023 district contest, OES students brought home the district title by a landslide for the seventh consecutive year.

Article Written by Mindi Kimbro