1. Then and Now

2. The Denton School District was founded, or started, in 1882. The first public school was three stories high and made of red brick.

3. The people that came to Denton got a school started right away because they mostly came from “old states” that had schools set up. There was a private school as early as 1858 in the courthouse, and there were schools going on in other buildings around town. These schools usually met in the summer.

4. This school was founded in 1901 and was John B. Denton College In 1912 the college moved and this became Denton High School until 1957. Now it is Calhoun Middle School

5. When it was John B. Denton College, there was a big bell on top of the building “as big as the Liberty Bell.” When it was time for school to start, they would ring the bell and people could hear it all over Denton. The Liberty Bell

6. The Denton School District grew really quickly. They opened about one to three new schools every 10 years, or decade, until 2000.

7. Now Denton opens one to three new schools every year! There are now: 3 High Schools 6 Middle Schools 20 Elementary Schools Other special schools and buildings There are now over 25,000 students in Denton ISD