Most Texas school districts use the names of their respective cities in their titles. But why do some have names that aren’t associated with a city, such as Lovejoy ISD in Collin County?
Some districts in Texas have adopted the names of notable figures. In Lovejoy’s case, it was Carrie L. Lovejoy, a woman who the district says went to great lengths to protect students’ education during the Great Depression.
In the early 1900s, students in the area were educated at three schools: Willow Springs, Forest Grove and Lick Springs. In 1917, Forest Grove and Lick Springs were combined and a community board established the district. The decision to name the district after Lovejoy, a McKinney resident, came the same year.
According to the district, Carrie Lovejoy made rounds to the rural schools, often bringing books from a “rotating library” she owned. Born before the creation of parent-teacher associations, Lovejoy is believed to have started “mothers clubs,” which addressed education issues within the area.
During the years of the Great Depression, many rural students couldn’t attend school, and the district said Lovejoy invited school-age girls in the area to live in her home and continue their studies.
Lovejoy left $1,000 to the administration upon her death, according to the district.
Carrie L. Lovejoy Elementary bore her name until closing last month. Trustees voted unanimously April 25 to transition the school to a pre-K and early childhood learning center with district offices.
Lovejoy ISD covers about 17 square miles in two Collin County cities, Lucas and Fairview. There are about 4,000 students in five schools, including two elementary schools, one intermediate school that teaches students in fifth and sixth grades, one middle school for seventh and eighth grades and one high school.
Until 2006, the district served students only up to sixth grade, with older students heading to Allen ISD.
