If you’ve ever driven through North Texas, specifically that stretch of US-287 where the wind screams across the plains, you’ve seen it. Wichita Falls High School. Locally, people just call it "Old High." It isn't just a building; it’s a massive, sprawling brick fortress that looks like it belongs in an Ivy League brochure rather than a mid-sized Texas oil town. But as of 2024, the lights are out. The hallways are quiet.
It's weird.
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Walking past the empty campus now feels like looking at a ghost. For 101 years, this place was the heartbeat of Wichita Falls. Now, it’s a giant question mark. People are genuinely torn up about it. You’ve got alumni who can tell you exactly where they were standing when they won the state football championship in '71, and then you’ve got city planners trying to figure out how the heck you repurpose a million square feet of historic masonry without going bankrupt.
The Massive Legacy of Old High
Wichita Falls High School wasn't just another school. It was the first. Established in 1922 at its current location on Avenue H, the building itself is a masterpiece of Collegiate Gothic architecture. We're talking about heavy stone carvings, arched entryways, and a sense of permanence that you just don't see in modern "tilt-wall" school construction.
Back in the day, if you went to Old High, you were part of the elite. The Coyotes. The orange and white.
The school was built during an era when Wichita Falls was exploding thanks to the Burkburnett oil boom. Money was flowing like water. They didn't just want a school; they wanted a monument. And they got it. The auditorium alone is legendary for its acoustics. But history doesn't pay the electric bill, and that’s basically where the trouble started. Honestly, the scale of the building became its own worst enemy. How do you keep a century-old HVAC system running when parts for it haven't been manufactured since the Nixon administration? You don't. You patch it. Then you patch the patch.
Why Did Wichita Falls High School Actually Close?
It wasn't a sudden decision. Not even close. The conversation about closing Old High—and its younger siblings, Hirschi and Rider—has been a political firestorm in Wichita Falls for decades.
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Basically, the Wichita Falls Independent School District (WFISD) was bleeding money on maintenance. You had three high schools, all of them aging, and all of them under-capacity because the city’s population wasn't growing the way people hoped in the 80s. In 2020, voters finally approved a massive $290 million bond. The plan? Build two brand-new, state-of-the-art high schools—Memorial and Legacy—and shutter the old ones.
- Memorial High School took over the eastern/southern zones.
- Legacy High School took the rest.
- Wichita Falls High School... well, it got the short end of the stick.
It officially ceased operations as a high school in May 2024. The final graduation ceremony was a tear-jerker. You had families there where four generations had all walked across that same stage. Seeing the "Class of 2024" banners next to 1920s architecture was a trip. It felt like the end of an era because, well, it was.
The Coyote Spirit and the "State" Obsession
You can't talk about Wichita Falls High School without talking about football. This is Texas.
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The Coyotes have a trophy case that would make most colleges jealous. We are talking about state championships in 1941, 1949, 1950, 1958, 1961, and 1971. The legendary Joe Golding coached there. The stadium, Memorial Stadium, wasn't on campus, but the Friday night energy originated from those hallways on Avenue H.
But it wasn't just sports. The school had a massive fine arts footprint. The "Coyote Cry" newspaper and the "Old High" yearbook were staples of the community. When the school closed, there was a literal scramble for memorabilia. People wanted bricks. They wanted old jerseys. They wanted anything that proved they were a part of that century-long run.
What Happens to the Building Now?
This is the part that has everyone stressed. What do you do with a massive, historic, slightly crumbling building in the middle of a residential neighborhood?
There are a few theories floating around. Some folks want it turned into "loft-style" apartments, similar to what happened with old schools in Dallas or Fort Worth. Others think it should be a community center or a museum. The reality? It’s expensive. Asbestos. Lead paint. Old wiring. It’s a developer’s nightmare and a preservationist’s dream.
As of right now, the WFISD still owns the property. They’ve been using it for some administrative storage, but the long-term plan is murky. Most locals are terrified it will sit vacant until it becomes an eyesore or, heaven forbid, catches fire. The city of Wichita Falls has a history of letting historic buildings languish (just look at the old Kemp Hotel or some of the downtown structures), so the anxiety is real.
Misconceptions About the Closure
A lot of people think the school closed because of "bad grades" or "low enrollment." That’s not really the whole story. While enrollment had dipped, the real killer was the infrastructure. When the rain starts coming through the roof of your multi-million dollar gym and the basement floods every time a pipe sneezes, you're in trouble. The cost to modernize Old High to the standards of a 21st-century learning environment was actually higher than building a brand-new school from scratch. That’s the cold, hard math that eventually won out.
Actionable Steps for Alumni and History Buffs
If you’re a former Coyote or just someone who loves Texas history, there are things you should actually do rather than just mourning on Facebook.
- Check the WFISD Archive: The district has been working to preserve records and trophies. If you are looking for specific historical data or transcripts, don't wait ten years. Contact the district offices now while the transition to Memorial and Legacy is still fresh.
- Support the Wichita County Heritage Society: These are the people who will be fighting to keep the building from the wrecking ball. Join them. Pay the membership fee. If you want that building to stay standing, you need a seat at the table when the city council discusses zoning.
- Visit the New Schools: Both Memorial and Legacy have designated areas that pay homage to the schools they replaced. Go see the "Heritage" displays. It’s not the same as walking the halls of Old High, but it’s where the current generation is learning the history.
- Document Your Story: If you have old photos or "Old High" ephemera, consider donating digital copies to the Museum of North Texas History. Once that building is gone or converted, the physical connection to the past is severed. The stories are all that’s left.
Wichita Falls High School was a giant. It lasted through the Great Depression, several wars, and the rise and fall of the oil industry. While the 101-year chapter has closed, the physical structure still stands as a testament to a time when we built things to last forever—even if "forever" ended up being a century.