The History of Midway

1947 Hewitt and South Bosque Schools

After the McLennan County School Board approved the consolidation of Hewitt ISD and South Bosque ISD as Midway ISD on June 2, 1947, the new district began its first school year that fall. At the time, South Bosque was a small 12-grade school and Hewitt only taught 10 grades, sending their juniors and seniors to other districts for their high school diplomas.

While Midway's first school buildings were eventually located at a point between Hewitt and South Bosque, during the first year school was conducted in buildings from both school districts.

Children in the first four grades living in Hewitt along with 5th through 8th grade students from both districts attended school at Hewitt. Students in the first four grades from the South Bosque District along with all high school students from both districts went to school in the South Bosque building.

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1950 The First Building

The first steps toward a building of its own for Midway came in 1949 when work began on plans for the original building, which was built at what is now the intersection of Estates Drive and Highway 84 where Walgreens currently stands.
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In 1950, a bond election was held and passed for $150,000 to build Midway's original building. It housed all Midway students and included eleven classrooms, a homemaking department, cafeteria, gymnasium with a stage and dressing rooms, study hall and library, book room, restrooms and offices.

Additionally, a home for the superintendent, ag shop and classroom, and a football field and track with bleachers for the stadium were built. A well was also dug to provide water for the school.

The district sold the existing school buildings at Hewitt and South Bosque and the move was made from the old buildings to the new one during Thanksgiving 1950. This was a big step for the new district because for the first time the entire school was on one campus and a community spirit began to develop.

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1953 Gymnasium Fire

Midway's first gymnasium was destroyed by fire on July 13, 1953, and with it all of the athletic gear and uniforms were lost.

This loss included everything that was purchased from Howard Payne in Brownwood when they absorbed Daniel Baker College in 1952.

The gym was rebuilt and completed in November of that same year.

1956 First Elementary School: Woodway Elementary

Slow and steady growth began and a bond was passed to build Midway's first elementary school: Woodway Elementary.
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The new school was constructed from three used buildings bought from Fort Hood that provided all the lumber and supplies needed for the building. It included six classrooms, a cafetorium, oces and restrooms. In 1959, additional classrooms were added onto the elementary school.

1961 New High School Building

After a 1960 bond issue was approved to add a cafeteria and three classrooms to the existing high school (pictured above), another bond was passed in 1961 to build a new high school next to the current building, which became a junior high.
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Over the next 10 years, four additional bonds were passed to build numerous classrooms, athletic and fine arts facilities at Midway's original campus on the corner of Estates Drive and Highway 84 where Walgreens currently stands.

1968 A/C Added to All Buildings

The 1968 bond election saw the installation of air conditioning in all of Midway's buildings (how cool)!

1976 New High School Building and Athletic Complex on Hewitt Dr.

After two failed bond elections in 1973, Midway passed a bond in 1974 to build a new high school. The new building, which currently serves the district as Midway Middle School, was to be located on Hewitt Dr. allowing the first eight grades to expand in the buildings on the original campus.

The completely new high school complex opened at the start of the 1976 school year and included a modern football stadium, all-weather track and baseball field.

1978 Hewitt Elementary

As the community slowly changed form a farming and dairy community to a suburban community, the population exploded from families moving into the district.

To keep up with growth, a $3.75 million bond was passed to build a new elementary school in Hewitt, which welcomed its first students in 1978, and to add 19 additional classrooms to the high school. Hewitt Elementary was completed just one year before Midway ISD merged with Speegleville ISD in 1979.

1985 Spring Valley Elementary

Spring Valley opened as Midway's fourth elementary school in 1985.

1990 South Bosque Elementary

With the opening of Midway’s South Bosque Elementary School, the district formed a link with its past dating back to 1947 when the original South Bosque school consolidated with Hewitt.

The original school was located only a few miles from the new school on what is now called Church Road just south of Highway 84.

1993 First Intermediate School

Midway's Intermediate School for 5th and 6th graders (now Woodgate) opened in 1993 to alleviate overcrowding at Midway Middle School. The building featured innovative science classrooms with state- of-the-art video and computer lab areas.

1995 MHS Performing Arts Center

The same bond election that was approved to build the intermediate school also included funds to construct a performing arts center at the high school.

The new addition included a 1,100-seat auditorium, orchestra pit and professional stage, as well as a theatre arts classroom and black box practice stage, a new band hall, choir room and P.E. gym.

2002 New Woodway Elementary

After serving students for over 40 years, the original Woodway Elementary School built in 1957 was torn down in 2002 and the current Woodway Elementary was constructed just behind the old site.

2003 Construction Completed on Current Midway High School

Construction on Midway's current high school began in 2001 and the building ocially opened its doors in 2003, ushering in a new era of progress for the district.

2009 Castleman Creek Elementary

As the district continued to grow, a new elementary school was built to accommodate the increasing student population.

2010 River Valley Intermediate, MHS Science Wing, Panther Stadium and Administration Building

River Valley was built as the district's second intermediate school while Panther Stadium underwent renovations and a new science wing was added to Midway High School.

The current administration building was also completed this year and is Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Certified, meaning it was constructed with minimal eects to the environment. One of the main LEED features of the building is the incorporation of a cistern that will store rainwater collected from the roof for irrigation.

2011 New Ag Farm

Midway's career and technical education programs expanded with the construction of a new ag farm.

2015 MHS Fine Arts Addition and Activity Center

The 2015 fine arts addition added about 25,000 square feet to Midway High School’s fine arts wing, including a new dance hall, choir hall, orchestra hall, instrument storage and practice rooms.

2021 MHS Ag Science Building Expansion

A 7,778 square foot expansion of the high school’s on-site Animal Science Building will add two new classrooms and create dedicated spaces for Welding and Veterinary Medicine.

By creating new spaces for programs to grow, Midway will be able to provide additional opportunities for students to explore career opportunities and participate in valuable hands-on learning.

2022 New Construction and Campus Updates

As the district continues to grow, construction is underway on the 2019 bond program which includes adding a Career and Technical Education wing at Midway High School, eliminating intermediate schools and renovating the facilities at Midway Middle School and River Valley Intermediate to house grades six through eight in two middle schools. A new elementary school is also being constructed while extensive renovations at Woodgate Intermediate will update the campus to serve as the district’s eighth elementary school.

2023 Midway Middle School Renovations

Midway Middle School is being upgraded to make room for additional students in sixth grade. The building’s interior facilities will undergo a facelift with improvements focused on the cafeteria, classrooms and restrooms.

Renovations include a partial roof replacement, and the Technology Oce currently housed at Midway Middle School will be converted into additional classroom space.