Don’t let the small-town charm of Magnolia, Texas fool you. Of all the Houston suburbs worth putting down roots, the Montgomery County city of just over 2,000 residents offers a laidback lifestyle, picturesque country landscapes shaded by lush, towering pine trees, as well as quick and easy access to Houston with the 249 tollway or the Aggie Expressway connecting you to the city and College Station. The greater area is home to more than 138,000 people, which considerably bumps up the number of amenities and things to do for residents and visitors alike.
Located northwest of Houston, Magnolia represents a community where one can get to know their neighbors and slow down to enjoy life’s simpler things. But it’s also close enough to one of the nation’s most extensive metro areas (encompassing Houston, Conroe, and The Woodlands), offering access to everything, from goods and services to arts, culture, professional sports, and the ability to travel non-stop to destinations across the globe.
Year-round options for leisure and recreation include golfing, horseback riding, hiking, and cycling—all ideal ways to enjoy the natural surroundings and fresh, pine-scented air.
The Magnolia area prospers because of its families and has long been considered a safe and inviting place to live. As a result of all the young families with children—and as a major draw for new families— education here takes top priority. Magnolia ISD has flourished to become one of the most exemplary school districts in the entire state, a major differentiator among communities of this size. From academics to athletics, students thrive while pursuing their deepest interests.
“We are exploding with growth right now in this area. We have all this development happening, but we’re still this small town with this certain kind of small-town quaintness,” said Denise Meyers, Executive Director of Communications/PR, Magnolia ISD. “And the schools are a big part of the culture here. You go to Friday Night Lights, and everybody knows everybody, so we still have that charm. But it’s not just sports, either. Our academics and fine arts programs are recognized nationally and at the state level for student success.”
Magnolia ISD serves more than 14,500 students across a 150-square-mile area. The curriculum focuses on meeting the needs of all students by offering advanced academics and the chance to earn college and high school credit simultaneously. Career and technical education career paths and certifications are offered, as well. Early childhood development is a top focus, and all-day kindergarten is provided to get young students started on the right educational path.
Alexis Cook, a kindergarten teacher at Williams Elementary School, moved to Magnolia with her family in 6th grade. She is a product of the town’s successful educational system, graduating from Magnolia West High School. She attended Sam Houston State University and received her bachelor’s in interdisciplinary studies, but she returned to Magnolia to work for the school district.
“I’ve worked at Williams Elementary in Magnolia since 2018 and couldn’t be happier. My two boys have also attended Williams Elementary since Pre-K, and they are in 3rd and 4th grade now,” she said. “Magnolia ISD is always working towards being the best district in the state. The district does an amazing job supporting staff and therefore supporting students in academic pursuits.” She believes that kindergarten is an essential step that allows students to develop the necessary social and emotional skills to enable each child to be successful members of the learning community. “The academic foundation is vital for future success in higher grades. I am so proud to have the opportunity to inspire students to love learning and become lifelong scholars.”
And plenty of scholars thrive in one of Magnolia ISD’s standout programs: the International Baccalaureate program. “It’s typically in many private schools, but we have the only program in a public school in Montgomery County,” Meyers said. “High school students participate in their junior and senior years, and they can earn up to 24 college credits. They get into many Ivy League schools and can go anywhere because they’re so well-rounded.”
The International Baccalaureate (IB) Organization’s Diploma Program is ideal for highly motivated students in more than 4500 schools in 145 nations around the globe. Magnolia ISD became an IB World School in 2016, providing the best prep-school type education in a public school environment.
After graduating in the top three percent of her class in 2018, MHS IB Alum Madeline Diamont went on to the University of Texas at Austin. She graduated in 2021 with a BA in Sociology and a minor in Business Foundations, earning her degree in only three years because of the IB credits she earned during high school. After that, she went to Quinnipiac School of Law in Connecticut to become a Juris Doctor Candidate. “Although my experience in IB truly aided me in my undergraduate studies, I am noticing that the skills I learned in IB are more significant than ever in law school,” Diamont said in an interview with the district about her experience in the program. “IB taught me to take a surface-level concept and dive deeper into its complexities to understand it, rather than memorize and repeat it.”
Among the numerous Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs offered are cosmetology, HVAC, welding, and auto tech. Magnolia ISD has a robust Future Farmers of America (FFA) and elementary students participate through the community 4-H program. Students in those programs participate in an annual Magnolia ISD Livestock Show over three days in the fall.
“It’s all about ensuring everybody has an opportunity when you come to Magnolia. We’re not a one-size-fits-all. We know that every student is unique. We know that every child is different, and we want to ensure that we’re giving them opportunities to pursue their dreams. I know that’s very cliche, but it’s true,” Meyers said.
The athletic programs are another way Magnolia excels in serving its students and the community. Travis Earles, Head Baseball Coach at Magnolia West High School, values the impact teachers and coaches have on students. “I can’t imagine a better place to work as far as being a teacher and a coach. It’s a special place. The baseball around here is extremely good. The athletics around here are extremely good. We have tons of good coaches,” Earles said in a promotional video about life in Magnolia. Last year, his baseball team won the state championship, which hasn’t been done in the history of Magnolia ISD.
“It was a very magical year,” he said, adding that what he and his colleagues are doing in athletics isn’t only about the sport. “It’s life-related. What type of people are we creating and sending out into society? That’s the important thing of what we do. If we take care of those things, usually the baseball comes along with it,” Earles said. “To me, ‘community’ means people are invested in where you live. That’s the cool thing about this community. Whether you go to the Little League, whether you go to the mayor’s office, whether you go to city hall, you’re going to find people who are truly invested in what’s going on here.”
Cook agreed that it’s evident that the parents and community genuinely value the education of the students. “They’re truly invested in ensuring this community and the people who run through here, especially the kiddos, have the right values when they leave. I can’t imagine a better one to raise my kids in,” Earles said.
“Whether you’re new to Magnolia or been here for years, you will be treated like family and can always count on others to be there for you,” Cook said.
For more information, visit their website at www.magnoliaisd.org.
