After 25 meetings over a span of seven months, Ardmore City Schools officially opened its doors for the first time on September 20, 1899—when the area was still part of Indian Territory. Superintendent J.R. Hendrix reported an enrollment of 761 students in the first month.
Earlier that year, on March 11, 1899, Mayor J.S. Gault, acting on behalf of the city of Ardmore, appointed six community leaders to form a committee to establish a public school system. During their meeting that Saturday evening, H.C. Potterf was elected as the first President of the Board of School Directors. By May, the Board requested $11,540 from the City Council to operate schools for an eight-month term. On August 30, 1899, they had hired 19 teachers and principals, set their salaries, and assigned them to school buildings.
Fast forward more than 118 years—Ardmore City Schools is now the largest district in Carter County, serving approximately 3,100 students annually. With around 450 staff members, the district is also the fifth-largest employer in the county.
Today, Ardmore City Schools includes one high school (grades 9–12), one alternative school, one middle school (grades 7–8), three elementary campuses organized into grade centers for grades 1–6, and one early childhood center for Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten.
We are an educational community rooted in over 118 years of proud tradition.
We celebrate the diversity of our student population.
We are committed to excellence in all we do.
We work tirelessly to meet the unique needs of every student and their family.
We are Ardmore City Schools.