The Roland School has been an important part of the Roland community since the town's conception in the 1890's. Before 1921, there was only an elementary school located here. The first High School was begun in 1921 with J. H. Dodson as Superintendent.

It was through the efforts of Mr. Dodson and the school board (Mr. Klingsmith, Mr. Bill Lewellyn, and Mr. Wallace Clark) that land for the new school was obtained from S. S. Dorcas. A new brick building with eight classrooms, an office, a library, and an auditorium was designed by Mr. Klingsmith and built by the O'Neal and Drake Construction Company.

A gymnasium was added in the mid 1930's financed by a grant from the W.P.A. and a bond issue. Also during this time, a two room rock building was erected in the southwest corner of the campus for the primary grades.

In the winter of 1938, fire destroyed the brick school. Classes were doubled up in the primary building. Other classes met in the dressing rooms of the gym and in the First Baptist and Union Churches.

As the local population grew, so did the school. Home Economics and Shop were added to the curriculum. The faculty expanded from 7 to 20 by the mid 1940's. Elementary was housed in an adjoining wooden building and in converted army barracks. (These were purchased from Camp Gruber.) Land was purchased and a new football stadium built and football added back into the athletic program ca 1965-66.

Plans were under way to replace the wooden Elementary Buildings when the High School burned in December of 1967. The loss was much greater than in 1938, but again the school rebuilt.

After arrangements were made for the continuation of the school year, Mr. James Humphrey, the superintendent retired. Claude Eubanks, then high school principal, was appointed as his successor in January of 1968. He served until 1971 at which time he resigned and Carl Matlock was moved from High School Principal to Superintendent.

The student body, faculty, and facilities continued to grow all during the 1970's and 1980's. The present forty-five acre campus includes fourteen buildings and a sports complex. We have a student body of approximately 1250 students.

The current valuation (FY1998) for Roland School District is $10,684,204.00.

There is a strong commitment to academics in the Roland Schools. Over the past fifteen years, this has been reflected by our students high placement in academic contests held at Conners and Wilburton Colleges. The majority of our students are enrolled in core curriculum so that they are prepared to enter some type of higher education program. Thirty-five to fifty percent of our students attend some type of higher education program after High School. The majority of college bound students take the ACT test as their college entrance exam.

Along with a strong academic program which includes vocational family and consumer sciences, agriculture and technology education, the school has a one-hundred member band and competes in various sports such as football, basketball, softball, baseball, weight meets and track. Within the last few years, there has been a tremendous increase in the use and accessibility of computers to the students. The school has several labs with multiple stations which are connected to the internet. Several other labs and individual classrooms also have internet access.

Roland School makes every attempt to serve the community and its needs to the best of its ability. We are proud of our school and will continue to strive to meet the demands of the future.

Above information was compiled in 1985-86

Sources include:

Mrs. Grace Price
Mrs. Ethel Richardson
Mrs. Lona Perceful

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