The purpose of this study is to determine to what extent Ellis County, Texas, has kept its educational program abreast of the development of the community and thereby has met the educational needs of the children in this section of the state.

This primary purpose of this thesis is to explore the progression of education within Ellis County. The first two chapters focus on how the county was founded, the first settlements, the formation of towns and economic developments. The rest of the paper gives the history and development of education, specifically the early schools of the county, the beginning of public schools, and the more recent trends of education.