Introduction

They say, “Everything’s bigger in Texas,” and finding the perfect school for your little one is no small task when you make a Permanent Change of Station to Fort Hood. Thankfully we’ve rounded up all the info you’ll need about settling in — from elementary, middle, and high schools to charter and private schools in Central Texas. You can also learn about options for daycare and afterschool activities in the listings below.

Suggested Read:

Fort Hood Texas: In-Depth Welcome Center

COVID-19 Notice

Due to the ongoing novel coronavirus pandemic, many schools and other services may be temporarily altered or unavailable. Check individual websites for current statuses and health procedures.

Child and Youth Services

First things first: Check with Fort Hood School Support Services, Building 36000, 1st Floor. This branch of MWR’s Child and Youth Services is where you can connect with School Liaison Officers, who are the best support for you and your child in local public school districts, private schools, or for homeschooling. SLOs understand the specifics of local education demands and can advocate specifically for military families and some of the challenges they face. For example, Texas is one of only a handful of U.S. states to decline Common Core Standards, which provide a consistent set of educational expectations across most of the nation. Instead, the Texas Legislature requires public schools to use a state standard, Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills, to establish what children should know and be able to do. To be enrolled in a Texas school, a child must be at least 5 years old by Sept. 1 of the school year. To register your child, bring the following to the school office: a birth certificate or other proof of the child’s age and the child’s previous school records and immunization records. For details on Texas’ minimum vaccine requirements for students in grades K-12, visit the Texas Department of State Health Services online. Check with each school for additional requirements.

Schools on Fort Hood

Children living on Fort Hood attend one of six on-post elementary schools, one on-post middle school, and one on-post Early College High School — all within the Killeen Independent School District, which has the largest population of military-connected students in the area. School-age children living off post attend a variety of eight other local independent school districts, with Copperas Cove Independent School District also having a large population of military kids. Other nearby school districts include Belton ISD, Temple ISD, Lampasas ISD, and Gatesville ISD. The Killeen ISD School Finder is the easiest way to find out which school your child will likely attend. However, parents may request a transfer for their child(ren) through Student Services to attend any of the schools in Killeen ISD.

Fort Hood Elementary Schools

1. Clarke Elementary School

51612 Comanche Ave. Fort Hood, TX 76542 1 (254) 336-1510 Clarke Elementary School was named after Bruce C. Clarke, a four-star general who once commanded the troops at Fort Hood. Serving children in the Comanche Housing Area, the school is home to more than 600 students in grades pre-Kindergarten through third grade.

2. Clear Creek Elementary School

4800 Washington St. Fort Hood, TX 76544 1 (254) 336-1550 Nearly 700 children living in the Kouma and Liberty Villages on Fort Hood are part of the Clear Creek Cavalry. About 100 staff members are dedicated to serving students in grades pre-K to fifth grade.

3. Meadows Elementary School

423 27th St. Fort Hood, TX 76544 1 (254) 336-1870 Just inside the Fort Hood East Gate, Meadows Elementary School is named for Col. Benjamin Meadows. The school has about 840 students in classes from pre-K to fifth grade.

5. Montague Village Elementary School

84001 Clement Drive Fort Hood, TX 76544 1 (254) 336-2230 Children in grades pre-K through fifth will get into the Longhorn spirit of being the best in the west at Montague Village. The student population is about 550; average class size is 20 students, with special education classes averaging 4.5 students per grade level.

6. Oveta Culp Hobby Elementary School

53210 Lost Moccasin Fort Hood, TX 76544 1 (254) 336-6500 Nearly 700 children attend Oveta Culp Hobby Elementary, home of the Patriots. The school serves students in pre-K through third grade.

7. Venable Village Elementary School

60160 Venable Road Ft Hood, TX 76544 1 (254) 336-1980 Opened in 1995, this school serves children in the Venable Village housing area, which was named after Cmd. Sgt. Maj. Joseph A. Venable. Nearly 600 children attend in grades pre-K through fifth.

Fort Hood Middle Schools

1. Audie Murphy Middle School

53393 Sun Dance Drive Ft Hood, TX 76544 1 (254) 336-6530 The sole on-post middle school, Audie Murphy has an enrollment of about 800 students in grades six through eight.

Fort Hood High School

1. Early College High School

In August 2015, the Killeen ISD and Central Texas College partnered to open the first Early College High School in the Killeen/Fort Hood area. About 1,000 youth attend the school, which allows students to earn a high school diploma and an associate degree (up to 60 college credit hours).

Childcare at Fort Hood

If your child isn’t yet school age or if they need support after school hours, there are plenty of options for parents at Fort Hood. On the installation, Child & Youth Services facilitates a full spectrum of support, including flexible full-day, part-day, and hourly Family Child Care; SKIES Unlimited instructional programs; youth sports and fitness options; and more. Children must be registered with CYS for most programs. Check with the installation center for any related costs. When looking for care and activities for kids off the installation, you can learn a lot from both local and online communities. Talking with colleagues and families already at Fort Hood can yield valuable insights just as much as reading reviews on websites such as Care.com and Yelp. Nationally recognized programs with local chapters, such as the Boys & Girls Club of Central Texas and the Armed Services YMCA of Killeen, are also good places to start looking for ideas.

Additional Resources

• Texas Education Agency
• Texas PTA
• Reading is Fundamental
• U.S. Department of Education
• Military Child Education Coalition
• Tutor.com

Charter Schools Near Fort Hood

Charter schools are public schools of choice that are tuition-free, serve all students, and have open enrollment. For more information about charter schools in Texas, visit the Texas Education Agency’s website.

1. Cove Charter Academy

2205 FM 3046 Harrier Ridge Drive Copperas Cove, TX 76522 1 (254) 238-8231

2. Noland Creek School

505 E. Ave. C Belton, TX 76513 1 (254) 939-4491

3. Priority Charter Schools – Temple Charter Academy

275 FM 2483 Morgans Point Resort, TX 76513 1 (254) 778-8682

4. Richard Milburn Alternative High School

802 N. Eighth St. Killeen, TX 76541 1 (254) 634-4444

Private Schools Near Fort Hood

To search for local private schools in Texas, visit the National Center for Education Statistics website and use the private school search tool. Users may search by location, religious affiliation, school type, and more. Find additional information from the Texas Private School Accreditation Commission.

1. Excellent Covenant Christian Academy

3621 E. Veterans Memorial Blvd. Killeen, TX 76543 1 (254) 680-8277

2. Grace Lutheran School

1007 Bacon Ranch Road Killeen, TX 76542 1 (254) 634-4424

3. Killeen Adventist Junior Academy

3412 Lake Road Killeen, TX 76543 1 (254) 699-9466

4. Memorial Christian Academy

4001 Trimmier Road Killeen, TX 76542 1 (254) 526-5403

5. St. Joseph Catholic School

2901 E Rancier Ave. Killeen, TX 76543 1 (254) 634-7272

6. Central Texas Christian School

4141 W. Hwy 93 Temple, TX 76502 1 (254) 939-5700  

Conclusion

While moving can test even the most experienced military families, you can help minimize the stress for children by easing their transition to a new daycare, schools, and extracurricular activities. Not only should you speak with adults at facilities and in your neighborhood for advice, but talk with your child and genuinely seek their input about their experiences. Knowing how to help your child feel safe and well cared for can help your entire family feel more at home. Thankfully, local school officials and MWR staff can make your PCS as easy as 1-2-3 at Fort H-O-O-D.  

The appearance of U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) visual information does not imply or constitute DoD endorsement.