School Names - Colors - Mascots
 
 

The pre-kindergarten and elementary school campuses are named for heroes of the Texas Revolution—people of loyalty and courage—many of whom died fighting for their principles at the Battle of the Alamo.
Col. William Barret Travis  will always be remembered as the Texas commander at the Alamo, and his appeal for reinforcements has become an American symbol of unyielding courage and heroism. He was only 26 year old at his time of death.
James Butler Bonham   is remembered for having ridden back into the Alamo from Gonzales to inform his fellow defenders of the hopelessness of their situation and for joining them in their gallant stand.
Lorenzo de Zavala  was a signer of the Texas Declaration of Independence, played an important role in the revolution, fought alongside Gen. Sam Houston, and eventually served as the first Vice-President of the Republic of Texas.
James Bowie,  adventurer, participated in several Texas Revolution battles before commanding the volunteer force in San Antonio that joined the Alamo troops.
 David Crockett  was known for his unique style of oratory and for serving as a Congressman before joining the Texians in their struggle for freedom at the Alamo.
  Doris (Dorie) Miller was a Central Texas school boy who grew up to serve in the US Navy. He was serving on the USS West Virginia as the ship’s cook when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. Miller is credited with carrying injured fellow sailors to safety, aiding the mortally wounded Captain of the ship, and manning a 50 caliber Browning anti-aircraft machine gun until he ran out of ammunition. Though untrained on the gun Miller down one airplane. He was awarded the Navy Cross. Miller died in 1944 in a Pacific battle, and was entitled to the Purple Heart Medal, and many more. Miller Junior High is named to honor the memory of a brave sailor: Dorie Miller.
San Marcos High School In San Marcos, all grades originally met in the same building, located on the site now housing Texas State University, with the high school at the top floor. The first San Marcos High School building was located on the block of Comanche and Hutchison Streets. The three-story brick building was destroyed by fire in 1946. In a school bond vote in February 2004, citizens of the San Marcos area elected to build a new San Marcos High School. Completed in time for opening of school in 2007, the campus is located at 2601 East McCarty Lane.
P.R.I.D.E. High School  is an acronym, representing Positive Responsible Individuals Desiring an Education. Established by SMCISD in 1989, PRIDE is a high school of choice whose mission is “to provide a quality education for all students in a small, caring, family-like learning environment which will enable students to earn a high school diploma and empower them to become life-long learners and positive productive citizens.” PRIDE has six regularly scheduled graduations throughout the school term. Since the schools inception, more than 890 seniors have graduated.
Pathfinder Learning Center is housed in the SMCISD Lamar Annex. The district took steps in the 2004-2005 school year to change the paths of educational adversity for many high school students lacking credits by directing them to a new alternative center. The program is committed to academic excellence in a non-traditional setting to ensure that students graduate, enroll in post secondary education, and become responsible citizens. Fifty students began in the first semester, and the number is expected to increase.
Rebound is also housed in the SMCISD Lamar Annex. It is an alternative learning center where students with behavioral problems are temporarily referred by their campuses. As the name implies, it is hoped that students who have been negatively impacted by life’s pressures will be able to “bounce back” emotionally and academically under the close supervision of dedicated educators. Then students return to their campuses.
 
Maria Hernandez was a strong and eloquent voice for civil rights and educational reform. During her lifetime, she wrote, demonstrated, spoke out publicly, and protested against the inferior, segregated education that Mexican-American children were receiving. Hernandez lived the principals of activism that she advocated for others and was instrumental in the organization of both the Orden Caballeros of America and the Raza Unida Party, devoting herself to the civic, educational, and social development of her people.
Owen Goodnight was the San Marcos High School Athletic Director and head coach from 1951 to 1967. He was one of the most admired coaches in San Marcos history and known as a friend to all students. He was honored by an induction into the Texas High School Coaches Hall of Honor, and Goodnight Junior High is named in his beloved memory.
Community records and educational archives indicate that as early as the first decade of the 1900’s, San Marcos had sports teams. The high school teams were always known at the Rattlers. At some point, the junior high teams were called the Trojans and later the Bull Dogs. However, in ensuing years, all of the districts teams have come to be called the Rattlers, the Lady Rattlers, and variations of the name, such as the Diamondbacks. Goodnight Jr. High teams are the Rattlers, and Miller Jr. High teams are the Diamondbacks. The high school band performs in an area of the gym known as the “Snake Pit.”
The intricate patterns of the Diamondback theme carries through with the bands and the dance teams. At the high school, the dance team is the award-winning Diamond Line. The junior high dance teams are the Dancing Diamonds (Miller) and the Dancin’ Stars (Goodnight).
Throughout the district, the prevailing color is purple. The San Marcos High School rolls on to the playing field and competitions as “Purple Thunder” with the colors of purple and white waving. Miller Jr. High follows the purple and white theme, whereas Goodnight Jr. High and Hernandez Intermediate School more often choose purple and black at their school events.
The elementary schools and pre-K campus are more universal in their school color choices, and several of the campus PTO’s-PTA’s sponsor annual tee shirt designing contests among the students. The artwork of the selected winners is imprinted on the school tee shirts worn that year. But regardless of school colors, the younger students are affectionately known throughout San Marcos CISD as “baby rattlers.”
   
501 South LBJ Drive - San Marcos, TX 78666 - (512) 393-6700
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Page updated on Tuesday, January 29, 2008