Share Your Memories Ahead of Former School Site Transition

Share Your Memories Ahead of Former School Site Transition

Last updated on March 26, 2026 at 09:00 AM

City of Waco Invites the Community to Share Memories of the Former Indian Spring Middle School Campus Ahead of Site Transition

The City of Waco is inviting the community to help honor and preserve the legacy of the former Indian Spring Middle School campus as the site prepares for its next chapter. In recent years the property has served as a flex campus to support Waco Independent School District's bond-funded improvements throughout Waco. Following the completion of this program, the facility was decommissioned by Waco ISD and the property was sold to the City of Waco in November 2025.

In early April, the former school building will be removed as part of ongoing efforts to prepare the site for future phases of development of the Downtown Redevelopment Project. The City has launched a community-wide initiative to collect memories, stories, and photos from those who experienced the campus firsthand.

Over the school's more than 50-year history, the site housed Jefferson-Moore High School, the Waco Ninth Grade Center, A. J. Moore Academy, Indian Spring Middle School, G. W. Carver Middle School, and Kendrick Elementary.

"For generations, this school across all its eras has been more than a building. It has been a place of growth, connection, and lasting memories," said Mayor Jim Holmes. "We want to take the time to recognize what it has meant to this community and ensure those stories are preserved."

This milestone is part of a broader, long-term planning effort for the redevelopment project that has been shaped through extensive community input. To date, the City has hosted more than 30 community meetings and engagement opportunities, gathering feedback in person from over 3,000 residents, alumni, and stakeholders. As part of this effort, the City has also begun preserving the history of the school property through storytelling, with a dozen video history interviews already recorded from community members.

"This is about honoring the past while thoughtfully preparing for what comes next," said Tom Balk, Director of Strategic Initiatives. "The stories and experiences connected to the school will remain an important part of Waco's story."

Alumni, former staff, families, and community members are encouraged to share:

• Personal stories and reflections
• Photographs or memorabilia
• Messages about what the school meant to them

The interviews will be produced in collaboration with Waco-McLennan County Library into a commemorative video that tells the story of the school across its five eras. The individual interviews and digital photos will also be featured on our project website and available at West Waco Library & Genealogy Center in their local history archive.

While the building will be removed, the City emphasizes that its legacy will continue to shape the future of the redevelopment project and the broader community. The construction fence will be placed on the site on April 1 and will remain until the site is cleared, which is anticipated for July.

How to Share Your Story:

• To sign up for a video interview, contact us at [email protected] or call (254) 750-5787.
• Community members can also submit stories and photos at: [email protected]

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• Visit the Waco Downtown Redevelopment Project Website
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