The preservation of historic schools & community identity in suburban Texas

This thesis explores the role of the preservation of historic schools that continue to be used as public spaces in maintaining a sense of community in three places that have undergone or are undergoing rapid population growth as part of widespread metropolitan growth in Texas. This thesis looks at case studies in Georgetown, Bartlett, and Bedford in the state of Texas in an attempt to assess the effects of successful preservation efforts upon the surrounding community. Results from the surveys of preserving organizations and community members indicates that these historic schools play important roles in the perception of community identity as cities undergo changes over time and that historic preservation more holistically is also important to the sense of identity and uniqueness of a community.