Jana Lowe says that occasionally she is asked, “Leggett has a school?” The superintendent usually answers, “Yeah, about 100 years now.”
She has been an employee at the district on the corner of FM 942 and Freeman Road for 18 of those. The Class 1A campus educates around 220 students from pre-K through 12th grade and holds an environment like “Cheers.” Maybe not the bar part, but when you’re a Leggett Pirate, everybody knows your name.
It sits a little more than throwing distance off Highway 59, where a blinking traffic light is the biggest signal you’ve reached town.
That is expected to change.
At the end of September 2025, the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas announced its plans to construct a state-of-the-art casino with hotel accommodations, dining and entertainment options, and attractions for all.
Clearing began at the location and ground was broken earlier this year. It is about a mile and a half from the school on existing reservation land.
Lowe is excited about the possibilities and potential positives it could mean for students.
“We’re very happy to have the business close to us … and we are thrilled at the prospect of new jobs for our community. It has lacked that for so long.”
The addition of 1,000 jobs would make the casino the largest employer in Polk County.
The superintendent said she know there would probably be an increase in students, but did not anticipate the new casino bringing in a large amount of residents, based on what she has seen in other towns that have built similar venues.
The district is hoping to increase it dual credit program, where they have partnered with Lamar State College Orange. They now offer dual credit welding; an instructor is on campus and certified. Courses in hospitality are also a possibility with the new casino expected.
“I want to find a way that we can funnel our programs to those jobs that are going to be available. If it is 1,000 jobs, you’re talking hospitality, janitorial, chefs, and hotel management.
“We have room still. If we had to go build something new, our community has been very supportive of us in bonds in the past. I don’t see any reason why they wouldn’t support growth. We’re not at capacity. We could add if we got the students and state funding. We would be OK for a while. We could probably expand pretty easily by 25% without having to construct anything.”
Two years ago, Leggett ISD formed its own police department through a Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE) application with the state. Lowe described the process as “lengthy,” done over the span of a year.
Security, traffic and crime around campus is now handled by one officer. Chief Michael McDuffie’s authority is at the school or in an official capacity with students. Lowe said he has handed out citations for illegally passing buses. McDuffie is from the area and came highly recommended by his former boss, Polk County Sheriff Byron Lyons.
Things can definitely change. A tiny school that has sat quietly among the trees for a century could develop into something bigger.
“We’re getting ready for growth and we’re doing a lot of things. We’ve got a lot of research to do and a lot of questions to ask of how it is going to affect us. The changes are coming. You can see it. Drive anywhere in Polk County and you can see it happening.”
