The History of Red Lick School
The Red Lick Community is located south of the Red River in northeast Texas just 12 miles west of the Arkansas border. Red Lick ISD is a small, K-8 school district with approximately 340 students. The name "Red Lick" is derived from the mineral rich soil found here. Early settlers observed that a red clay hill located in the heart of the community was visited on a regular basis by deer and served as a natural salt lick for area wildlife. This red salt lick is the basis of our name. Red Lick ISD is proud to share the tradition and history of our community.

Around 1885, area residents of Red Lick met to plan a school. The first building served as the school, church, and community center with the upper floor used as a lodge hall. Built off the ground, as were most buildings of the time, it has been recorded that "students experienced quite a bit of trouble from dropping slates and lead pencils through spaces between the planks in the floor". Pupils sat on straight-backed benches and were said to have been very happy when desks were obtained. Early accounts indicate the students studied lessons from: "Noah Webster's “blue-backed speller” (so nicknamed for its colorful cover), McGuffey's Reader, Harvey's Grammar, Ray's Arithmetic, Geography and Webster's Dictionary". Heat was obtained from a wood stove usually tended to by a student and water was provided for both teacher and pupils by a spring located about 200 yards north of the school.

Today, Red Lick Independent School District consists of two campuses: Red Lick Elementary School (K-5) and Red Lick Middle School (6-8). Both campuses reside on a site totaling approximately 16 acres, which is slightly south of where the original school was located.