 |
 |
The
Community Lorena is reminiscent of an enchanting place from days gone by. Settled in 1854 and named after Lorena Westbrook, a prominent citizen’s daughter, the town was a bustling railroad community with several cotton gins and thriving businesses. In 1968, many of the historic buildings were restored and a quaint shopping area was built. Downtown antique shops attract many visitors. With special celebrations like “Christmas in the Country” and “The Bluebonnet Festival” residents and visitors fill the streets for historic home tours, parades, food and family fun! A strong community youth sports program promotes pride that heightens the anticipation of one day becoming a Lorena Leopard or Lady Leopard. On any given night you might find many Leopard residents sitting on bleachers cheering for the home team! Other community activities are initiated by local churches, civic groups and school organizations. The closeness of family reflected in the sense of community sets the mood, the pace, the flavor for everyday living. Located in McLennan County, Lorena is just minutes from Waco, 110 miles south of Dallas and 80 miles north of Austin. Perfectly positioned on Interstate 35, Lorena is within 200 miles from 70% of the entire population of Texas. No doubt, …Lorena has found a place in your heart!  The School District Lorena ISD is a progressive school district of approximately 1,550 students in grades Pre-K through twelfth. The District is composed of four campuses, Primary PreK-1, Elementary 2-4, Middle School 5-8 and High School 9-12. Recently our school and community completed a Strategic Plan that outlines the direction of the district. During that process our mission statement was completed. The mission of Lorena Independent School District, the heart of our hometown where excellence has become tradition, is to ensure that students achieve their highest potential as responsible, self-reliant, and unique individuals through a system characterized by engaged and motivated students; passionate, dedicated staff; challenging and innovative learning opportunities; state-of-the-art facilities; involved parents and community members; and a safe environment that fosters mutual respect and cooperation. Rigorous and relevant curriculum is paramount at Lorena ISD. Current offerings include the core content areas as well as arts, computer programming, pre-AP and advanced placement courses, foreign languages, and a variety of electives. The rigorous curriculum taken by Lorena students accounts for approximately 85% of Lorena graduates beginning post-secondary education at colleges and universities throughout the United States. The district places emphasis on the individual needs of all students, maintains high expectations, and strives to keep classes small. Lorena ISD experiences minimal teacher turnover, which provides students with teachers who are experienced and highly qualified. Lorena students compete in U.I.L. band, athletic, literary, and speech/drama activities at district, regional, and state levels. Students also actively participate in FFA and FHA projects and in competitions on campus, county, state, and national levels. In addition, there are a variety of clubs and organizations on campuses throughout the District. Working together with organizations like PTO, Lorena Education Foundation, and the Booster Clubs, Lorena ISD benefits greatly from wide community support. Constructive parental involvement is encouraged, is frequent, and is appreciated as we view parents as partners in the very important process of educating our children. Lorena ISD is part of the Rio Brazos Educational Cooperative, which provides a variety of services to the eight districts that it serves. Services include Special Education, transportation, technology, AEP and administrative support. The Lorena ISD superintendent sits on the board of Rio Brazos.
|
|
 |
Trammell Kelly, Realtor : Kelly, Realtors |
 |
|