The earliest community members of the area now occupied by Cypress-Fairbanks ISD probably never dreamed that the picturesque landscape once marked by winding creeks and fertile fields would one day give way to a maze of concrete highways meandering through master-planned subdivisions.
As recently as 1956, Cypress-Fairbanks was still referred to as "Harris County's Little A&M," a term coined by a Houston Chronicle reporter describing the community's deep-seeded agricultural emphasis. As it turned out, the history of Cypress-Fairbanks ISD has been marked by transition from rural to suburban; this phenomenon has largely occurred during the latter half of the 20th century. It is still common to hear Cypress-Fairbanks community elders utter in disbelief, "Who would have thought that this rice paddy would ever become a four-lane highway?"
This summer the 11 Cypress-Fairbanks ISD graduation ceremonies held at the Berry Center produced a record number of 6,809 graduating seniors for the class of 2013!
A total of 60,436 guests attended the commencements at the Berry Center, while many others watched the ceremonies via Comcast Channel 16 or through live streaming on the district website and the district’s mobile website on smartphones and other mobile devices.
The live streams generated 6,262 combined hits to the standard and mobile websites. 2013 marked the sixth year for graduation ceremonies to air live through the district website, and the second year for mobile streaming.
In the words of former Superintendent Allen Labay (1977-1986), "We have had to adjust to and grow with the changes and really try to stay ahead." His prophetic words were, and still are, right on target, because through the course of the district's history the community has always placed a high premium on education.
