In 1849, Adam Klein, a native of Stuttgart, Germany, and his fiancee, Friedericka Klenk, set sail from Europe for America and were married by the ship’s captain. The couple eventually joined the other German immigrants, most of whom had entered the Port of Galveston, on the banks of Cypress Creek, which later became the northern section of Harris County.
In July 1928, the present boundary lines of the school district were established with the consolidation of five common school districts and the official name became Rural High School District Number One. The district, 88 square miles in size, became one of the largest districts in land area in Harris County. In 1938, the school district was renamed the Klein Independent School District in honor of Adam Klein.
The growth of the area was very slow and steady; most of the residents were farmers, ranchers, and dairy farmers. In 1966, the stage was set for exciting changes in the district when thousands of acres of land, covered with beautiful oak and pine trees, were purchased for residential construction. Developers found room to expand, a serene atmosphere of country living, and reasonable prices. Prior to this time, there were no large city-like subdivisions located within the boundaries of the district.
In the 1970-71 school year, there were 2,744 students enrolled in Klein Schools. The current enrollment is in excess of 53,000 students in one early childhood and pre-kindergarten center, 30 elementary schools, 10 intermediate campuses, and 5 high schools.
The Klein ISD has attracted new families from all over the U.S. and many foreign countries. The district has achieved an excellent reputation for academic, vocational, and extracurricular activities.