Schools are the pride of White Oak, a tight-knit east Texas town
The Longview suburb of White Oak is a small town rooted in a tight-knit community, especially when it comes to supporting local schools. Here, pep rallies and Friday night football games are favorite pastimes, not just for parents. This community of many multigenerational residents is seeing an influx of newcomers, often drawn to the high school ratings and small-business-friendly environment. "There are a lot of people that go around and visit different areas, and a lot of them are landing here, and I think it's because of that sense of warmth and community," says longtime resident Dawn Sims, who is also a Realtor with Texas Real Estate Executives-Next Level Agents. "Everything is pretty much centered around the schools in the support the community provides the faculty, the students and their families."
White Oak schools earn strong marks and community support
White Oak Independent Schools each earn A-minus scores from Niche. Students may attend White Oak Primary from preschool through second grade, White Oak Intermediate for third through fifth grade and White Oak Middle for sixth through eighth grade. The White Oak High School marching band won the 2024 state championships, and the Roughnecks football team draws a crowd at Friday night games. The high school also offers a Future Farmers of America program for students interested in agriculture and career and technical programs in various subjects.
Tree-lined streets feature both vintage charm and newer homes
Ranch-style homes are a fixture of the town's tree-lined streets. "Those are the ones that I see the most of as far as people purchasing and flipping," says Sims, who works throughout East Texas. "So you're getting the benefit of being in a classic neighborhood, the house is well-built from back then, but then you're able to update it and have a newer look and feel to it." At the same time, many brick New Traditional properties have added to the housing stock in recent decades, ranging from three-bedroom layouts to sprawling custom estates. The median single-family price is about $300,000, slightly higher than Longview.
Groceries, pizza and coffee are all available without leaving town
Brookshire's is good for grocery and pharmacy needs. The New Pier serves seafood combination platters with options such as shrimp, crawfish, catfish and alligator nuggets. "It's always packed and it's been there for a very long time, so that's definitely a fan favorite for the area," Sims says. Coffee-ology offers hot, iced and frozen drinks. Moe's Pizza is another favorite for thin and medium crust pies — and the support goes both ways. "Any type of fundraiser or event that's going on, if there's a family in need, [the owner] is sending them pizza," Sims says. "He is such a great supporter of the community, so Moe's is definitely at the top of the list for most everybody in White Oak." Chains such as Chili's and Applebee's are nearby in Longview.
Local traditions include pep rallies and summer baseball
Events center around White Oak High, beginning with the community tailgate and pep rally at the start of the school year. "You'll see people that haven't had kids in that school for 20 years, and they're at the regular pep rallies on Fridays," Sims says. Summer baseball games are popular, too. The local TimberHogs team is part of the Mid-America summer collegiate league. The tri-annual Roughneck Days homecoming celebration features a parade, arts and crafts vendors, a car show and live music. Nearby Longview events include the Gregg County Fair, the Longview PRCA Rodeo and the Great Texas Balloon Race, which features a weekend of hot-air-balloon-related activities in June.
Penick and City Park offer outdoor recreation
Green space can be found at two city-managed parks. White Oak City Park has a splash pad, bike trails and baseball fields, which host the White Oak High School Roughneck baseball team during baseball season and the TimberHogs from May through August. Other amenities include a dog park and a remote-controlled car track. In 2012, Penick Park added a walking trail with fitness equipment, a nine-hole disc golf course and a fishing pond, which is stocked with trout. The park hosts second graders each year for Earth Day activities. Both parks have playground equipment and picnic pavilions.
White Oak is fairly car dependent but close to Longview
White Oak sits about 8 miles west of Longview, with U.S. Route 80 serving as the main corridor. Residents may rely on cars, as the Longview Transit service area does not reach White Oak. Christus Good Shepherd Medical Center and Longview Regional Medical Center both provide comprehensive medical services, including around-the-clock emergency care, less than 10 miles away. American Airlines flies to Dallas-Fort Worth from East Texas Regional Airport, about 20 miles away.
Proactive measures can protect against heavy winds
Texas is part of tornado alley, although Sims says White Oak has been lucky enough not to see any major destruction in recent memory. "When I'm selling a house to somebody, we try to be proactive in the sense that, 'Okay, we need to take these trees down because they could easily fall,'" she says. "We try to be proactive about those kinds of things because we know we can get some windy, crazy weather every now and then."
