1894–1937: The earliest permanent school facilities in the area took root near the original townsite (initially called Bissa, Jarvis Junction, and Strawberry before being named after Georgia humorist Bill Arp). 

1937: A major new high school building was constructed on the historic Elementary Hill Addition grounds, which later transitioned back to an elementary school in the 1950s before being razed in 2013.

The Oil Boom Era: During the 1930s, the East Texas oil boom brought a massive influx of people to the Arp area, causing the town's population to peak around 2,500 in 1936. At that time, the community supported separate, active school systems for white and Black students to accommodate the surging population. 

Arp Colored Industrial High School: Founded in the 1945 era (serving students from Arp, Overton, and New London), this vocational school played a vital role in providing hands-on industrial and secondary education for Black youth in East Texas before closing following integration.

1952: The official Arp Independent School District was formally established as populations shifted following World War II. A new high school was built on the north side of town around 1955. 

21st Century Recognition: In recent decades, Arp ISD transitioned into a modern 3A rural district with roughly 1,000 students. The district gained notable national recognition for its technological integration, ranking in the top tier nationwide as a Digital School District in the mid-2010s (including 1st in the nation in 2017). 

Athletic Milestones: Arp High School's athletic legacy features memorable competitive runs, notably reaching the state football semifinals in 2000 and 2016.