NEEDVILLE, Texas --
Needville High School students may have to retake the TAKS test after their completed tests were destroyed in a three-alarm fire on Monday, KPRC Local 2 reports.
Fire departments from around Fort Bend County responded to the blaze at the school at about 3:15 a.m.
The fire destroyed the older part of the high school, which was built in 1948.
"All our archives and files and administrative areas are gone," Superintendent Curtis Rhodes said.
About 20 classrooms, the library, science wing and cafeteria were also damaged.
Firefighters had to shuttle in water to battle the blaze.
"We ran out of water several times," Fire Marshal Gerald Matheas said. "We're really lucky to have saved what we did."
Residents said they were shocked to see the destruction.
"I still can't believe it," Carie Hartfiel said. "I was here Friday and now it's all gone."
Rhodes canceled classes for the entire district on Monday because of traffic concerns and because the district's communication system was destroyed.
Students in pre-kindergarten through eighth grade will return to school as normal on Tuesday.
Officials said high school students will be off until April 30 and will have staggered schedules. Freshmen and sophomores will have classes at the high school from 8 am until noon and juniors and seniors will attend classes from 1 to 5 p.m.
"We'll finish strong, rebuild and come back next year," Rhodes said.
"The school has been around a long time and it was a beautiful school on the inside," Fairchild firefighter Brad Leonhardt said. "Seeing it down like this, it kind of affects a person."
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
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