The journey to the present-day West Rusk County Consolidated Independent School District has been remarkable. What began as dozens of small rural schools in the 19th century evolved into two of the world's wealthiest rural districts. Today, that rich heritage lives on in West Rusk CCISD.

By the 1964-1965 school year, enrollment in the Gaston Independent School District had dropped to 552 students. Enrollment had dropped to 651 students in London Independent School District.

In January 1965, facing declining enrollment and shrinking tax revenues from depleted oil reserves, trustees from the London and Gaston districts met to discuss a potential merger. Following approval from both communities' voters, the West Rusk County Consolidated Independent School District was officially established.

The London and Gaston student councils each conducted a straw vote to determine the mascot for their new school, and it was revealed that West Rusk would be known as the Raiders. On October 11, 1965, the school board authorized the student body to select a school emblem to depict the “West Rusk Raider.” At the May 6 meeting of the board it was decided to take the blue from the London school colors and the white from the Gaston school colors for the West Rusk colors.