Convenience Big Store: See which HISD schools are turning 100 this year

May 22, 2026

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Hello Houston,

Hope you are all ready to enjoy the long weekend!

Before you go, we want to hear from more families affected by Houston ISD's changes to special education. If that's you, please share your experience here.

What else we've been watching:

An unintended consequence: Texas' new voucher program allows students with disabilities to qualify for up to $20,000 in additional funding. As a result, public schools have had to process hundreds more evaluation requests from private school families.
Budget talks: HISD employees may have to pay more for healthcare next year, but a general pay increase may help offset that cost, district officials said.

Claire Partain, HISD reporter

Claire.Partain@houstonchronicle.com

Students and alumni march from J.R. Harris Elementary School to Milby High School to commemorate the school’s 100th anniversary in Houston, Saturday, March 28, 2026.

Photo by: Houston Chronicle

11 HISD schools reflect Houston’s history as they celebrate 100 years

From Burnet Elementary to Yates High School, nearly a dozen HISD schools are celebrating their 100th anniversary this year. We took a look this week at the history and legacy of each campus.

Why are so many schools celebrating their centennials in 2026?

After the Texas Legislature created HISD in 1923, voters approved three multimillion-dollar school bonds that decade, fueling the rapid construction of several new campuses.

Which schools are celebrating 100 years?

There are 11: Burnet, Eliot, Love, Memorial and West University elementary schools; Hogg and Lanier middle schools; and Heights, Milby, Northside and Yates high schools.

What’s changed in the past 100 years?

Many of these campuses have undergone major renovations or seen significant demographic shifts. Some — like Heights, Lanier and Northside — have changed their namesake due to ties to the Confederacy. But they all share one thing in common: a century-long legacy shaped by generations of alumni.

Megan Menchaca, Houston ISD Reporter

megan.menchaca@houstonchronicle.com

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Megan's Reporters Notebook

When I visited West University Elementary School earlier this month, I couldn’t help thinking about how different it was from nearly 40 other HISD campuses I have visited.

The PTO held an open house and invited me and members of the public on a tour of the 100-year-old school in one of Houston’s wealthiest neighborhoods.

Our first stop was the library, a vibrant space filled with thousands of volumes, a book vending machine and a cozy space where librarian Kelsan Landry reads to kids.

I was struck by the fun atmosphere on the rest of the tour, from children’s drawings on the walls to hand-painted murals reminding students to “share the warmth of your smile.” It was a stark contrast from several New Education System classrooms, where I’ve observed limited wall decor and much less color.

“We don't just want our kids to be smart. We don't want them to just do well. We want them to just have a passion for learning,” said Scott Disch, who’s been the principal of the A-rated school for nearly seven years.

While most HISD schools are seeing shrinking enrollment, Disch said West University — which is already the district’s largest elementary school — is expected to grow more next year. It’s not hard to see why.

- Megan Menchaca

News from around the district

🚌School bus safety: HISD is trying to get an exemption on a new law — enacted after a pre-K student died in a Austin-area collision — that requires all buses to have three-point seatbelts. HISD says they can't afford the $29 million in upgrades right now.

📝A pushed waiver vote: HISD's Board of Managers postponed a vote that would have allowed the district to apply to waive Superintendent Mike Miles' superintendent certification requirement through the end of his contract term. His contract ends in June 2030.

📣Opinion: Plus, readers sound off on HISD's special education overhaul.

Elsewhere in education

🏫 More closures: Pasadena ISD may close two campuses. See the latest of the region's potential school closures.

❌ Storm damage: Wednesday's storms forced Alvin ISD to shut down two schools for the rest of the school year.

🎓 Higher ed roundup: The University of Houston System approved a $2.67 billion budget and the main campus dropped its religious studies degree due to low enrollment. Plus, the Texas State University System may end tenure at three colleges in southeast Texas.

💉New breakthrough: Texas A&M University scientists think a new nasal spray could slow dementia.

The Calendar Ahead

May 25: Memorial Day, no class
May 27 & June 3: Teach in HISD virtual information sessions, 4:30 p.m.
May 28: Board hearings, Hattie Mae White, 5 p.m.
May 29-June 7: Spring graduation
June 4: Last day of school
June 4: Transportation survey due

Meet The Team

Our HISD coverage is fueled by reporting from Megan Menchaca, Nusaiba Mizan, Claire Partain and Taylor Nichols. Laura Isensee is our education editor.

Reach any of our reporters by emailing them at their firstname.lastname@houstonchronicle.com, filling out this survey or by replying directly to this email.