Memorial High School (Hedwig Village, Texas)

Last updated

Memorial High School
Memorial High School New Campus Houston Texas.jpg
Location
Memorial High School (Hedwig Village, Texas)
935 Echo Lane

Hedwig Village
,
Texas
77024

United States
Coordinates 29°46′50″N95°31′22″W / 29.78061°N 95.52278°W / 29.78061; -95.52278
Information
TypePublic
Opened1962
PrincipalLisa Weir
Teaching staff143.18 (FTE) [1]
Grades9 - 12
Enrollment2,640 (2023-2024) [1]
Student to teacher ratio18.44 [1]
ColorsRed and white   
Nickname Mustangs
Rival Stratford High School
NewspaperThe Anvil
YearbookThe Reata
Website mhs.springbranchisd.com

Memorial High School (MHS) is a secondary school located at 935 Echo Lane in Hedwig Village, Texas, United States, in Greater Houston. [2]

Contents

Memorial serves students in portions of the Memorial and Spring Branch regions of Houston and several enclaves within the portions. Memorial is part of the Spring Branch Independent School District (SBISD) and serves grades 9 through 12. As of 2005, the district was granted a $500 million education grant, $150 million of which belongs to Memorial High School.

History

Memorial Senior High School opened in 1962 to relieve overcrowding at Spring Branch High School. [3] Memorial was the second high school to open in SBISD. At the time, students living north of Old Katy Road attended Spring Branch and students living south of Old Katy Road attended Memorial. This arrangement lasted until Spring Woods High School opened in 1964.

The design of the school was classic early 1960s in the South, with a large, open campus. Each classroom building opened into an outside breezeway, to maximize air flow as the school did not have air conditioning.

When Memorial first opened, the area surrounding the school was largely forest and rice fields, but it rapidly grew as new subdivisions were built, and by the mid-1960s, Memorial's enrollment exceeded 3,000 students, a number much larger than the school was meant to hold.[ citation needed ] This problem was resolved with the opening of Westchester Senior High School in 1967, [4] and later Stratford Senior High School in 1974.[ citation needed ]

At the time, Memorial's main rivals were the Spring Branch Bears and Westchester Wildcats. However, by the mid-1980s, the enrollment of nearly every school across the district had dropped precariously, and it was decided that Westchester and Spring Branch High Schools would be closed. Memorial remained open, and took in students from both Westchester and Spring Branch High Schools.[ citation needed ]

Today, Memorial is the oldest high school still operating in Spring Branch ISD. The school has received extensive renovations, which began during the 1996–1997 school year. Every building in the school was gutted and refurbished, outdated facilities were replaced and the campus was made more secure.

In 2011, Memorial High School was named the #10 most posh public school in the country, as it pulls from a very wealthy area of Houston. [5]

In January 2017 a vandal sprayed graffiti of racist symbols on the school property. [6]

Campus

The inside of the school campus MemorialHSinsideHedwigVillage.JPG
The inside of the school campus

The campus is two blocks south of Interstate 10. Memorial City Mall is to the

Campus Renovations and Expansion

As part of a districtwide facilities initiative, Spring Branch Independent School District (SBISD) approved an $898.4 million bond referendum in 2017, which passed with approximately 80 percent voter approval. The bond funded renovations and new construction across the district, including major upgrades to Memorial High School in Houston, Texas.

Memorial High School underwent a comprehensive modernization project with a total construction cost of $84.1 million. The district commissioned a master planning study that involved parents, teachers, community members, and district leadership. The resulting long-term plan addressed the entire campus and was divided into Phase I, which has been completed, and Phase II, scheduled for future implementation.

A major challenge of the project was the school’s landlocked campus, which limited opportunities for expansion. To accommodate new construction, the project relocated existing tennis courts and the bus loop, freeing space for a new academic building. The centerpiece of the renovation is a four-story, 161,249-square-foot academic building, which replaced six older classroom buildings originally constructed in the mid-20th century.

The new building includes 28 general classrooms, 21 science laboratories, collaborative learning areas, administrative offices, and a two-story student dining facility. The design emphasizes natural lighting, a central atrium, and modern circulation spaces. Interior features include acoustic ceilings, a main stairwell with transparent red railings, and murals reflecting the school’s Mustang mascot and colors.

In addition to academic upgrades, the project included extensive athletic and site improvements, such as new turf systems, safety netting, upgraded practice fields, a field house, and an eight-court tennis complex. Existing grass practice fields were also renovated.

Campuswide infrastructure improvements were completed to modernize the school, which was originally built in 1963. These upgrades included new mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems, renovated restrooms, enhanced security features, reconfigured traffic flow, and updated parking to improve campus safety and efficiency.

The Design phase started in 2019, construction began in 2020, and it was completed in 2022.

The completed project significantly modernized Memorial High School’s facilities, enhancing instructional spaces, student amenities, and overall campus functionality while preserving the school’s established identity within the Memorial community.

Neighborhoods served

Memorial serves [7] students in all of the Memorial Villages (including Bunker Hill Village, [8] Hedwig Village, [9] Hilshire Village, [10] Spring Valley Village, [11] and most of Hunters Creek Village [12] and Piney Point Village [13] ). While the school has a Houston address, it is located in the city of Hedwig Village, [9] and it draws from a small portion of Houston in the Memorial and Spring Branch regions (including Stablewood, Afton Village, Brykerwoods, Monarch Oaks, Spring Oaks, Sandalwood, Whispering Oaks, and portions of Westview Terrace). [7] [ citation needed ] A section of the Memorial City district is within the school's attendance zone. [14] Memorial High School has eleven lunch vendors that deliver meals to students on campus during their respective lunch periods. [15]

Since opening its doors in 1962, MHS has received several renovations and additions. The campus consists of 311,115 square feet.

This is the Athletic Fieldhouse which contains a weight room and several offices for the Coaches it is mostly used by the football team. MemorialHSaTHLETICCenter.JPG
This is the Athletic Fieldhouse which contains a weight room and several offices for the Coaches it is mostly used by the football team.

Athletics

Memorial High Stadium MemorialHSStadium.JPG
Memorial High Stadium

Memorial has a rivalry with Stratford High School. [16] [17]

Memorial also has a formerly successful football team, which went to the state semifinals in December 2010 in the Division II bracket. The 1979 Mustangs went all the way to the state finals, a school record as of yet unbeaten. [18]

As of 2012, the Memorial tennis team had a district record of 73-0 and has finished in the state finals for 2010, 2011, and 2012.[ citation needed ] As of 2019 for Memorial has participated in 11 back to back trips to the UIL Team Tennis State Tournament. [19] [20] Of these tennis tournaments Memorial has won the state championship twice. [21] However, in 2024, the Memorial tennis team was beaten in the regional finals by Seven Lakes High School, thus ending their 15 year streak of competing in the state championship.

Memorial has a men's basketball team that has had some success historically although it has not seen success in recent years. [22] Under the school's original basketball coach, Don Coleman, they were able to win a state title in 1966. [3] Memorial also has a girls' basketball team. [23] [24]

Memorial has both a boys' and girls' soccer team. [17] The girls' team has had much success, most recently winning a state championship title in 2018. [25] [26]

Memorial also has track & field, [27] [28] cross country, swimming/diving, golf, [29] baseball, [30] softball, and volleyball teams. [31] The school also has a club field hockey team for girls, and club lacrosse and rugby for both boys and girls.

The Athletic Director and Head Football Coach is Brooks Haack.

UIL sports

Fall

Winter

Spring

Other UIL sports

Club and non-UIL sports

Demographic information

As of 2019 according to STAAR data [32]

Awards and honors

Memorial was named a 1988-89 National Blue Ribbon School. [33]

The school was ranked 258th, [34] 133rd, [35] 103rd, [36] 126th, [37] 225th, [38] 307th, [39] and 254th [40] in Newsweek 's 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2010, 2012, and 2013 lists, respectively, of top high schools in the United States since the list's inception in 2003. [note 1] It was also ranked 239th [41] and 233rd [42] in U.S. News ' 2012 and 2013 lists, respectively, of top high schools in the United States.

Memorial was given the College Readiness Award by the Texas ACT Council in 2008 and 2010. The school was awarded the Just 4 The Kids (NCEA) High Performing School award in 2008 and 2009. In 2008, it was named an Honor Roll School by the Texas Business & Education Coalition. [43] Memorial was named one of the Top 10 Best High Schools in the Area by Children at Risk in 2008, 2009, 2011, and 2012. It was also given the TAKS Gold Performance Award in 2012. [44]

The school achieved "recognized" status in the accountability ratings system by the Texas Education Agency in 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2011. [45] [46] [note 2]

It was awarded five stars and ranked in the top ten high schools in Texas by Texas Monthly magazine in 2002. [47]

Feeder patterns

Feeding from public schools

Elementary schools that feed into Memorial High School include: [48]

Middle schools that feed into Memorial High School include: [48]

Feeding from private schools

Some private schools, such as First Baptist Academy, [49] Grace School, [50] Presbyterian School, [51] River Oaks Baptist School, [52] St. Francis Episcopal Day School, [53] and The Regis School of the Sacred Heart, [54] have students that matriculate into Memorial. [55] [56] [57] [58] [59] [60]

Notable alumni

Controversies

2015 Homecoming Dance at Children’s Museum

In November 2015, Memorial High School held its homecoming dance at the Children’s Museum of Houston with about 1,000 students in attendance. The event ended early—around 11 p.m.—after students were described as “rowdy,” disrespectful toward museum staff, and caused damage to a concession stand, including breaking an ice cream maker. [83] [84]

2017 Graffiti

Memorial was shocked in January 2017 when vandals broke into the school over winter break and vandalized the campus with racist graffiti. [6] [85] [86] The vandalism included a crudely drawn swastika, multiple uses of the n-word, pentagrams, the phrase "white power," sexually explicit phrases and offensive symbols. [87] The Anti-Defamation League would take notice of this event and comment on it, bringing notoriety to the event. [88]

Thug Day

Memorial would face controversy in May 2019 over a spirit week tradition of "Thug Day' which was tweeted out by an upset student and went viral. [89] [90] [91] Critics would claim that the event was racially insensitive to African-Americans and was an example of cultural appropriation due to the utilization of basketball jerseys, cornrows, do-rags, gang signs, and fake tattoos. [89] [92] Critics would range from media organizations and alumni to the local chapter of the NAACP. [92] Memorial High would go on to cancel the 'spirit week' over the racist undertones of 'thug day' which the school claimed was an unofficial extension of the spirit week's 'jersey day.' [93] [94] Students went on to claim that campus tension increased as a result of the fallout, alongside mixed reception from alumni. [92] [95]

Sexual misconduct

In December 2023, a teacher at Memorial High School was placed on administrative leave after being accused of having inappropriate sexual misconduct with a former student. [96] The teacher is facing felony charges for their relationship with a former student. [97]

Notes

  1. ↑ Note that Newsweek did not compile a list in 2004.
  2. ↑ Note that no state accountability ratings were assigned in 2003 and 2012.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "MEMORIAL H S". National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved December 17, 2024.
  2. ↑ "Home". Memorial High School. Retrieved January 24, 2022. 935 Echo Lane Houston, TX 77024
    Compare address to the map: "City of Hedwig Village Zoning Districts" (PDF). City of Hedwig Village. Retrieved January 24, 2022.
  3. 1 2 Young, Matt; Chronicle, Houston (February 16, 2020). "Legendary Houston high school basketball coach Don Coleman dead". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
  4. ↑ Hughes, Kim. "Westchester High all-alumni reunion planned for Nov. 10" (Archive). Houston Chronicle . November 4, 2007. Retrieved on June 25, 2015.
  5. ↑ The 10 Most Posh Public School Systems in America
  6. 1 2 Webb, Shelby; Andrew Kragie (January 4, 2017). "Racist graffiti scrawled across Memorial High in Spring Branch ISD". Memorial Examiner at the Houston Chronicle . Retrieved January 22, 2017.
  7. 1 2 Memorial High School Zone. Spring Branch Independent School District. Retrieved on December 6, 2018.
  8. ↑ "City Map." Bunker Hill Village. Retrieved on December 6, 2018.
  9. 1 2 "2010 Census – Census Block Map: Hedwig Village city, TX." U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved on December 6, 2018.
  10. ↑ "Zoning Map." Hilshire Village. Retrieved on December 6, 2018.
  11. ↑ "Zoning Map." Spring Valley Village. Retrieved on December 6, 2018.
  12. ↑ "Zoning Map." City of Hunters Creek Village. Retrieved on December 6, 2018.
  13. ↑ "Street Map." City of Piney Point Village. Retrieved on December 6, 2018.
  14. ↑ Memorial City Management District Boundary Archived 2011-07-27 at the Wayback Machine ." Memorial City District . Retrieved on January 25, 2009.
  15. ↑ "Welcome to Memorial High School!". Memorial High. Retrieved February 29, 2020.
  16. ↑ Connelly, Richard. "Memorial High: Staying Classy As Ever With The Stratford Rivalry." Houston Press . Tuesday October 6, 2009. Retrieved on October 7, 2009.
  17. 1 2 Coleman, Adam (February 11, 2019). "Chron's boys athlete of the week: Max Mouer, Memorial". HoustonChronicle.com. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
  18. ↑ "1979 Football Conference 4A" (PDF). Retrieved January 27, 2026.
  19. ↑ Koch, Joshua (October 28, 2019). "Inside the Program: Houston Memorial Tennis heads to State for 11th-straight year". VYPE. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
  20. ↑ Marrion, Jack (October 28, 2019). "Memorial tennis headed back to state". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
  21. ↑ Coleman, Adam (November 1, 2019). "Memorial brings home 6A state team tennis championship". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
  22. ↑ Coleman, Adam (February 20, 2020). "Memorial's basketball resurgence comes at a perfect time". HoustonChronicle.com. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
  23. ↑ Marrion, Jack (February 3, 2020). "Memorial girls basketball honors seniors, prepares for final stretch". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
  24. ↑ Coleman, Adam (February 15, 2020). "High school girls basketball bi-district playoff schedule". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
  25. ↑ Gleason, Joseph (March 6, 2020). "Memorial HS soccer team making strides to win 2nd state championship title". ABC13 Houston. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
  26. ↑ "Athletes Of The Week: Memorial High School Soccer team wins state championship". khou.com. April 26, 2018. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
  27. ↑ Marrion, Jack (May 20, 2020). "SBISD athletes recognized for academic performance". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
  28. ↑ Scarmardo, Peter (April 1, 2019). "Chron's girls athlete of the week: Claire Bryant, Memorial". HoustonChronicle.com. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
  29. ↑ Marrion, Jack (May 26, 2020). "Memorial, Lamar golfers make TXAGC all-state". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
  30. ↑ Marrion, Jack (May 10, 2019). "Thomas Vincent pitches Memorial to series lead against Travis". HoustonChronicle.com. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
  31. ↑ Marrion, Jack (June 23, 2020). "Bellaire, Memorial area volleyball stars recognized by GHVCA". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
  32. ↑ "Memorial High School Houston, TX". Homes And Rentals. Retrieved July 30, 2020.
  33. ↑ Blue Ribbon School Program Archived 2009-03-26 at the Wayback Machine
  34. ↑ America's Top Public High Schools 2003 at MSNBC.com [ dead link ]
  35. ↑ The Complete List of the 1,000 Top U.S. Schools (2005–2006) [ dead link ]
  36. ↑ America's Top Public High Schools 2006 at MSNBC.com [ dead link ]
  37. ↑ America's Top Public High Schools 2007 at MSNBC.com
  38. ↑ Memorial High named to Newsweek's best in U.S. list
  39. ↑ "America's Top Public High Schools 2012 at newsweek.com". The Daily Beast . Archived from the original on May 21, 2012. Retrieved June 1, 2013.
  40. ↑ "America's Top Public High Schools 2013 at newsweek.com". The Daily Beast . Archived from the original on May 8, 2013. Retrieved June 1, 2013.
  41. ↑ Memorial High named to U.S News's best in U.S. list
  42. ↑ America's Top Public High Schools 2013 at usnews.com
  43. ↑ Memorial High School 2011-12
  44. ↑ Memorial High School 2012-13
  45. ↑ "Accountability District Multiyear History 1995-2002". Archived from the original on May 31, 2013. Retrieved June 7, 2013.
  46. ↑ Accountability District Multiyear History 2004-2011 Archived 2012-07-02 at the Wayback Machine
  47. ↑ Texas Monthly's Best High Schools
  48. 1 2 "Spring Branch ISD feeder schools". Archived from the original on June 27, 2007. Retrieved April 17, 2007.
  49. ↑ First Baptist Academy
  50. ↑ Grace School
  51. ↑ Presbyterian School
  52. ↑ River Oaks Baptist School
  53. ↑ St. Francis Episcopal Day School
  54. ↑ The Regis School of the Sacred Heart
  55. ↑ "FBA at a Glance Archived 2011-10-02 at the Wayback Machine ," First Baptist Academy
  56. ↑ "Grace School Quick Facts Archived 2013-08-01 at the Wayback Machine ," Grace School
  57. ↑ "Beyond PS Archived 2013-05-15 at the Wayback Machine ," Presbyterian School
  58. ↑ "Where Do Our Students Go From Here?," River Oaks Baptist School
  59. ↑ "High School Placement," St. Francis Episcopal Day School
  60. ↑ "Alumni: Where Are They Now?," The Regis School of the Sacred Heart
  61. ↑ "Michael Dell." Texas Association of School Boards. March 15, 2008. Retrieved on October 7, 2009.
  62. ↑ The 2017 Pulitzer Prize Winners - National Reporting
  63. ↑ Paterson, Blake (November 8, 2016). "Before his Trump scoops, the Memorial High Anvil". HoustonChronicle.com. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
  64. ↑ Natario, Nick (November 20, 2019). "Trump impeachment hearing witness is Spring Branch ISD alum". ABC13 Houston. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
  65. ↑ "Biography: Personal Information for Stephen P. Munisteri" (PDF). betweenthesynapse.com. Retrieved September 27, 2010.
  66. ↑ "Texas Secretary of State 2018 Elections Results". elections.sos.state.tx.us. December 18, 2018. Retrieved December 19, 2018.
  67. ↑ "V." Utopia Artists.
  68. ↑ Young, Matt (April 3, 2020). "Best pro athlete from every Houston area high school". HoustonChronicle.com. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
  69. ↑ "Gene Chilton Stats". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved July 31, 2020.
  70. ↑ "Kiki DeAyala Stats". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved July 31, 2020.
  71. ↑ "Graham Godfrey Stats". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved July 31, 2020.
  72. ↑ Lapin, Elliott; writer, Staff (June 11, 2020). "Memorial alum selected in MLB draft". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
  73. ↑ "Christian Roa Amateur & College Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
  74. ↑ "Wayne Taylor College & Minor Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
  75. ↑ "Wayne Taylor Stats, Highlights, Bio". Minor League Baseball . Retrieved July 29, 2020.
  76. ↑ Guerra, Joey (August 27, 2025). "Could Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce tie the knot in Houston? It's part of her family love story". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved September 5, 2025.
  77. ↑ Reid, Will (August 14, 2025). "Taylor Swift says mom and brother helped buy masters". E! News. Retrieved September 5, 2025.
  78. ↑ "Kacy Clemens Stats, Highlights, Bio". Minor League Baseball . Retrieved July 29, 2020.
  79. ↑ "Kody Clemens College, Minor & Independent Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
  80. ↑ "Kody Clemens Stats, Highlights, Bio". Minor League Baseball . Retrieved July 29, 2020.
  81. ↑ "Koby Clemens Independent Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
  82. ↑ "Koby Clemens Stats, Highlights, Bio". Minor League Baseball . Retrieved July 29, 2020.
  83. ↑ "'Rowdy' behavior abruptly ends Memorial High School homecoming dance at Children's Museum". KPRC Click2Houston. November 8, 2015. Retrieved September 5, 2025.
  84. ↑ "Children's Museum: Memorial HS students get "rowdy," dance ended early". ABC-13 Houston. November 8, 2015. Retrieved September 5, 2025.
  85. ↑ Turner, Ashlynn (January 4, 2017). "Vandals paint N-word, swastikas across Memorial High School walls". KPRC. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
  86. ↑ Webb, Shelby; Kragie, Andrew (January 5, 2017). "Students at Spring Branch ISD school return to offensive graffiti". HoustonChronicle.com. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
  87. ↑ Burke, Dana (January 19, 2017). "Police release video of suspect who vandalized Memorial High School". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
  88. ↑ "ADL Supporting Memorial High School as it Responds to Graffiti, Commends Principal and Administrators". Southwest. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
  89. 1 2 Herron, Rachel (May 21, 2019). "Memorial High Student Who Exposed Classmates' Racist 'Thug Day' Costumes Bullied With Death Threats". BET.com. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
  90. ↑ Dawson, Peter; Gill, Julian (May 15, 2019). "Memorial HS students spark social media outrage with 'thug' spirit week attire". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
  91. ↑ "Memorial HS students called out for offensive pictures online". khou.com. May 15, 2019. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
  92. 1 2 3 Dawson, Peter; Gill, Julian (May 16, 2019). "Houston community reacts to Memorial High "Thug Day" fallout". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
  93. ↑ McLaughlin, Kelly (May 17, 2019). "A high school canceled its spirit week after an unofficial 'thug day' was called out for having racist undertones". Insider. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
  94. ↑ Gill, Julian (May 24, 2019). "Controversial or racist incidents in Houston so far in 2019". HoustonChronicle.com. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
  95. ↑ Chen, Tanya (May 20, 2019). "These Students Say Their School Has Become More Hostile After A Photo Of White Students In "Thug Day" Outfits Went Viral". BuzzFeed News. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
  96. ↑ "Memorial HS teacher placed on administrative leave after allegations surface, Spring Branch ISD says". khou.com. December 5, 2023. Retrieved December 10, 2023.
  97. ↑ "Memorial HS teacher allegedly gave student perfect test scores amid sexual relationship, docs show". ABC13 Houston. December 11, 2023. Retrieved December 12, 2023.
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