West University Elementary School: A History of Education and Community
West University Elementary School (WUES), located at 3756 University Blvd, Houston, TX 77005, stands as a cornerstone of the West University Place community. While technically part of the Houston Independent School District (HISD), its location is in the heart of West University Place at Auden St. and University Blvd. The school has a rich history intertwined with the development of the city itself, reflecting the values and priorities of the residents it serves.
Founding and Early Years
West University Elementary School opened its doors in 1925 to serve the rapidly growing community of West University Place. The city itself was developed in 1917 by Ben Hooper, a former Tennessee governor. As the city grew, so did the need for a local school.
In the early days, while the main building was under construction, students were temporarily housed in nearby facilities. Platte School accommodated the non-kindergarten students, while the sales office of Southside Place served as a temporary kindergarten. The permanent facility, designed in the Spanish-Renaissance architectural style by architect Lamar Cato, was completed in 1928. The construction was funded by a $55,000 bond, a testament to the community's commitment to education. The land was generously donated by D.T. Austin and W.D. Haden.
The school's early history also involved sharing a campus with Pershing Junior High until 1949 when Pershing moved to its own dedicated facility.
Revitalization and Growth
By the 1970s, West University Elementary faced a period of decline. Some described the school as "deteriorating." However, a dedicated group of parents and community members stepped in to revitalize the school in the 1980s. Their efforts restored the school's reputation as a central neighborhood institution. Tim Fleck of the Houston Press noted that West University parents reshaped West University Elementary, which he described as "deteriorating", into "a community focal point that kept many West U children in public school through the fifth grade."
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The school's positive trajectory continued into the 1990s. In 1994, following the opening of The Rice School, West U’s attendance zone expanded to include Sunset Terrace and Montclair. By this time, West University Elementary School became what Fleck described as "the prototype of how the increasingly minority district could maintain the allegiance of affluent whites" and "a selling point for parents moving into the area." In 1996, a significant 37% of West University Elementary students had transferred from other schools, drawn by its improved reputation and offerings.
Modernization and Expansion
Recognizing the need to accommodate a growing student population and provide modern learning spaces, a major renovation and expansion project was undertaken in 2005-2006. This project, funded by a $9.6 million bond, added 25,000 square feet of new learning space while carefully preserving the school’s historic character.
Academic Programs and Extracurricular Activities
West University Elementary offers a variety of programs designed to meet the diverse needs of its students. WUES offers a Magnet program that is a Math, Science and Technology School-Wide Program (SWP). The school also provides gifted and talented classes. To advance to each grade level, students must maintain a yearly average of 70 or above.
West University Elementary follows HISD standards for working with students with special needs. The school offers West U Hands On Art monthly to students during the school day, led by parent volunteers. This program allows students to learn about artists and create artwork using a variety of materials.
The school also provides access to technology with 280 computers, including 150 PCs and 130 Macs.
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Extracurricular activities are an important part of the WUES experience. The school offers clubs such as Monthly Mustang, No Place for Hate, Chess Club, and Name That Book. Community service opportunities include Shoes That Fit and UNICEF K.I.N.D. For the Shoes That Fit project, students donate thousands of shoes and socks to 13 elementary schools. For K.I.N.D., or Kids In Need of Desks, the students raise money to purchase desks for children in Malawi.
Parent and Community Involvement
Parents play a vital role in the success of West University Elementary. The PTO is actively involved in various initiatives, including the Shoes That Fit and UNICEF K.I.N.D. service projects, along with the Pony Express newsletter and annual events. Parents can also host Sociables, which are parties for either parents or students to meet, greet and raise money for the PTO.
West University Place: A Brief Overview
Understanding the history of West University Elementary requires understanding the context of the city it serves. West University Place is surrounded by the cities of Bellaire, Houston, and Southside Place. The city was developed in 1917 by Ben Hooper, a former Tennessee governor. In the 1920s, Lillian "Lilly" Nicholson, a Rice University English major, helped name the streets of West University Place, drawing inspiration from her English literature books. This explains why many streets in West University Place are named after authors.
The City of West University Place was declared incorporated on January 2, 1924. This decision was driven by Houston's reluctance to extend power lines to the area. Unlike Houston Heights, West University Place did not consolidate into the City of Houston. In 1939, the municipality refused to consolidate, later adopting a formal city charter the following year.
Prior to 1992 West University Place liberalized its development rules. This allowed developers to build new houses within the city. As new houses appeared, property values increased and the city began to get more tax revenue.
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West University Place is located at 29°42′57″N 95°25′59″W. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 2.0 square miles (5.2 km2), all land. The city's boundaries are Kirby Drive to the east, Union Pacific St. Louis Southwestern Railway railroad track to the west, Bellaire Boulevard/West Holcombe Boulevard to the south, and Bissonnet and Law Streets to the north.
As of the census, there were 14,787 people, 5,260 households, and 4,264 families residing in the city. The population density was 7,393.5 inhabitants per square mile (2,854.6/km2). There were 5,543 housing units at an average density of 2,771.5 per square mile (1,070.1/km2).
Education in West University Place
Pupils who live in West University Place are zoned to West University Elementary School in West University Place, Pershing Middle School in the Braeswood Place neighborhood of Houston, and Lamar High School in the Upper Kirby district of Houston.
St. St. Other nearby parochial schools and private schools include the School of St. Vincent De Paul Catholic Church in Houston (adjacent to the city limits), St. John's School in Houston, Episcopal High School in Bellaire, St. Francis Episcopal Day School (Texas) in Piney Point, and The Post Oak School with campuses in Bellaire and Houston. Local Catholic schools for girls include Incarnate Word Academy, St. Agnes Academy and Duchesne Academy, and are joined by the all-boys schools of Strake Jesuit and St. Thomas High School.
Community and City Services
The City of West University Place operates under the Council-Manager form of government. The council contains the mayor and four city council members. The city council, elected on a non-partisan basis, is elected during the first Saturday in the May of every odd-numbered year. Each member serves a term of two years.
The West University Place Fire Department is headquartered at 3800 University Boulevard. The West University Place Police Department is also now headquartered at 3800 University Boulevard following a large two-story addition completed in the summer of 2011.
The Harris County Public Library system operates the West University Branch Library in West University Place. The library opened in a section of the West University Community Center in 1942.
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