SCHOOLS IN 5TH WARD
Phillis Wheatley High School in the Fifth Ward serves almost all of the Fifth Ward. Wheatley first opened at 3415 Lyons Avenue in the former McGowan Elementary School building on January 31, 1927. In 1927 Wheatley High School was one of the largest Black high schools in the United States with 2,600 students and 60 teachers, and it was such throughout the segregation era.
By 1949 Wheatley's first facility on Lyons Avenue became so overcrowded that students attended in shifts. During that year the 14-acre , $2.5 million 4900 Market Street campus opened. The most expensive high school built in Houston at the time, the campus was designed by the firm MacKie & Kamrath in a Frank Lloyd Wright-influenced modernist style.
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
There were only a few cities in Texas where African Americans could receive a high school education one hundred years ago. In 1893, when Houston’s first high school, known then as Colored High School, opened, students came from all over the city as well as surrounding towns to get their education.
Charles H. Atherton became the first principal of the Houston high school and he stayed in that position for twenty years. Thus, he became a pioneer educator in Texas. Atherton Elementary located in the heart of 5th Ward is named after Charles H. Atherton who became principal of the first “Colored High School” in Houston and remained principal for 20 years. In 2012, the old Atherton Elementary was torn down and the new 15.8 million structure was built. Atherton has a performance rate of stars and an enrollment of 585 students.
​
​
​
​
​
Mickey Leland College Preparatory Academy For Young Men is an above average, public, magnet school located in Houston, TX. It has 457 students in grades 6-12 with a student-teacher ratio of 19 to 1. According to state test scores, 85% of students are at least proficient in math and 86% in reading. The Young Men Preparatory School was named after the late Congressman Mickey Leland.
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
YES Prep Fifth Ward is in one of Houston’s most historic communities, surrounded by incredible talent and creativity. Our school embodies a spirit of collaboration and exists to provide an unbelievable opportunity for growth for our students and teachers. NEXUS! Founded in 2011 serving grades 6 -12, our mission is to embodies a spirit of collaboration and exists to provide an unbelievable opportunity for growth for our students and teachers. NEXUS! Our core values include Integrity, tenacity, trust, social justice.
McReynolds Middle School opened its doors in 1954. We believe STUDENTS are valuable and capable of learning in a safe environment with high expectations that will prepare them to be global learners. We believe that PARENTS expect student growth, safety, academic success and are willing to be involved in the educational process through open lines of communication.
We believe that TEACHERS are valued practitioners who are committed professionals driven by student success and the desire to produce globally successful citizens. We believe that the COMMUNITY expects McReynolds to provide the foundation for creating citizens who can contribute to the positive development of the community now and in the future.
Since 1956, Nathaniel Q. Henderson Elementary has been enriching the lives of its’ students, their families, and the community. Located in Houston's Fifth Ward, Nathaniel Q. Henderson Elementary is continuing in Mr. Nathaniel Q. Henderson’s legacy by being committed to the total development of each child academically, socially, culturally, and morally.
Each child that attends Nat Q. Henderson benefits from a positive learning environment, which includes parental and community involvement. As an HISD recognized school, our curriculum is both challenging and diverse for all students and fosters self-esteem, respect for others, and the qualities of productive citizens. At Nat Q. Henderson, our educational focus is on our students.
Dogan Elementary is an exemplary school for young talent in the Historic Fifth Ward Community. We are located on Liberty Rd. in the North East side of Houston. We have a staff of 54 dedicated educators serving our population of 620 students. We provide quality instruction for grade levels PK-5th Grade.
Each scholar receives rigorous and relevant instruction, with enrichment programs embedded throughout the day. All scholars rotate through Physical Education, Art, STEM Lab, and Science. We provide free breakfast and lunch for all scholars who qualify. After school programs begin in the month of October and range from various activities for students.