Our History

In 2025-2026, West University Elementary is celebrating it's Centennial Anniversary! Here's to 100 years, Mustangs!

West University Elementary School opened in 1925 to serve the rapidly growing community of West University Place. While the main building was still under construction, students were temporarily housed in nearby facilities, including Southside Place’s sales office. The school’s original Spanish-Renaissance building, designed by architect Lamar Cato and funded by a $55,000 bond, was completed in 1928 on land donated by D.T. Austin and W.D. Haden. In its early years, West University Elementary shared a campus with Pershing Junior High until Pershing moved to its own facility in 1949. By the 1970s and 1980s, the school’s condition had deteriorated, but committed parents and community members led revitalization efforts that restored its reputation as a central neighborhood school. In 1994, following the opening of The Rice School, West U’s attendance zone expanded to include Sunset Terrace and Montclair. A major renovation and expansion occurred in 2005–2006, funded by a $9.6 million bond, which added 25,000 square feet of new learning space and preserved the school’s historic character. Today, West University Elementary remains a symbol of tradition, community, and academic excellence in Houston.

Source: West U Elementary PTO History