Over the past 100 years, school-age children in Pearland have had countless opportunities
for a quality education. Through the insight of citizens in the early years and the efforts
of school boards since 1937, the Pearland Independent School District has kept pace with
the changing trends in education. In reflection 100 years may seem like a long time, but
in actuality the fruits of those who have labored in Pearland are evident. As to the future,
this school district will continue to seek the best education for the children of Pearland.
The first school in Pearland was built in 1894. It opened that fall with 23 students and
one teacher. It was furnished with long benches and wood was burned in boxheaters for
heating. By the end of 1895, Pearland had grown so rapidly that the school expanded to
four classrooms with four teachers and 100 students. However, on September 8, 1900, a
hurricane badly damaged the school and it was the last week in October before school
could resume. When the school year did begin, only 25 students enrolled. Over the next
12 years, school-age children went to various schools in the area, and in 1912 a new
school building was built in Pearland. The building cost $6,000 and had two floors with
a basement.
In 1915, another hurricane destroyed the top floor of the school but the debris was
cleared and school continued to meet on the first level. Then, in the 1930’s, high school
students had to go to Webster to school because the Pearland school burned and Pearland
had no funds to rebuild it. In 1937, another school was built in Pearland for grades one
through 12 and in May, 1938, and home economics cottage was built for $4,000. The
average teacher salary was $100 per month.
Today, the Pearland Independent School District has ten campuses (six elementaries, one
middle school, two junior high school, and one high school), over 8,300 students and 496
teachers. Students are offered a wide range of programs including career and technology,
advanced placement, gifted and talented, special education, at-risk, fine arts, athletics
and many more. The average teacher salary is $28,779.
Pearland continues to experience rapid growth. When school board members and
administrators speak in terms of growth, the numbers are in the hundreds. Enrollment for
1994 - 1995 was appoximately 500 more students than in 1993 - 1994. And, if growth
projections are accurate, the district can continue to see a similar rate of growth for the
next 10 years.
As a result of bond elections in September, 1995 and February, 1996, the district will be
constructing a 9th and 10th grade campus and two elementary schools. Renovations to
three existing buildings will allow the district to reconfigure the grade structure to have
six elementary schools (grades 5 and 6), two junior high schools (grades 7 and 8), a 9th
and 10th grade campus and an 11th and 12th grade campus in a large high school
complex. When the six existing elementary schools reach 90% of capacity, the seventh
elementary school will be built. Construction of the 9th and 10th grade campus is
scheduled for completion and occupancy in the fall of 1998. The new middle school and
one elementary school are scheduled to open for the 1997-98 school year. Other
imrovements will be $3.8 million in technology updates and $400,000 for American With
Disabilities Act additions and renovations.
In the fall of 1995, a new athletic complex was completed at Pearland High School. Six
tennis courts, a softball field, baseball field, a multi-purpose field, track, restrooms,
concession stands, press boxes and sidewalks were completed. These facilities will
allow the district to schedule athletic events for all PISD students in addition to hosting
playoff games and tournaments.
To update curriculum, the high school adopted the mosified block scheduling model
which has proven to be successful and allows students to have a wider variety of course
offerings; the math curriculum is being aligned in grades.
