School History

Wesley Elementary School History

Wesley Elementary proudly bears the name of Mabel B. Wesley, a trailblazing educator born into slavery in Montgomery County, Texas. Ms. Wesley broke historic ground as the first African American female principal in Houston ISD, leading Crawford School. Throughout her career, she served at Chaneyville School, Hollywood School, and Booker T. Washington School, often juggling both teaching and administrative responsibilities. In 1910, she became principal of Hollywood School. Despite no formal degree being required early in her career, she earned a bachelor’s degree from Prairie View A&M University in 1930 at the age of 60, driven by her belief that she should be as qualified as the educators she supervised. Her legacy continued through her son, Carter Wesley, who became publisher of the Houston Informer newspaper.

In response to strong community advocacy, Wesley Elementary was approved for a new location and permanent campus in 1945. The school officially opened its doors on September 30, 1949.

To address overcrowding and discontinue the need for busing, HISD established new school boundaries and created two separate campuses. Highland Heights Elementary remained at the original location, while Wesley Elementary emerged as a dedicated institution in its own right.

In 1993, Wesley Elementary received national acclaim by earning the A+ for Breaking the Mold Award from the U.S. Department of Education—an honor highlighting innovation and excellence in education. In 1998, the school gained further recognition when it was featured on The Oprah Winfrey Show during a segment celebrating outstanding schools.