1908
1910
1960
HISTORY OF SAM HOUSTON
Sam Houston Math, Science and Technology Center was founded back when the Allen Brothers first landed on the banks of Buffalo Bayou and was newly resurrected in 2008. The school was touted for many years as the second oldest high school in the state of Texas. It is by now surely the oldest high school in the state. Sam Houston is located at 9400 Irvington Blvd. in Houston, Texas. The school houses grades ten through twelve and is part of one of the largest school districts in the state, Houston Independent School District.
SHMSTC is home to the oldest high school newspaper in Texas, the Aegis, established in 1889. The world’s first girls’ Military Drill Squad, initially the Black Battalion named for a former principal who found the squad, F.M. Black; now called the Tigerettes, originated at Sam Houston Math, Science and Technology Center. One of our past presidents, Lyndon B. Johnson taught English and Speech here in the 1920’s.
Sam Houston MSTC is often nicknamed “Sam by its students. It was founded in Downtown Houston officially as a public school in 1878 as Houston Academy. Since then, it has had several name changes.
Houston Academy- 1878 to 1881
Clopper Institute- 1881 to 1886
Houston Normal School- 1886 to 1895
Houston High School- 1895 to 1926
Central High School- 1926 to 1955
Sam Houston High School – 1955 to 2008, after General Sam Houston who is said to have made a speech at the school; while another general’s body lay in state in its main room when located downtown.
Sam Houston Math, Science and Technology Center- 2008 to present in keeping with the name most students were familiar with after the Texas Education Agency ordered the closure of Sam Houston High School for being academically unacceptable for six consecutive years.
Sam Houston Math, Science and Technology Center has been housed in a number of buildings ranging from churches to Masonic Temples. In 1955, Houston High School moved from its Capitol Street location in Downtown to its current location.
