History
Half a mile from Interstate-10, a major U.S. highway, and one of the most traveled thoroughfares in the city of Houston, is Memorial Drive Elementary, (MDE) a neighborhood school located in the Spring Branch Independent School district.
Middle to upper income families reside here, most of whom are college educated, and who esteem learning, and value highly, a good education. The Pre- K through grade 5 student population includes special education, at-risk, gifted/talented, and minority students. A myriad of cultures enrich our school.
Built in 1949, the school, the second oldest in the district, is a one-story brick structure with four wings, comprised of self-contained classrooms. Recent additons include a full-size gym and library both of which flank the eastern end of the facility.
The school is located on 10 wooded acres of land. Playgrounds and a track circling two baseball fields behind the school are enjoyed by classes during the school day, and are popular recreational areas for MDE's families, as well as the entire community. MDE's prized benches, picnic tables and recent landscape additions create a nurturing, park-like environment. Little would one dream that the hubbub of the city is so near.
The school and the Piney Point community share a history together, and are bound by ties that run deep. For years, in the evenings, the Piney Point Incorporated Village government met at MDE, and court was held here, as well. Others in the community have been coming to the school through the years for scout meetings, baseball games, or voting.
Many former students return to visit, or to attend an annual event such as the Fall Festival or Book Fair. On its 40th and 50th birthday, the school hosted celebrations in which former students, parents and teachers, returned to recount good times and warm memories of MDE. More recent traditions include: Spirit Days, Western Day, PTA Appreciation Assembly, and Fifth Grade Graduation.
On the one hand, MDE offers a small town atmosphere in the midst of America's largest city; on the other hand, MDE is well suited to "Space City," a place where NASA's vision and "can do" spirit have realized the dreams of a nation, for we have dreams, too.