Our History

Source: River Oaks Alumi  

River Oaks Elementary opened its wide doors to the first pupils in the fall of 1929, just two months before the stock market crash that signaled the beginning of the Great Depression. But on that sunny day when school first started, eager students and their parents were warmly welcomed by professional educators determined to offer their students a first-rate, progressive education.

The idea of progressive education was important for many of the River Oaks leaders. Miss Ima Hogg, along with two other socially prominent activists, Agnese Carter and Pat Houston, originally planned to found a private school. However, intrigued by then Superintendent Dr. E. E. Oberholtzer’s vision, they decided to support the local public school, River Oaks Elementary and took an active role in its inception and development. Mrs. Carter, mother of twin girls who enrolled in the first grade in 1929, became the first president of the first PTA, then called the Supplementary Aids Committee. At the time, funding for elementary schools was severely limited. Thanks to the aggressive fundraising efforts of Miss Hogg and her friends, the Supplementary Aids Committee supplied each teacher with $10 a month for supplies, decorated and stocked the city’s best elementary school library, and provided funds for music and art appreciation. In addition, the committee was active in selecting the first principal, Eva Margaret Davis, a well-respected educator. Miss Davis was also entranced with the progressive philosophy of River Oaks Elementary School and was delighted to share her love of all the arts with her students until her retirement.  (Source: River Oaks Alumni).  Click here to learn more.

In 2005, River Oaks Elementary became the first of 12 elementary schools in North America to become an International Baccalaureate World School, building on a history rooted in appreciation of the Arts, literature, and strong community support to develop an IB program of inquiry that gives students a global perspective on world communities and events.  The Board of Education for the Houston Independent School District awarded River Oaks a commendation that hangs at the front entrance today, stating in part:

"The Houston Independent School District is pleased to recognize River Oaks Elementary School for being named one of three elementary schools in Texas to recieve  International Baccalaureate (IB) designation.  More than 3,000 applications were received by the IB North America Office in New York.  River Oaks Elementary, along with two other HISD elementary schools, received this prestigious honor."