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School History

Northside High School, located in the heart of Houston’s historic Northside community, has been a vital part of the neighborhood since it first opened its doors in 1926 under the former name Jefferson Davis High School. For generations, the school has stood as a cornerstone of education and community pride—producing scholars, athletes, artists, and leaders who have left their mark on Houston and beyond.

Over the decades, Northside has been home to several transformative initiatives. In the 1990s, the school became one of the founding campuses for Project GRAD (Graduation Really Achieves Dreams), a program designed to increase college access and success for traditionally underserved students. Northside students who met academic benchmarks became eligible for college scholarships and participated in summer institutes at local universities—programs that introduced many families to the college pathway for the first time.

Another proud tradition launched in the 1990s was the Academic Letter Jacket program, a way to publicly recognize and celebrate students who demonstrated excellence in the classroom. For the first time, academic achievement was honored with the same level of ceremony and pride as athletic success—helping to build a strong, college-going culture on campus.

Throughout the years, Northside High School has continued to evolve while remaining deeply connected to its community. The campus has produced notable alumni including U.S. Congressman Gene Green, Olympic medalist boxer Rocky Juárez, and NBA Hall-of-Famer Slater Martin, among others.

Today, Northside High School carries forward a proud legacy of academic achievement, community service, and Panther pride. We currently offer six Career and Technical Education (CTE) Pathways:

  • Audio Visual Production
  • Business/Entrepreneurship
  • Culinary Arts
  • Digital Media
  • Hotel Management
  • Networking Technology

Northside High School also proudly offers a high number of Advanced Placement (AP), Dual Credit, and OnRamps classes where students can earn college credits. In addition, students can choose from many of our championship Athletics and expressive Fine Arts.

With nearly a century of history behind it, the school remains focused on igniting excellence for generations to come.