The Legacy one encounters at the McGhee Elementary School in Channelview ISD today is deeply rooted in its namesake school, that being the original McGhee Elementary School built in 1916 and occupied until 1942. The first McGhee Elementary was constructed as a single-room schoolhouse as the first African-American school established in the State of Texas. During that era, this school not only served as the educational institution in the community but also played a vital role in the community by providing a consistent source of education for the children.

The school was founded by the Joe McGhee Family, which is how the school got its name. The vision for this new McGhee Elementary School was to carry the legacy, established in the early twentieth century, well into the twenty-first century.

Today, as you enter the school’s lobby, you encounter an historic exhibit and a historical learning center, paying tribute to the rich history of this institution. Beyond the lobby, an open well-lit library takes center stage as the heart of the school, designed to offer a multi-dimensional learning experience. It features several levels, cozy niches, with assessable pathways, creating an environment that encourages students to embark on a sensory journey that implores the student’s wellbeing.

McGhee Elementary School has a capacity to accommodate 1,100 students and is also a replacement school for two consolidated elementary schools.