History of Goliad Junior High School in Galveston, Texas forgotten.

Goliad Junior High School is one of the few forgotten schools of Galveston, Texas that was operated by Galveston ISD. Not very much is known about this Galveston ISD school. Its own history seems to have been forgotten. Not many people knew that Goliad Junior High School (Goliad School) was first known as the 3rd District School before being renamed to Goliad School.


One half of Goliad School aka Goliad Elementary School was converted into a junior high school called Goliad Junior High School in 1947 during the 1947-1948 school year. Both schools were in the same building. Galveston ISD made ensured both schools used the same building. Goliad Junior High School was established. Galveston News reported Goliad Junior High School as being “a junior high school for negro children”. (Ref: Galveston News, 8-B, October 7, 1962)

R. F. Sterling served as the principal of Goliad Junior High School throughout much of its time of operation. He served as principal until Goliad Junior High School was closed by Galveston ISD. (Ref: https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/30144620/)

The installation of a boiler was added at Goliad school on a bid of $15,985 in 1962. A roof was installed and repaired at Goliad Elementary School in 1963.


A report of the education committee includes a discussion of the proposed closing of Goliad School was reported in the Galveston Daily in 1973. However nothing happened. Goliad School still continued to operate. (Ref: Galveston Daily, Page 6, Saturday, March 17, 1973)

Goliad School was deemed inferior physically and academically by the Galveston ISD school board in 1975. This led to school district to facilitate plans on closing both schools and relocating students into other schools.

Goliad Junior High School was 94% black before closing. Racial imbalance and aging infrastructure are the reasons why Goliad Junior High School closed as mandated by the Brown vs. the Board of Education decision. (Ref: Galveston Daily, Page 2, Thursday, May 28, 1981)

Both schools were sold at the end of 1978. The Galveston ISD School Board accepted the high bids for the sale of Lovenberg Junior High School and Goliad Elementary School on the night of Wednesday, December 6, 1978. Thomas J. Green, of Green's Funeral Home, had the highest bid of $62,000 for the Goliad School. (Ref: Galveston Daily News, Page 1, Thursday, December 7, 1978)

Sometime before 1994 is when Goliad Junior High School was demolished. By 1995, all that was left was a vacant field of grass. In 1997, Galveston Housing Authority's Hoskins Square low-cost home development/subdivision was built and developed on the old Goliad School site at 30st Street and Avenue K. Funding was through the Public Housing Assistance Corp. of the Galveston Housing Authority. Nearly 21 homes were built on the site at the one-block area.

Today nothing remains of the former Goliad Junior High School site. All remnants have been paved over and removed from vicinity.


Goliad School was located at 30th Street and Avenue L, Galveston, Texas, US 77550.