Ever wondered how a school gets its name? Furr High School has a story. This isn’t just any name. It’s a tribute to Ebbert L. Furr. He was the landholder. Furr High School stands on his former property.
Let’s step back to 1960. The district broke ground. By fall 1961 Furr High School opened its doors. The school quickly became a part of the Houston Independent School District. It serves students in grades 9 through 12.
Furr High School sits next to Hermann Brown Park. It is also near the Songwood subdivision. Before 2000, Furr served a larger area. The opening of Chávez High School changed that. Some of Furr’s territory was reassigned.
Furr is home to the META Magnet Program. META stands for Mindful Exploration of Technology and the Arts. Before 2007, Furr had an international studies magnet program.
The HISD charter school REACH Charter is at Furr too.
After 2002, the Furr High School yearbook stopped. The last one lost about $3,000.
Bertie Simmons became principal in 2000. She had retired from teaching. Her granddaughter’s death changed her mind. Simmons led Furr for many years. In 2003, a riot broke out at Furr High School. Instead of punishment, Simmons talked with the students. They did not believe the September 11 attacks happened. Simmons took them to New York City.
In 2010, the Houston Press named Simmons best principal. She stayed longer than many urban school principals.
Around 2010, some students from Honduras were gang members. By 2016, they were gone.
Terry Grier gave Simmons an award in 2015. This was despite some past disagreements.
Furr won the Super School competition in 2016. Laurene Powell Jobs organized it. Furr received a $10 million grant. The school planned to improve teaching. Simmons created a “thinkery room” for conflict mediation. She also wanted a community center.
In 2017, HISD suspended Simmons. They accused her of disobeying uniform rules. They also said she threatened students with a baseball bat. Simmons said it was a joke. Students even gave her an engraved bat. Her lawyer claimed HISD wanted to replace her with a non-Hispanic white principal. He also said they wanted to take the grant money. Students protested Simmons’ suspension.
In 2018, HISD said some administrators changed grades. The board fired Simmons. She sued the district. She claimed age and race discrimination. Simmons got a $100,000 settlement. She donated the money and wrote a memoir.
After Simmons left, the community center never happened. The “thinkery room” was changed. Suspension rates increased.
By 2017, Furr used an escape room for teacher interviews. This helped find hidden qualities.
In 2017, Furr created a separate program for 9th graders. Furr also started “Genius Time.” These were elective classes for students to explore interests.
Tutorials happen during the school day. Many students take the bus.
In 2022-2023, Furr had 1,173 students. Most students live nearby.
At one time, Furr had school uniforms. Bertie Simmons said uniforms were needed because of gangs. HISD suspended uniforms after Hurricane Harvey.
Furr serves many neighborhoods. These include Clinton Park and Pleasantville. It also serves part of Jacinto City.
Several elementary schools feed into Furr High School. Holland Middle School is the main feeder.
Anthony Young is a notable Furr High School alumnus. He played professional baseball.
So, as you stand here, remember Ebbert L. Furr. Remember Bertie Simmons. Remember the students who walked these halls. Furr High School is more than just a building. It’s a story of land, leadership, and learning.