“Oiler Man” stands proudly at Pearland High School. He embodies the spirit of this institution, more than just a mascot. Pearland High School, located south of Houston, has been shaping young minds since 1937. Originally, Pearland students had to travel to Webster for high school. Imagine that commute! Then, in 1937, this school opened its doors, initially serving students from 1st through 12th grade. Pearland High School’s first graduating class celebrated in 1938, with Beatrice Woods, later Beatrice Woods Theriot, as valedictorian.
Pearland High School has seen a few moves in its time. From its original location on Grand Boulevard, it relocated to Galveston Avenue in 1953. The Grand Boulevard site became C.J. Harris Elementary. Finally, in 1991, Pearland High School found its current home on South Main Street. The Galveston Avenue location now houses the Pearland Historical Society, a Brazoria County Tax Office annex, Pearland Junior High School West Campus, and Leon H. Sablatura Middle School.
Now, about that “Oiler Man.” Contrary to local lore, he isn’t a nod to the Houston Oilers football team. Pearland High School predates the football team by 25 years! The mascot actually honors the oil industry’s vital role in the local economy. Even today, businesses in Pearland connect to the oil industry. Some even provide helicopter services to offshore oil wells in the Gulf of Mexico.
The current campus boasts two main buildings. The original 1991 structure, the South Campus, accommodates 2,200 students and houses the auditorium, two gymnasiums, vocational shops, and athletic locker rooms. In 1998, the North Campus, now named after longtime reading teacher Sheryl Searcy, opened. This building holds three gymnasiums, a teaching theater, a broadcast studio, and a cafeteria. It can hold 1,750 students.
Pearland High School’s student body grew so much that Glenda Dawson High School opened in 2007. This helped ease overcrowding at Pearland High. In 2010, the Pearland Oilers football team achieved a perfect 16-0 season, culminating in a stunning victory over the Euless Trinity Trojans in the Texas 5A State Football Championship. Pearland High School also boasts a rich history of notable alumni, including rapper Megan Thee Stallion, and NFL player Derek Parish. They even have their own punk band, The Judy’s, among their alumni. And, a fun fact, the Pearland High School marching band proudly performed in the 2020 Rose Parade. Pearland High School remains a vibrant part of the community.