West Side Elementary School

West Side Elementary School. . , The first public schooling for Mexican American students in Palacios dates to 1923, when a single room was set aside for them to receive an education. For first through third grades, most students with a Hispanic surname would be taught in this "Mexican room" with a focus on learning English. Once they were considered to be proficient speakers, the students would move into fourth grade with the white students. Carolyn Sunshine Edwards (1922-2004) and Elizabeth Sisson (1910-1998) were among the first teachers specifically for the Mexican students. In 1936, the number of students had outgrown the single room they had been using, prompting the construction of a proper "Mexican school" for the following year. , the completion of the school allowed the Mexican American students to become more involved in the Palacios community. The children would have an opportunity to participate in programs and stage performances. The school was expanded again in 1942 to accommodate for the growing number of students. , In 1951, it was found that West Side Elementary School would need a significant amount of funding to continue operation. The facility still lacked many modern features, and it was decided that it would simply be more efficient to transfer the students to another elementary school in town than spend the resources to update the facilities. While fully integrated schools were still a few years off, it was agreed that the Mexican American students could share classrooms with their white peers. The school officially closed in 1952. During its time, West Side Elementary School was a vital part of the town's Mexican American community.