Donna White founded Memorial Hall School in 1966 in order to provide a small, structured, supportive and secure environment where students who had some type of learning disability could study and achieve their greatest potential. Memorial Hall filled a void, which at its beginning was not being totally addressed either in public or other private educational facilities. The student body was drawn from the local Houston and Harris County areas and a few statewide. For the most part, Memorial Hall basically served the local area with the main emphasis of stabilizing the students, enabling them to compensate and achieve and return to mainstream education as quickly as possible.

Since our Southern Association accreditation report in 2002, we have undergone a radical change in the complexion of our student body. Memorial Hall has experienced a tremendous, dynamic, growing influx of International Students. We are now privileged to work with and provide an exciting, structured, personalized educational environment for students from 31 foreign countries. The face of the student body has changed - but the individual needs of the student remain the same - language problems - coupled with one extremely complicated difference - culture shock. Not only must the teachers work with English language problems, but now the educational plan must address an entire world of cultural and social differences.

The students enter Memorial Hall at many different times in their academic careers. The earlier they enter, the more opportunity exists to enable them to establish a sound foundation in English thinking ability and to continue to progress in every academic area. The lack of ability in English is not a handicap but another challenge which might be met and overcome. One of the outstanding characteristics of the International Student is the ability to focus and to expect to achieve and progress with enthusiasm. This is an attitude that is infectious and catching throughout the staff, faculty and among the entire student body, foreign and American.

The school has benefited from its limited size, which provides the staff with the opportunity and responsibility to work with the individual student in a very personal way. The motto of Memorial Hall from the very beginning in 1966 has been -

"A School Where Children Can and Do Learn." This is evidenced in the attitude of the student body on an individual and group basis. They feel they do learn, they will learn and they will succeed. This has been more evident not only in academics but also in the cultural and social areas. It is not enough to give instruction in course material but it is also extremely important to provide a structure to enable the student to mature and develop into an individual who can live, perform and continue to grow in sometimes a totally new and different cultural setting.

The uniqueness of Memorial Hall is emphasized by the fact that we have become and function as "the family" for many of our students. This is true not only for our International or global students, but also for the students of the United States. Memorial Hall is family - from the administrative staff, faculty through the student body. This is evidenced from the personal feedback, which exists - teacher to student - student to teacher - student to student.

The International Student faces an extremely difficult challenge in that he must feel secure enough personally in his knowledge of and his ability to handle English and be capable of understanding instruction in all of his classes. At Memorial Hall, English is not the second language but the first language. It is not enough to verbalize, but to think, function and understand in English in every class not solely in language classes. It is important that each student receives continual reinforcement in every class and that the student continues to make progress in every area.

Although the foregoing paragraphs would appear to speak mainly to the International Student - the need is the same for the American Student. The majority of our student body comes from Houston and the surrounding areas. From the very inception of Memorial Hall the emphasis has been on meeting the needs of the individual student, evaluation of where he/she is and planning an environment and course of study which would enable him/her to achieve his/her goals and dreams. The needs of the students are the same - language - organization - confidence - self-esteem. Countries or geography does not bind these needs.

Evaluations and assessments are done on an individual and personal basis weekly with reports going home to parents and guardians. The education process does not cease when the student goes home but must include close cooperation and involvement with the family.

As Memorial Hall looks to and plans for the future, we do so with much enthusiasm. Since our evaluation in 2002, we have seen the attendance of our graduates in college rise from 70% to almost 100% with many graduates participating in scholarship programs. We must become more involved with parents no matter where their homes may be. Throughout the years the most outstanding characteristic of Memorial Hall School has been the dedication of the administration and faculty and their sincere concern and love which exists with the student body. This is what enables Memorial Hall to continue to be "A School Where Students Can and Do Learn".