South Marshall School came into existence as a result of united efforts of the patrons. The children in this section of town could not attend either West End School (Stephen F. Austin) or East End School (Sam Houston) because of the long distance to walk. Mrs. Kathryn Ruffin and Mrs. Robert Boone were instrumental in arousing patrons to draft a petition to present to the City Commissioners.
This petition action culminated in a $60,000 bond issue in January, 1916, for the purpose of building two new elementary schools: Van Zandt and South Marshall . In February the school board allocated $12,000 of the money for construction of South Marshall School , to be located at the corner of Meadow and Pecan streets. Chesley Adams, former school superintendent, sold a portion of his land to the school board and donated the remainder for the school site. Construction of the building began on May 15. The school opened December 11, 1916 , with an enrollment of 87.
As a result of community growth, it became necessary in 1945 to add four classrooms, clinic, bookroom, restrooms, teachers’ lounge, principal’s office and cafeteria.
Crowding became acute in 1953, and a portable classroom was built on the east side of the campus. Enrollment increased again in 1954, and the clinic and part of the office were used as a classroom until a second portable could be moved in.
In 1962, the construction of nine new classrooms was completed—four extending east from the south end of the building and five from the north end. The old two-story structure was removed. Two classrooms and a library were added beneath the elevated south wing in 1979.
In the fall of 1987, the north wing was expanded to include six classrooms and restrooms for kindergarten and first grade and several portables were removed. Funds came from the 1986 bond issue, which provided $5.5 million for additions to five schools and facilities for administration, food service, maintenance and transportation. In the fall of 1990, South Marshall became the first MISD elementary school to have a gymnasium.
With MISD’s reorganization in 1981, South Marshall School began serving students in grades K–4. Until then, it had been a K–6 school. Head Start classes were taught at the school from fall 1999 to spring 2002.
In 2001-02 Texas Education Agency designated South Marshall “Recognized” for performance on the Texas Assessment of Academic Skills. For exceptional scores on the new Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills in 2003-04, 2004-05 and 2005-06, South Marshall achieved the highest ranking of “Exemplary.” In 2004-05 and 2005-06 it was named to the Just For The Kids/Texas Business and Education Coalition Honor Roll.
