Allen School pioneered many of Houston’s progressive movements. It was the first school in Houston to have a women as a principal, Miss Lila Baugh.  It was the first elementary school in Houston to start a modern kindergarten financed by “The Woman’s Club” and later by the “Mother’s Club.”  First to establish domestic science and manual training departments in the elementary school and it had the first playground equipment with a paid play supervisor.

Much of the success of the school in its early organization was due to the fine administrative ability of the principal, Lila Baugh, teachers like Blanche Higginbotham, Earl G. McCotter and other citizen organizations such as “The Women’s Club” and the “Mother’s Club.”

There were 14 classrooms, library, auditorium, one teacher and one secretary. The building was considered one of the finest in the city with good architectural design, durable material and spaciousness.

The stone sundial that resided in the front of J. Will Jones School for several years was a gift from Margaret Kinkaid from her friends in memory of her deceased son.  Hunter Kinkaid attended Allen School. Mrs. Margaret Kinkaid was a Houston Public school teacher who later started a private school at the corner of Elgin and San Jacinto Streets. Kinkaid School is presently located on Memorial Drive at Kinkaid Drive.

Mrs. Bessie M. Hickman, the principal of J. Will Jones School was kind enough, with the help of the Houston Independent School District, to give the monument to Kinkaid School.

After many years of service, Allen School building was used as Jack Yates High School Annex.

In September 1956, because of the over-crowded conditions at Blackshear, students from both Blackshear and Dunbar Elementary Schools were sent to this facility. Later in the same month, the building was named J. Will Jones School for Mr. J. Will Jones, who was the first Black Music Director in the Houston Public School System.

Ten years later, in 1966, a thirteen room annex was added with a lovely courtyard between it and the main building. Mrs. Irene Stone was the first principal of this facility. It was through the capability of Mrs. Stone that J. Will Jones School was officially organized.

With the aid of a competent faculty, the school became the cultural center of the neighborhood. Literary programs, outdoor May Day activities, symposiums, operettas and organizations were formed to instill good citizenship and leadership in the children.

Since Mrs. Stone’s principalship, there have been seven other principals.  Mrs. Juanite Warren, Mr. Roland Brown, Mrs. Mattelia Grays, Mrs. Marian A. Harper, Mrs. Janet Martin, Mrs. Bessie Hickman, Mrs. Mary Denmon and Mr. Brian Flores.

On August 30, 1976, J. Will Jones Elementary became a Magnet School providing CORE curriculum in Reading, Mathematics and Science as well as opportunities for the students to receive instruction in Music, Art and Physical Education from specialists in these areas.

In the school year 1976-1977, Jones School boasted 25 classrooms, a library, gym, cafeteria, teacher’s lounge, teacher’s workroom and several offices.

Today, our extended Magnet Program serves 135 students who begin instruction at 3:30pm and end at 4:45pm. These children are involved in Gymnastics, Piano, Violin, Ballet, Arts & Crafts, Journalism, Video Production, Guitar, in-depth Art instruction and Language Arts.

Our current enrollment is 330 students. Under the principalship of Mr. Brian R. Flores, J. Will Jones has not only moved from a TEA unacceptable school to an acceptable rating with recognized and exemplary status on the horizon. J. Will Jones recently was awarded the State of Texas Governor’s Excellence in Education Award for outstanding improvement in reading and math. Only 100 schools in Texas received this prestigious award.