View Frenship Memorial Ribbon Cutting Photo Album Here
Hundreds of community members, staff, and parents were welcomed by Frenship Memorial cheer, pom and the Panther mascots. The ceremony also featured performances of the National Anthem by the Panther choir and the Frenship Memorial school and fight songs by the Panther band. To add to the celebration, two Frenship Memorial football captains, Dirks Soto and David Valdez, emceed the ceremony.
“I don’t think we realized how special it was to be a part of the process of helping make the decisions like the colors and mascot,” said Soto. “But now, walking into this incredible building, we feel lucky and grateful to be a part of the history and first graduating class of Frenship Memorial.”
After the ceremony, guests took a tour of the new 550,000+ square foot campus that currently serves 1,100 students in grades 9-10 for the first year. Students like Soto and Valdez will be the first to graduate as the Class of 2028.
“It's everything and more than we ever thought it would be,” said Valdez who served on the Frenship Memorial Spirit Committee. “I’m proud to say that one day I can look back when our kids are at Memorial and know that I helped make these decisions that will last another 90 years.”
The journey to opening Frenship Memorial began more than six years ago. A 2019 Long-Range Facilities Planning committee made up of community members, business owners, parents, staff, and students, studied demographic reports, enrollment projections, and growth across the Frenship district. Based on that information, the recommendation was made to build a second high school to keep up the growth and alleviate crowding at the Ninth Grade Center and Frenship High School.
In November of 2020, Frenship voters agreed and approved a bond to build Ridgewood Elementary, Alcove Trails Middle School, and Frenship Memorial High School. Now six years after that recommendation, Frenship serves more than 12,000 students across 16 campuses.
“The journey we have traveled that led us to this celebration is a master class in resilience and courage. This beautiful school will always be a tangible reminder of the unshakeable determination of the community that built it,” said Dr. Michelle McCord, Frenship ISD Superintendent.
To the students and staff like Principal Chelsey Campbell, it is more than just a building. It is the beginning of a new era for Frenship as the Panthers join the Tigers.
“Today marks a milestone in the history of Frenship Memorial High School. We’re not just celebrating the architecture, we’re celebrating the ambition, resilience, and potential of every student who will walk through these doors,” said Campbell during the ceremony. “This school was built with purpose. Every classroom, every hallway, every detail reflects our commitment to excellence, and opportunity for our students. This is not just a building to us, this is a place where our students will learn, grow, and become the leaders of tomorrow.”