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School History

Leo Marcell Elementary School is named in honor of Mr. Leo Marcell, who served as the business manager for Mission CISD for twenty-six years, from 1929 to 1955. A remarkable individual, Mr. Marcell oversaw one of the most significant periods of growth in the district's long history. During the 1950s, school officials decided to recognize individuals who had served the district with loyalty and integrity, rather than just famous figures. In 1953, the district announced that the new elementary school on the west side of the city would bear his name: Leo Marcell Elementary School. After retiring from the school district in 1955, Mr. Marcell continued his service to the community as City Secretary until his health declined. He passed away on August 26, 1966, and is buried in Laurel Hill Cemetery, just a few blocks from the school that honors him.

The school is located at the corner of 10th Street and Holland Avenue and was built in 1953 under the leadership of Superintendent Mr. J. Mil Auld. When Leo Marcell Elementary School first opened its doors in December 1953, it featured fifteen classrooms serving grades one through six, with fourteen teachers and approximately two hundred seventy-five enrolled students. Mr. C. Virgil Ballard was the first principal, serving for one and a half years. Over the years, Marcell has experienced steady growth in student enrollment, which is currently around 400 students. The school has expanded to include twenty-five classrooms, a Learning Resources Center, a cafeteria, school office, as well as staff members dedicated to special education, music, and technology.