Dr. Dixie Melillo Middle School

Melillo Middle School opened its doors in 2008 at 9220 Hughes Road in Houston with Diane Wheeler as its principal. At its opening, Melillo was expected to have an enrollment of 700 students. However, 800 students were actually enrolled. At the end of the first school year, a portable building with several classrooms was added to the campus to accommodate the influx of additional students. Two years later, two more portable buildings were added. A few years after the campus opened, the district decided that there was a need for all middle schools to have two gyms in order to prevent any safety issues related to overcrowding and a second gym was built. In 2012, the campus’ fourth year, the enrollment reached over 1,000 students and remained at that level until Fred Roberts Middle School opened in 2015 to alleviate overcrowding. In 2020, the campus’ current enrollment averages around 715 students. 

Melillo is proud of its academic accomplishments and is an AVID-certified campus. The campus has been designated as a “School to Watch” in recognition of their academics and positive learning environment. In addition to academics, the school community is dedicated to helping those in need. Over the years, Melillo has raised thousands of dollars for the Komen Race for the Cure and Pennies4Patients. The campus also collects food and toys for the local community through the South Belt Leader’s annual food and toy drive during Christmas. Melillo’s motto is “Hearts that Care, Hands that Serve and Minds that Think.” Their goal is to live up that motto each day.