Tomball Memorial High School Named State and National School of Character

TOMBALL — Tomball Memorial High School has been recognized by Character.org as both a 2026 State and National School of Character, an honor awarded to schools that demonstrate an exceptional commitment to developing a culture where students grow academically while also building strong character.

“This recognition reflects the values we live every day,” said Principal Jennifer Collier. “It affirms the culture we’ve built together and the commitment of our students, staff, and families to lead with integrity, empathy, and accountability.”

This year, Character.org recognized 103 schools and districts worldwide, including 94 across the United States and nine international schools. Schools earning this distinction exemplify the organization’s 11 Principles Framework for Schools, a research-based model focused on fostering ethical values, strong relationships, and meaningful opportunities for students to practice character in action.

At Tomball Memorial, that commitment is evident in the school’s BECATS framework—Build Confidence, Earn Respect, Create Community, Act with Integrity, Take Responsibility, and Strive for Excellence—which serves as the foundation for campus culture.

“We wanted something simple, meaningful, and truly reflective of our students,” Collier said. “BECATS has become a shared language across our campus—not just something we say, but something we see every day.”

BECATS is intentionally woven into daily campus life and serves as a consistent expectation for both students and staff. Teachers reinforce these values through strong relationships, advisory lessons, and student-led initiatives, ensuring character development is consistently modeled and practiced across all settings.

Character.org’s evaluation highlighted Tomball Memorial’s strength in embedding core values into every aspect of the school experience. Rather than existing as a standalone program, character education is fully integrated into instruction, expectations, and campus culture.

“The most powerful parts of our culture are often the quiet ones,” Collier said. “It’s students holding doors, teachers greeting every student by name, and everyday actions that reflect who we are.”

Students play a key role in sustaining this culture, with opportunities to lead, serve, and apply ethical decision-making in real-world contexts. Programs such as Hope Squad further strengthen a supportive environment by empowering students to support one another and promote mental health awareness and peer connection.

“We see students as the heartbeat of our campus,” Collier said. “They model expectations, support each other, and carry our culture forward in ways that make it real and lasting.”

While the recognition affirms the school’s strong foundation, the evaluation also provided feedback to guide continued growth. Areas of focus include strengthening hiring and onboarding practices around BECATS values, expanding student reflection through goal-setting and portfolios, and deepening restorative practices that emphasize growth, responsibility, and repairing harm.

“We are always working to grow,” Collier said. “Our goal is consistency—so students experience the same values in every classroom, activity, and interaction, and understand what it means to be part of the Wildcat community.”

Schools recognized at the national level serve as models of excellence, demonstrating how character can be fully integrated into academics, relationships, leadership, and community engagement. Tomball Memorial’s work not only impacts its own students but also provides inspiration and guidance for other schools seeking to build strong cultures of character.

With a composite score of 3.6 across the 11 Principles and no scores in key deficiency ranges, Tomball Memorial met the criteria for both State and National designation.

“Schools of Character show us what is possible when a community commits to building a culture grounded in empathy, responsibility, and perseverance,” said Nicole Diehl, Executive Director of Schools of Character at Character.org. “Tomball Memorial High School exemplifies this commitment and serves as a powerful example for schools everywhere.”

As Tomball Memorial celebrates this achievement, the campus remains focused on strengthening its culture through continuous improvement—ensuring every student leaves not only prepared for academic success, but equipped with the character and leadership skills to make a positive impact in their community.

ABOUT TOMBALL ISD
Tomball ISD educates students to become responsible, productive citizens by providing innovative, individually rigorous, and personally valuable educational experiences. Founded in 1908, Tomball ISD now encompasses 83 square miles in northwest Harris County and southwest Montgomery County, and is located approximately 30 miles from downtown Houston. The district currently educates over 23,000 students across 25 campuses.