Royal Public Schools, a new, neighborhood-based charter school, is getting its new campus ready to welcome students in August 2021. The campus is a historic building on the Southside of San Antonio, and is currently being renovated to offer 21st-century learning in a 100-year-old building. The team at Royal Public Schools is ready to meet with new families who are interested in enrolling their children at this innovative new school.
Royal Public Schools Campus
Royal Public Schools has acquired an existing school property at 4018 S. Presa St. San Antonio, TX 78223 (map). One hundred years ago, this campus was established as St. Teresa’s Academy, and the buildings have retained a sense of historic grandeur. More recently, the building served as a campus for K–8 students for a charter school network that still operates an early college high school.
During the summer of 2021, construction is underway to get the campus ready to welcome students in grades K–2 in August 2021. As we explained in our enrollment guide blog post, Royal Public Schools will serve students in grades K–2 in its first year, expanding each year until it becomes a full K–12 campus. They will keep growing to form a cluster of campuses on the Southside of San Antonio.
Future phases of development will expand the campus facilities so that they can serve elementary, middle, and high school students. The property has frontage on South Presa Street, but extends eastward almost to South Hackberry Street. Much of this space is not yet being used to serve educational purposes.
As you can see from this rendering, the historic academy building on Presa will remain, but will be renovated. According to Principal Rebecca Hines, the windows are currently being replaced, and the student bathrooms are being overhauled. The frontage along Presa is being re-worked with a driveway to allow for safer drop-off and pick-up of students.
Behind the academy building, students will have access to open spaces and large trees. Where there is now a shaded pavilion for playing sports, there will be a permanent building with four walls. The existing portable classroom buildings will remain in use in the short run, but are not part of the long-term plan.
Along Fair Avenue, a low, residential-style building is currently being used as district headquarters. This summer, the staff are working hard to prepare for the school year, and families are welcome to visit in person to apply for enrollment.
Further east, towards Hackberry, is where a new building will rise to serve as a middle school and high school. This part of the campus will also have sports fields for students, and those fields will also be open to the community. The campus will have additional parking on site.
The facility on Presa has many unique features. In addition to the historic architecture, including lofty auditorium spaces, there is a large commercial kitchen that can serve meals not just to the students at Royal Public Schools, but to students at partner schools as well.
It will take time for the campus on Presa to reach its potential, but construction is moving fast this summer, and they will be ready in August 2021 to welcome their first group of students in grades K–2.
Enrolling at Royal Public Schools
While the construction and renovation is underway, the Royal Public Schools team is busy reaching out to families to share about the new school. “We want parents to see a place where their students will belong,” said Principal Rebecca Hines. Royal Public Schools will have a small school community, but it will also have a culture of excellence.
Royal Public Schools will offer an innovative learning model, STREAMS 360, that incorporates science, technology, reading, arts, math, and social emotional learning. The daily schedule will include the Royal Block, a 90-minute period where each student will receive personalized learning to help close gaps. The leaders of Royal Public Schools are committed to a process of continuous improvement so they can best serve their students and the community.
This summer, while the team is getting ready to open in August 2021 serving grades K–2, they are still accepting applications for enrollment. Here are some good ways to connect with Royal Public Schools:
- Visit their website at royaltx.org and fill out an online application.
- Call the district office at 210-531-0300.
- Email info@royaltx.org or fill out the contact form.
- Stop by the district headquarters, located along Fair Avenue between South Hackberry and South Presa, during business hours (8:30 AM to 5:00 PM) or make an appointment to meet at another time.
- Meet them out in the community at places like PicaPica Plaza. Find out about upcoming appearances on their Facebook page.
Find more information about Royal Public Schools in our enrollment guide blog post and in the San Antonio Charter Moms discussion group on Facebook.
Charter Moms Chats
Rebecca Hines, Principal at Royal Public Schools, joins Inga Cotton on Charter Moms Chats on July 15, 2021 at 4:00 PM Central live on Facebook and YouTube.
Hi! My name is Rebecca Hines, and I am the proud Founding Principal at Royal Public Schools. It is an honor to serve the community as the principal of Royal Public Schools! I began my journey in education 28 years ago as a second-grade teacher. I have had the privilege of teaching children in elementary and middle schools. As a school administrator, I have spent the last 16 years coaching, mentoring, and leading teachers to reach their highest potential so that they can have an educational impact on our children.
I feel blessed to have served families in rural and urban communities in traditional school districts and charter schools.
Although I am a certified principal, my heart began and remained in teaching. I am a certified reading teacher and a certified generalist teacher for grades 1 through 8. I received my bachelor’s degree from The University of Texas—Pan American. Furthering my education, I obtained my master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction and my principalship certification from The University of Texas at El Paso.
I enjoy my daughter Katherine, a junior at Angelo State University, in my spare time. My son Ruben, my daughter-in-law Grace, and my beautiful granddaughter Corinth. Additionally, I enjoy reading, dancing, and gardening.
Read More About Royal Public Schools
- “New charter school debuting in August gives Southside families another educational option,” Jim Lefko, News 4 San Antonio, June 7, 2021
- “Guide to Enrolling in Royal Public Schools in San Antonio for 2021–2022,” San Antonio Charter Moms, December 15, 2020
- “Get to Know Royal Public Schools, Coming to Southside San Antonio in 2021,” San Antonio Charter Moms, August 31, 2020
