History of Romana Street School in San Antonio, Texas explored.

Romana Street School is one of the lesser known schools of San Antonio, Texas. Hardly any history related to this school can be found or discovered anywhere. This news article will explore and explain the history behind Romana Street School.

Romana Street School was established as a public school in 1892 by San Antonio ISD to serve primary grades and secondary grades similar to how Center Street School did. Romana Street School would open in late 1892 during the 1892-1893 school year on the Main Avenue High School property. The school building was original 2 stories. A third story was later constructed on top of the school to accommodate the growing student population. The floor on top of the second floor (2nd floor) was the third floor (3rd floor). Romana Street School was a 3-story building by 1893. There were windows on all sides. Romana Street School was known as Romana Street School No. 1 then.

The student population was 45% white and 55% Hispanic. The school was regarded as a “Mexican school” due to the high Hispanic population. Rates of enrollment at this school were very high.

Romana Street School was comfortably filled in 1904 due to the new buildings and additions that were constructed that year. A single story building facing south of Romana Street was constructed that year. (Ref: A Twentieth Century History of Southwest Texas, Volume 1)

“The additions and new buildings are comfortably filled, and we are obliged to maintain half-day sessions in Schools No. 1 (Romana Street), No. 2 (Marshall Street), No. 3 (Avenue E), No. 4 (Mason Street), No. 8 (San Fernando Street), No. 12 (Starr Street),”

 
The single story building facing south of Romana Street was the manual training building for Romana Street School. This building provided vocational education training for minors. Professional training was offered at the manual training for Romana Street School. This building was bounded Efron’s lot and Main Avenue High School. (Ref: https://books.google.com/books?id=dxMzAAAAYAAJ&pg=RA4-PA42&lpg=RA4-PA42&dq=%22Romana+Street%22+School%22)

The school stopped appearing on maps after 1922. Romana Street School closed down sometime in 1923 around the 1923-1924 school year. The exact reasons as to why Romana Street School closed down are highly unknown. Today Romana Street School serves as the San Antonio Day Care Center right behind the music hall for Fox Technical High School.

Romana Street School was located at 216 West Romana Street, San Antonio, Texas, US 78205. The original address for Romana Street School was 637 North Main Avenue, San Antonio, Texas, US 78205.