History of Bluff Springs School in Austin, Texas forgotten.

Bluff Springs School is one of the many forgotten schools of Austin/Travis County. Many people do not know of this school or its history. In fact, not many people are even aware of its existence at one point in life. More or so less, the Bluff Springs School has been erased from peoples minds by having faded away with time. Austinites of yesteryear attended Bluff Springs School many years ago.


The Medearis family came to Texas in 1850. George Medaris was a slave who belonged to slaveowner John Medaris. George Medaris was a slave who had an uncommon desire for education. Even before slavery was abolished, his slave owner, John Medaris, allowed George Medaris to purchase 1,000 acres at $2 an acre in the Bluff Springs area sometime in the 1850s. George gave the acreage for a school house and church along with a 7 acre cemetery.

In 1856, a community school called Rhina Branch School was established in the present day Bluff Springs community of Southeast Austin which borders the community of Dove Springs. Bluff Springs School was sometimes known as Rhina Branch School or Reyna Branch School. Bluff Springs School had a large enrollment of 52 students to 104 students and educated students in grades 1 through 8 in a one-room school house setting.

In 1866, Rhina Branch School was renamed to Bluff Springs School. By 1867 during the 1866-1867 school year, Bluff Springs School had 104 students attending school.

Through the schools’ history, Bluff Springs School educated students in grades 1 through 8. After 8th grade, students transferred to Austin High School, Allan High School, St. Johns School, or Creedmoor High School to complete education.


Bluff Springs School had its own school district called School District 39 that was established in 1921 during the 1921-1922 school year. By 1931, Bluff Springs School became an accredited school.

According to the 1932 Travis County Map, Bluff Springs School was located at the intersection of Nuckols Crossing Road & Bluff Springs Road at the exact address of 9140 Nuckols Crossing Road, Austin, Texas, US 78744. Bluff Springs School was located at the intersection Nuckols Crossing Road & Bluff Springs Road where the name of Bluff Springs Road changes to Old Lockhart Road.

In 1932, There was three teachers for 52 students. Enrollment had been slowly declining however due to the Great Depression. Ms. Lucy Upshaw was the principal and teacher for Bluff Springs School. Miss Erma Miller Williams was the head teacher for Bluff Springs School.

Local history buffs Minnie Kincheon Overton and Erma Miller Williams taught at Bluff Springs School in the 1930s.

In 1934 during the 1934-1935 school year, Bluff Springs School had 52 students enrolled with an average daily attendance of 33 students. There was two teachers for 52 students. The cost per year was $650 on average. The rate for each student was $19.69 per student per year that was later increased to $20 per student.

In 1952, Bluff Springs School was consolidated into Austin ISD and its building was sold to a private homeowner for which the schoolhouse still stands today. The Bluff Springs School building was sold in a bid auction in late 1952. The building would become what is now a private residence.


Today Bluff Springs School is now a private residence that has been converted into a home. Bluff Springs School is located at 9140 Nuckols Crossing Road, Austin, Texas, US 78744.