History of Elroy Mexican School explored in detail.

Elroy Mexican School is one of the forgotten schools of Del Valle, Elroy, and Travis County. Unfortunately not too much history is known about this school. This school was only for Mexican students (Hispanics) as segregation was law of the land in Texas. This news article will explore and explain the history behind Elroy Mexican School.


Elroy School District established a school for Mexican students in 1916 called Elroy Mexican School. The school was located somewhere on Elroy Road, just north of Elroy, Texas. (Ref: https://www.traviscountytx.gov/images/historical_commission/Doc/Histroical_Reports/mexican-american-settlement-survey_report.pdf)

Elroy Mexican School was one of 24 schools that closed down in 1928 due to a lack of funding. 13 others have closed including Hunters Bend School and Kimball School. (Ref: Austin Statesman, Travis Schools Started Closing 3 Weeks Ago Starting, Page 2, Monday, April 16, 1928)


A selection of teachers for the white, Mexican and negro schools at Elroy were made by the trustees in summer of 1930. Mrs. George Felter, county school superintendent, decided to hire Miss Margaret V. Anderson as a teacher to teach at Elroy Mexican School. Miss Margaret V. Anderson was teacher for the intermediate grades of the Elroy Mexican School. (Ref: Austin Statesman, TRUSTEES NAME NEW TEACHERS AT ELROY, Page 4, Monday, June 30, 1930)

“TRUSTEES NAME NEW TEACHERS AT ELROY Selection of teachers for the white, Mexican and negro schools at Elroy was made by the trustees this week. It was announced today by Mrs. George Felter, county school superintendent.”

Austin Statesman reported about plans for a new school building to built for Mexican children in Elroy in 1930. Work was started on the project immediately. (Ref: Austin Statesman, NEW SCHOOL ASSURED FOR ELROY MEXICANS, Page 4, Monday, June 30, 1930)

“NEW SCHOOL ASSURED FOR ELROY MEXICANS Plans have been completed for-a new school building for Mexicans at Elroy and work will be started on the project immediately, according to Fred Frederickson, chairman of the trustee board at Elroy, Tex.”

Elroy Mexican School was under construction and would be finished before the opening of the fall term in September 1930. (Ref: Austin Statesman, NEW TRAVIS SCHOOLS, Page 1, Monday, September 5, 1930)

“Three new school buildings for Travis County rural students have been completed and two others which are under construction will be finished before the opening of the fall term, it was announced today at the office of the county school superintendent. Those schools finished at Elroy Mexican, Carlson Negro and Garfield Negro. Further work is yet to be done on Pilot Knob Negro building and Round Mountain School for white students.”


The Austin American announced that Elroy Mexican School closed during the 1943-1944 school year. A program was announced. “ELROY PROGRAM SLATED A school-closing program will be held at the Elroy Mexican school Monday at 8 p. m.” (Ref: Austin American, Page 10, Monday, May 15, 1944)

The Elroy Mexican School had shut down even before the 1948 Delgado v. Bastrop ISD decision which outlawed racial segregation in schools. Elroy Mexican School was also already shut down by 1949. Now what happened to the school afterwards is currently unknown. What is known is that Elroy Mexican School is no longer extant.

Elroy Mexican School was located on Elroy Road, Del Valle, Texas, US 78617.