Govalle School is a 150 year old elementary school operating out of in Austin, Texas. Grades K through 5 are taught at this school. This news article will explain the history of Govalle School and its school district. 
Govalle School was established in 1870 at the location of Webberville Road between Boggy Creek and the railroad in Austin, Texas. At first, Govalle School operated out of a log cabin that was a one-room schoolhouse. The log cabin was constructed using cedar logs and oak. At first grades 1 through 6 were taught in this one-room log cabin. Eventually Govalle School expanded to add high school grades later on.
From 1870 to 1911 is when Govalle School operated out of a log cabin that was a one-room schoolhouse. Grades 1 through 6 were taught in this one-room log cabin with 2 teachers holding state mandated classes such as reading, English, arithmetics, science, and art. Grades 5 and 6 were held in separate rooms.
Govalle School had its own school district called Govalle School District from 1870 to 1963. Govalle School District was also known as Govalle Common School District No. 18, Govalle Common School District, and Govalle CSD. The schools in Govalle Common School District were separated by race. African American students attended Govalle Negro School. White students attended Govalle White School. Hispanic students attended Govalle Mexican School.
1891 is the year when Govalle School became a “county school”. Travis County Public Schools (aka Travis County Common School District) began overseeing Govalle School by monitoring funds and hiring teachers. Travis County Public Schools saw to it that Govalle School received both state funding and local funding. Govalle School became an accredited school by the State of Texas in 1895.
The one-room log cabin was demolished and a newer three-room schoolhouse was built to replace the one-room schoolhouse in 1911. A fourth room was added in 1915. A fifth room was added to the additional wing in 1916. Sometime in the 20th century is when Govalle School was rebuilt into an L-shape plan building.
Historically Govalle School had a high Hispanic student population. The Govalle School had a 75% percent Hispanic student population although white students attended there. The Govalle School became a “Mexican School” before World War I.
High school grades were added to the Govalle School in 1922. Govalle School District had a high school called Govalle High School that operated from 1922 to sometime in the 1940s. Govalle High School operated on the same campus as Govalle Elementary School. Initially high school stopped at 9th grade.
Govalle School District had 10 grades enrolled for the Govalle School by 1925. Grade 11 was added later. Govalle High School became an accredited high school by the 1925-1926 school year.
Govalle School and Govalle Common School District voted against becoming an independent school district (ISD) in 1928. (Ref: Austin Statesman, Incorporating School District Voted Down, Page 6, Wednesday, February 15, 1922)
“Incorporating School District Voted Down Voters of the Govalle Common School District voted against incorporating an independent school district in a special election held last Saturday, a canvass of the election returns by the county commissioners' court Tuesday morning showed. The vote against incorporation was 69 to 42. The petitioners for the election asked for the election on the grounds that there are more than 700 children in the Govalle district and that it was large enough to become an independent district.”
Austin Statesman reported that Govalle School was named an elementary-high school in 1927. However classes stopped after 9th grade. So Govalle School became known as Govalle Elementary-High School which was a 1-9 school and not your typical 1-11 school or 1-10 school. (Ref: Austin Statesman, Page 10, Wednesday, August 3, 1927)
“The Govalle School was named an elementary-high school, to teach only through the ninth grade. The annual trustees' meeting was set for Oct 17 by the board, composed of Mrs. Felter, secretary; A. J. Zilker, chairman; T. F. Blackwell of Manchaca B. W. Giles, Judge William Pfennig and G. C. Bradshaw.”
By 1935, Govalle School District encompassed deep East Austin to the MK Pacific Railroad next to FM 969 (Webberville Road). The school district boundaries reached north to FM 969. This school district encompassed 5 to 6 miles.
In the mid-1940s, Austin ISD began overseeing Govalle School. Sometime in the mid-1940s is when Govalle High School was discontinued leaving its middle school students and high school students to continue education at Austin ISD schools. Govalle School was primarily an elementary school by then. Sometime in the mid-1940s is when Govalle School District dropped its high school grades from Govalle School. So Govalle School went from being a 1-10 school to a 1-7 school.
Govalle School had undergone a series of landscape renovations in December 1946. The playground and soccer field were repaved. New grass was brought in. New dirt was brought in from Armadillo Clay.
Govalle School was renovated to its current building plan seen today in 1947. Govalle School had received a series of building renovations from 1947 to 1949. Several classrooms and additional wings were added to the school building.
Austin ISD charged Govalle School District tuition fees to pay for its elementary school students, middle school students/junior high school students and high school students to attend their schools by a contract. Many Austin ISD elementary schools had their own school districts before consolidating into Austin ISD. Such as Bryker Woods School for Bryker Woods School District, Pecan Springs School for Pecan Springs School District, Fiskville School for Fiskville Common School District (Fiskville School District), and Ridgetop School for Ridgetop School District for instance.
In 1949, school buses served only those students in the 7th grade from the Govalle School in the Govalle School District to University Junior High School and only those in the 5th and 6th grades from St. Elmo School (now St. Elmo Elementary School) to Fulmore Junior High School (now Fulmore Middle School). Despite 6th grade students from St. Elmo School being bussed to Fulmore Junior High School, 6th grade students still attended University Junior High School.
School bus service to Austin High School, Austin Senior High School, Allan High School, and Allan Junior High School was eliminated along with service for junior high school students and senior high school students for the following school districts: Govalle School District, St. Elmo School District, Rosedale School District, and Esperanza Common School District. School bus service for Negro students continued in operation on the same schedule used that year.
1949 is when Austin ISD began bussing 6th grade students and 7th grade students from Govalle School in the Govalle School District and St. Elmo School to University Junior High School. University Junior High School began accepting students from both Govalle School and St. Elmo School.
1963 is when Govalle School and Govalle School District were consolidated into Austin ISD. It was after legislative reform and education reform mandated by the State of Texas that consolidated or dissolved several school districts across the state in August 1963. This was the year through legislative reform and education reform, the State of Texas renamed many school districts from “common school districts” (CSD) to “independent school districts” (ISD).
Govalle School consolidated into Austin ISD in 1963. Govalle School taught 7 grades when Austin ISD consolidated their school district. Grades 6 and 7 were kept as originally planned by Austin ISD. This left Govalle School permanently as an elementary school.
Student population for Govalle School in 1966 was 60% Hispanic and 20% White. No black students attended this school. After 1966, the Hispanic student population for Govalle School grew even further.
Govalle School became Govalle Elementary School in 1970. 7th grade was kept and Govalle School was a 1-7 school by then. Students enrolled in grades 6 and 7 had classes held in different classrooms away from the K-6 students. Plans to integrate Govalle Elementary School were announced by the school board in 1970. Integration went smoothly despite parental opposition and pressure.
Govalle Elementary School became racially integrated in 1971. Black students were now allowed to attend Govalle Elementary School as previously they were not allowed before. African American students compromised 2% of the population.
On the date of 5/6/1980, six elementary school students were injured when a car was driven by 17 year old Mariano Garcia had crashed into the school library. The brakes had failed before hitting Govalle Elementary School.
Today Govalle School operates as Govalle Elementary School which is now a K-5 school. Govalle Elementary School is a 4A school with its student population being over 85% percent Hispanic. Many students come from low income families.
Govalle School is located at 3601 Govalle Avenue, Austin, Texas, US 78702.
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