Forgotten history of Bluff Springs Mexican School explored and explained.

Bluff Springs Mexican School is one of the forgotten schools of Austin and Travis County. Not too much history about this school is known. This news article will explain the history behind Bluff Springs Mexican School.

Bluff Springs Mexican School educated Hispanic students living in the Bluff Springs neighborhood of Austin, Texas, and was operated by School District 39 aka Bluff Springs Common School District from 1926 to 1943. Bluff Springs Mexican School. Mr. Vincent Valdes and Mrs. Vincent Valdes served as principals of Bluff Springs Mexican School for more than 7 years.

Bluff Springs Common School District operated Bluff Springs School (Bluff Springs White School), Bluff Springs Negro School, and Bluff Springs Mexican School. The school in that district operated for a short amount of time. Bluff Springs Mexican School was referred to and known as “The Mexican school at Bluff Springs”.


Bluff Springs Mexican School was established in 1926 during the 1925-1926 school year to serve Hispanic students (Mexican children) living within the boundaries of Bluff Springs Common School District in the Bluff Springs neighborhood. Bluff Springs Mexican School was constructed and located at the address of 9134 Nuckols Crossing Road, Austin, Texas.

Bluff Springs Mexican School was one of the three rural schools in Travis County to open in 1926. Austin Statesman confirmed that Bluff Springs Mexican School was the second Mexican school to open in Travis County in in 1926 during the 1925-1926 school year. (Ref: Austin Statesman, Three New Mexican Schools Open, Page 2, Thursday, January 14, 1926)

“Three new Mexican rural schools shortly after the first of the year have recently opened in Travis County, Mrs. George R. Felter, county school superintendent, said late Wednesday. Merrilltown now has a school for Mexican children which opened Mrs. J. A. Kelly is head of the school there. Miss Sue Archibald is now teaching the second Mexican school, located at Bluff Springs, and Miss Albena Kocurek heads the school at Manchaca.”

Austin Statesman reported that Miss Sue Archibald began her work as teacher of the Mexican school in the Bluff Springs Common School District immediately in January 1926 with 29 students enrolled. “Miss Sue Archibald has begun her work as teacher of the Mexican school in the Bluff Springs district. She has enrolled 29 pupils.” (Ref: https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/366346248/)

Miss Sue Archibald was the second teacher at Bluff Springs Mexican School. Mrs. Ruth Sassman was of the two teachers who educated Mexican children at Bluff Springs Mexican School. (Ref: https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/384307088/)

Under segregation, the Mexican school was inferior to other schools in the same community. Teachers were less trained, ill-equipped, and paid less. Buildings were poorer condition. Facilities and services were inferior to the segregated Mexican school when compared with those facilities and services provided by a community for its white schools. (Ref: https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/385919722/)


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/Old Lockhart Highway.

A Parent-Teacher Association under the direction of Miss Consuelo Herrera was organized in 1936 during the 1936-1937 school year. Mrs. Vincent Valdes was principal of Bluff Springs Mexican School at that time. News about the formation of the Bluff Springs Mexican School Parent-Teacher Association was reported under “Bluff Springs School Forms P.T.A.” in the Austin Statesman. (Ref: https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/385702265/)

“The mothers and fathers of the Bluff Springs Mexican school have organized a Parent-Teacher association under the direction of Miss Consuelo Herrera. a teacher of Zavala school. The club will meet every second Friday of the month. Mrs. Vincent Valdes is principal of the school.”

Mrs. Vincent Valdes would serve as principal for Bluff Springs Mexican School until being discontinued in 1944. Mrs. Lydia Rode served as one of their teachers.


Bluff Springs White School was discontinued and shut down by the Bluff Springs Common School District in 1943. However the Austin American-Statesman reported that Bluff Springs Mexican School would continue to operate beginning in September 13, 1942.  Bluff Springs Mexican School was referred to and known as “The Mexican school at Bluff Springs” at that time. The school operated for nine months. (Ref: https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/386131261/)

“The white school at Bluff Springs also is being discontinued this year and these will attend school in Buda, Austin and Pleasant Hill. The Mexican school at Bluff Springs, however, will be continued.”

However Bluff Springs Mexican School was discontinued and shut down by the Bluff Springs Common School District in 1944. One of the reasons as to why Bluff Springs Mexican School was discontinued and shut down is because there was a gradual trend toward discontinuing the smaller rural schools Travis County and transferring students to larger schools in Travis County and nearby counties during the mid-40s. Also Bluff Springs Mexican School could not operate on just property taxes alone. (Ref: Austin American-Statesman, 13 Rural Schools In Travis County Set Openings New Term Scheduled To Begin on Sept. 13, Page 17, Friday, August 27, 1943)

“Popham observed that there has been a gradual trend toward discontinuing the smaller schools in Travis county and transferring the pupils to larger schools in Travis and nearby counties which gives the students better educational and social opportunities. In some smaller districts, property valuations are not adequate to obtain rural aid with the result that school financing has suffered.”


8.38 acres of land were donated by Polk Shelton and Betty Thomson to Bluff Springs Common School District on January 31, 1945. W. T. Smith and Polk Shelton were listed as the trustees of Bluff Springs Common School District. (Ref: Travis County Deed Records, Volume 771, Page 36)

The 8.38 acres of land were donated to W. T. Smith and M. B, Shirley, trustees of the Bluff Springs Common School District in 1945. (Ref: Travis County Deed Records, Volume 754, Page 711)


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 (Bluff Springs White School) and Bluff Springs Mexican School were sold in a bid auction in late 1952. The buildings would become what are now private residences. Bluff Springs Mexican School was located at 9134 Nuckols Crossing Road, Austin, Texas, US 78744 until being relocated during a move to 9140 Nuckols Crossing Road less than 3 blocks away.

On Monday, August 6, 1956, part of the 1½ acres of land Bluff Springs School (Bluff Springs White School) and Bluff Springs Mexican School were located on up for sale by bid as announced in the Austin American-Statesman. (Ref: https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/359866538/)

Monday, August 6, 1956, at the regular meeting of the Board of Trustee of Pleasant Hill Independent School District. Rt. 5, Box 319, Austin, Texas, for the sale of one and one-half acres of school land, together with school building and other improvements located thereon, known as the Bluff Springs School, and located on the old Lockhart Highway. The Board reserves the right to reject any and or all bids. For bid forms write the above address or call GR 2-8997.

The school property was sold to Frank Dittmar and Betty Thomson in 1956. Betty Thomson claimed some of the land on basis of a warranty deed and a special gift deed.

Today Bluff Springs Mexican School is now a private residence that has been converted into a home. Betty Thomson and Lauren Diane Thomson now own the building. Bluff Springs Mexican School is now located at 9140 Nuckols Crossing Road, Austin, Texas, US 78744. Bluff Springs Mexican School was originally located at 9134 Nuckols Crossing Road, Austin, Texas, US 78744.