Bluff Springs Colored School aka Bluff Springs Negro 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 Colored School has been erased from peoples minds by having faded away with time. Austinites of yesteryear attended Bluff Springs Colored 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. Rhina Branch School was next to what has been called the Rinard Cemetery. Both the school and cemetery are near a small branch of nearby Rinard Creek.
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 on Rinnard Road off Old Lockhary Highway. Bluff Springs Colored School was sometimes known as Rhina Branch School or Reyna Branch School. Bluff Springs Colored 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. Rhina Branch School served African American students. The Bluff Springs Colored School was operated in a white house on Rinnard Road off Old Lockhart Highway from 1862 to 1952.
Rhina Branch School was renamed to Bluff Springs School in 1866. By 1867 during the 1866-1867 school year, Bluff Springs Colored School had 104 students attending school.
Through the schools’ history, Bluff Springs Colored School educated students in grades 1 through 8. After 8th grade, students transferred to Anderson High School, Robertson Hill School, or St. Johns School to complete education.
Bluff Springs Colored 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 Colored School became an accredited school. Bluff Springs Common School District operated Bluff Springs School (Bluff Springs White School), Bluff Springs Negro School, and Bluff Springs Mexican School.
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 Colored School. Miss Erma Miller Williams was the head teacher for Bluff Springs Colored School. Local history buffs Minnie Kincheon Overton and Erma Miller Williams taught at Bluff Springs Colored School in the 1930s.
In 1934 during the 1934-1935 school year, Bluff Springs Colored 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 at that time was $19.69 per student per year that was later increased to $20 per student.
The Bluff Springs Colored School still operated in a white house on Rinnard Road off Old Lockhart Highway in 1952. Bluff Springs Colored School was consolidated into Austin ISD and its building was sold to a private homeowner in 1952. The Bluff Springs Colored School building was sold in a bid auction in late 1952. The building would become what is now a private residence.
Texas Disposal Systems bought the land around Rinnard Road during the 1990s. This included the Bluff Springs Colored School property and Rinard Cemetery. Part of the Bluff Springs Colored School property was purchased by Texas Disposal Systems in 1991.
Bluff Springs Colored School was located on 10566 Rinnard Road, Austin, Texas, US 78747.
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