Jan. 23, 2023 – The San Antonio ISD Board of Trustees voted tonight to renew the in-district charters for 18 schools in SAISD. Three schools were approved for five-year renewal terms, 12 schools were approved for four-year renewal terms, and a trio of campuses were renewed on three-year probationary contracts. 

Annually the Board of Trustees reviews performance analytics provided by the SAISD Office of Innovation. All 39 in-district charter schools are under contract with set goals established in the SAISD In-District Charter Renewal Guide. Schools must meet goals in the categories of Academic Excellence, Organizational Strength and Financial Health. 

In addition to annual performance review data, Trustees also requested and received input from parents and the community throughout the renewal process in the forms of surveys and town hall meetings. This type of direct feedback from the community will continue to grow with future in-district charter school renewals.

“We have a commitment to ongoing community engagement, and to not only continue what we’re doing but to also get better,” said John Norman, SAISD Chief Strategy Officer. “We are going to make sure that annual performance reviews have family and student focus groups. We are going to begin renewal activities much earlier in the spring prior to the school’s renewal year.”  

The following SAISD in-district charter schools were approved for five-year renewals:

• Briscoe Elementary School
• Harris Middle School
• Ogden Elementary School

The following SAISD in-district charter schools were approved for four-year renewals:

• Advanced Learning Academy
• Ball Elementary School
• Bowden Academy
• Burbank High School
• CAST Tech High School
• Democracy Prep at Stewart Academy
• Fenwick Academy
• Gates Elementary School
• Jefferson High School
• Lamar Elementary School
• Storm Elementary School
• Young Women’s Leadership Academy

The following SAISD in-district charter schools were approved for three-year probationary renewals:

• Huppertz Elementary School
• Woodlawn Academy
• Woodlawn Hills Elementary School

“Each school on probationary renewal must submit a comprehensive plan that includes metrics and goals to address the areas where they fell short on their outcomes in line with the goals we set,” Norman said.

On Dec. 13, 2022, Trustees voted to revoke the charters for six in-district schools. In this decision, the campuses will retain their charter for the remainder of the 2022-23 school year. In the fall of 2023, the schools will not be under charter contracts as they enter the new school year as district campuses. For some of the schools, the campuses did not wish to implement the charter programs.

The SAISD campuses with revoked charters are the following:

• Barkley-Ruiz Elementary School
• Carroll Early Childhood Education Center
• Davis Middle School
• Hawthorne Academy
• Martin Luther King Academy
• Tynan Early Childhood Education Center

“After hearing from the results of the community engagement, we voted to revoke those charters,” said Board Secretary Art Valdez. “But rest assured, these SAISD schools will see minimal impact. These are great neighborhood schools, and we will continue to support them.”