St. James Episcopal School was founded in the fall of 1955 by a group of churchwomen led by Bette Foster and Joanne Crosby, who believed there should be a Christian school available to serve the community. The school became a community outreach ministry of St. James Episcopal Church.

The first class was held in the church's Parish Hall and consisted of 13 students. The school quickly grew, and a new school building—now known as Building A—was constructed in the fall of 1970. Our PK3 (Prekindergarten 3-year-old) program was added in 1985, followed by the Extended Day Program in the fall of 1986. Building B, which currently houses our 3rd and 4th grade classrooms, was completed in 1987.

As enrollment continued to grow, portable classrooms were added and later removed as the school's needs evolved. Several renovation projects have also been completed over the years to accommodate our expanding student population. In 2013, the Fine Arts Building (Building C) was constructed to provide a dedicated space for art and music instruction. In 2023, the Edna House (Building E) was renovated to serve as the home for our 5th and 6th grade classrooms.

St. James Episcopal School received its initial accreditation in 1990 from the Southwestern Association of Episcopal Schools (SAES), an accrediting agency recognized by the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) and approved by the Texas Education Agency (TEA) and the Commissioner of Education. The accreditation process strengthened the school's educational vision and reaffirmed its commitment to academic excellence and Christian formation. St. James has become a place where students grow in their faith through chapel services while being challenged to achieve their highest academic potential.

Under the supervision of the Vestry and Board of Trustees, the Claudia Abbey Ball Endowment for St. James Episcopal School was established in 2000 for the exclusive purpose of enhancing teacher salaries.

Throughout its history, the school has adapted to meet the changing needs of the community. The middle school program has been added and discontinued at various times as enrollment and community needs evolved. After an 11-year hiatus, the middle school program returned in 2023. Continuing its tradition of growth, construction began in the fall of 2026 on a new classroom building that will include two additional classrooms and student restrooms to support our growing enrollment.

Today, St. James Episcopal School is a place where students build a strong foundation of academic excellence with God at the center of their education. We are proud of our long-standing reputation in the Del Rio community as a school where children learn to love and love to learn.