St. James Episcopal School was founded in the fall of 1955 by a group of church women led by Bette Foster and Joanne Crosby, who felt there should be a Christian school available in the community. The school became a community outreach program of St. James Episcopal Church.

 

The first class was held in the Parish Hall of the Church and consisted of 13 students. The school quickly grew, and a new school building, now known as A building, was constructed in the Fall of 1970. Our Prekindergarten 3-year-old program was added in 1985 and the Extended Day program was incorporated in the Fall of 1986. The B building, which houses third and fourth grades currently, was constructed in 1987. As the school has continued to grow, portable buildings have come and gone, and several other renovation projects have taken place to accommodate the student population needs.  The Fine Arts building, C building, was constructed in 2013, and the Edna House, also known as E building, was renovated for our 5th and 6th grade classrooms in 2023.

 

St. James Episcopal School was accredited for the first time in 1990 by the Southwestern Association of Episcopal Schools (SAES), an accrediting agency recognized by the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) and the Texas Education Agency (TEA) and approved by the Commissioner of Education. The accreditation process provided the school with a more clearly stated educational direction.  St. James became the place in Del Rio where students are enlightened through chapel services and where students are challenged academically.

 

Under the supervision of the Vestry and School 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 at St. James Episcopal School.

 

Throughout the years middle school has been added and removed as the need has changed. Middle school was removed for the last time in 2012 along with the portable buildings where classes took place. The Fine Arts building was built in the summer of 2013 to provide a permanent space for the Art and Music program. 

 

Today St. James Episcopal School is a place where students build a foundation of educational excellence with God at the center of their education. We enjoy an excellent reputation in the community as a place where children learn to love and love to learn!