WARD EL

Located at 8400 CAVERN HILL, in SAN ANTONIO, Texas, WARD EL is a medium-sized elementary-level community that educates 763 students (grades pre-K through 5), part of NORTHSIDE ISD. That puts it 47% above the typical public school in Texas, which averages around 519 students.

Within NORTHSIDE ISD, which oversees 128 schools and 100,435 students, WARD EL is one campus in the system.

In terms of who attends, WARD EL shows that the largest single group is Hispanic, at 77% of enrollment. Other groups include 12% White, 6% Black, 4% multiracial. By comparison, Bexar County as a whole is about 60% Hispanic, so the school skews visibly more Hispanic than its surroundings.

In terms of school funding signals, Staff filings list 52 full-time-equivalent teachers, which works out to roughly 14.7:1 students per teacher. The state averages about 15.1:1, putting this campus right in line with peers. Roughly 58% of students at WARD EL qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a commonly cited indicator of low-income enrollment.

After controlling for student poverty, WARD EL tracks the demographic baseline. The model predicts 48.6% given the school's FRL share; actual proficiency is 44.0%.

Across the wider county, the surrounding county (Bexar County) reports that the typical household earns roughly $72,341 per year, roughly 32% of adults have completed at least a four-year degree, and roughly 11% of residents live below the federal poverty line. WARD EL is one of 638 public schools in Bexar County (combined enrollment of about 368,487 students).

Nearest neighbor: JEFFERSON MIDDLE, around 0.2 miles off. Within five miles, there are 8 other public schools. Among the 9 schools in that immediate cluster with test data (this one included), WARD EL ranks 6th on composite proficiency, beneath the local average of 45.6%.

The campus sits in a suburban setting.

Five-year trend. Over the past 7-year window, the student count contracted 11%: 860 students in 2018 compared to 763 in 2025. Over the same period, the White share decreased from 22% to 12%. Class-load math has fell: from 17.2:1 in 2018 to 14.7:1 in 2025.

In the discussion threads here, posts here usually surface around school events, parent volunteer needs, and clubs. Parents, students, alumni, and staff are welcome to weigh in.