BEXAR COUNTY, Texas – In response to significant population growth, East Central Independent School District (ISD) is set to open two new campuses next week. This strategic expansion aims to accommodate the increasing number of students in the area, a trend that officials anticipate will continue for the foreseeable future.
Victory Elementary STEM Academy, located in Elmendorf, and Valor College Prep Middle School in the Hedwig area are both scheduled to welcome students this Monday. These new institutions are part of a comprehensive, long-term development plan that district leaders have been crafting for nearly a decade, as they respond to rising enrollment figures.
“It’s very exciting. Our kiddos deserve it. Our community deserves it,” expressed Margarita Lozano, principal of Victory Elementary STEM Academy. This new school will mark the ninth elementary facility within East Central ISD, with an expected enrollment of about 500 students on its inaugural day.
Lozano noted that Elmendorf has experienced remarkable growth, with a staggering 60% increase in population over the past six years. As of the last school year, East Central ISD had an enrollment of approximately 13,000 students, and projections indicate that this number could surpass 25,600 by 2033.
On the opposite end of the district, Valor College Prep Middle School will become East Central ISD’s third middle school, with Principal Kasey Beckett indicating that the campus is prepared to welcome around 750 students. “So while other districts unfortunately are having to close and downsize, we’re having the opposite problem, where we’re outgrowing our schools,” she stated, highlighting the unique circumstances of East Central ISD.
District officials attribute East Central ISD’s growth to various factors, including its competitive tax rate. As of 2025, the tax rate stands at 0.9319 per $100 valuation, which is lower than that of several other nearby districts, such as Alamo Heights ISD (0.9572) and North East ISD (0.9822), but higher than Floresville ISD (0.8548).
Looking ahead, the establishment of Victory Elementary and Valor College Prep is just the beginning of East Central ISD’s expansion initiatives. Plans are already in place to launch a 10th elementary school in the upcoming fall, followed by a highly anticipated second high school campus the following year. Additionally, district leaders are exploring the possibility of another middle school to further accommodate the district’s growing student population.
