For 41 years, San Felipe ISD stood as a beacon of pride, resilience, and cultural identity for Del Rio’s Latino community.
But for 41 years, from the early '30s to 1971, the San Felipe ISD proudly served the children of Barrio San Felipe, the mostly Chicano/Latino populated neighborhood in South Del Rio.
"San Felipe was more than part of a city," said Michael Flores. "It was their own small universe."
Flores is the grandson of the late Pablo G. Flores, a board member of the 1931 SF School Board who created the first and only Latino Barrio school district in the nation.
"The SFISD was built on the shoulders of early San Felipians whose vision for the education of their children never wavered, despite countless obstacles," continued Flores. "In his book, RAZA SCHOOLS, Dr. Jesse Esparza, writes how the SF School District promised its students that it would be 'a place that protected students from the institutional racism that permeated other Texas districts.'"
Thus in 1932, the graduating class of SFHS numbering only seven received SFHS diplomas making them a "barrio first."
Dr. Esparza's research informs readers that from their inception, San Felipe schools used novel methods and worked hard to transform their community.
The schools were at the core of all efforts, from spreading additional educational and social programs to carrying out various poverty relief efforts. Barrio merchants often sacrificed profits, and instead, served the people first. Small mom & pop stores chose to provide infants whatever they needed at cost and often for free.
Sports were student favorites and the barrio school proudly competed across South Texas as Mustangs. Often, when visiting area teams and the barrio team proved to be superior, local fans would pepper the team's bus with rocks or beer cans!
While the district existed, it was not uncommon for Latino students not residing within district boundaries, to transfer into the district. Students from Cd. Acuña paid a special fee and could be found at all levels.
It took the decision of the federal government to unite San Felipe with its neighboring school district, changing their purple and gold Mustangs to the Blue and White Rams of the San Felipe Del Rio ISD.