MLK Academy on San Antonio’s East Side Undergoing Major Overhaul

Thousands meet at the Martin Luther King Jr. Academy for Arts Integration every January to kick off one of the country’s largest marches. However, in 2025, the assembly will look different as the well-known school on the East Side of San Antonio embarks on an extensive overhaul.

A New Look for a Community Pillar

The academy will be redesigned and rebuilt as part of the San Antonio Independent School District’s 2020 bond program. Filled with state-of-the-art components, the revamp includes proposals for high-speed internet connectivity, inside and outside security cameras, and classroom audio systems.

As part of this transition, students from the school will move to Gates Elementary, which temporarily becomes MLK at Gates. Following the renovations, students from both Gates and MLK will move to the new higher-tech academy structure.

Preserving a Legacy

Steeped in history and culture, the MLK Academy has served the East Side community for 67 years. Changing from the James Whitcomb Riley Elementary-Junior High School in 1957, the name became a tribute to the famous civil rights leader in 1982.

The school closure, while temporary, does have community members, former students, and faculty feeling a mixture of anticipation and nostalgia. Principal Miriam Aguilar, finishing her second year at the academy, expressed both pride and sadness at the transition, citing the grandeur of the historic building and the exceptional people within it.

The Last Assembly Before Overhaul

A recent assembly named “The Dream Must Continue Legacy Night“, sponsored by the MLK Commission, celebrated the school’s legacy before closing for renovation. During this poignant farewell, many attendees shared their fond campus memories.

Teacher Gregory Berryman, an alumnus who found community support at MLK during his sixth-grade year, emphasized the importance of continuing the academy’s legacy. Local entrepreneur Lynda Richardson, owner of a neighboring adult day care center and a former student, echoed this sentiment, calling for continued student success in the new school setting.

Looking Forward

While this overhaul marks a new chapter, MLK Academy’s prominence in the community continues. With various stakeholders looking forward to the modernized building, their focus remains on preserving the school’s legacy and enhancing the students’ educational experiences.

Despite necessary changes in the staging area for the famous MLK march, community leaders affirm this as a progressive step for the academy. As the school undergoes its transformation, the dream indeed continues on the East Side of San Antonio.