School Profile
Cornerstone Christian Schools
School Overview
CCS is a premier K4-12th grade private, Christian school in San Antonio, Texas.
Cornerstone Christian Schools will create and sustain a Christ-centered teaching-learning environment of unprecedented excellence designed to develop every student spiritually, intellectually, physically, and socially to their maximum potential.
School History
On September 14, 1851, seven Ursuline Sisters from New Orleans and Galveston, headed by Sister St. Marie Trouard, arrived in San Antonio to start a girls’ school at Bishop Jean M. Odin’s request. On November 3, Ursuline Academy opened classes. It was then the second oldest, and eventually became the oldest, girls’ school in Texas. The original convent was built in 1851 on the San Antonio River at Augusta Street. According to nineteenth-century history, by 1887 Ursuline Academy drew students “from all parts of western Texas and Mexico” to its “accommodations for seventy to eighty boarders . . . with the unqualified endorsement of the parents and guardians,” who found “the facilities, equipment, site, buildings and instruction first class.”
The growth of downtown San Antonio finally necessitated a change of location for the school, and in 1961 the first of the new buildings for Ursuline Academy rose on Vance Jackson Road and was ultimately completed in 1979.
The Ursuline Sisters continued to run the school until the early 1990?s. The eight remaining sisters ranged in age from 63 to 94 and were looking to retire. They decided to put their 40 acres of prime real estate and 90,000 square feet of buildings up for sale. Having heard that Pastor John Hagee was looking for property to build a school, the sisters called him. Pastor Hagee went to see the school and was met by a sister who had come from the Vatican to oversee the sale.
“It was in perfect condition,” Pastor Hagee said. “There wasn’t a hairline crack. I was shocked when I was told the price and asked why it was so low.”
Pastor Hagee was then told that the delay in selling the property had meant the sisters had to draw on their retirement accounts to live. Pastor Hagee then said, “I want to buy this school by the close of business tomorrow.”
Notable Accomplishments / Recognition
Cornerstone Christian Schools is accredited by the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI), the International Christian Accrediting Association (ICAA), and Southern Association of Colleges and Schools/Council on Accreditation and School Improvement (SACS/CASI). CCS is recognized by the Texas Private School Accreditation Commission, and is therefore also recognized by the State of Texas Education Agency (TEA) and State Commissioner of Education, as an accredited school with all privileges and responsibilities afforded to it. CCS has achieved and works continually toward exceeding all accrediting standards in pursuit of unprecedented excellence for God’s glory.