Original Research by School Decision on Cast Tech H S
CAST Tech High School is a charter high school in downtown San Antonio, housed in renovated buildings on the Fox Tech campus. It serves grades nine through twelve and draws a student body that is predominantly Hispanic, with a large majority of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch. The school has a small enrollment for its grade span.
The school's academic performance, based on state assessment data from 2024-25, shows strength in foundational competency. Nearly all students meet the "approaches grade level" standard across tested subjects. Students perform particularly well in science and social studies, where the vast majority of students reach this baseline. Reading and mathematics performance at the "approaches" level is also solid. However, performance thins considerably at higher achievement tiers. Across all subjects, students reaching the "meets grade level" standard are in the middle range, and those achieving "master grade level" represent a modest share. Mathematics is where the gap is most pronounced: while most students demonstrate basic competency, the proportion meeting and mastering the standard drops notably. English language arts shows a similar pattern, with solid approaches rates but lower meets and masters rates. Science and social studies, by contrast, show stronger performance at the meets level and a meaningful share of students reaching mastery.
The school is part of San Antonio Independent School District, which in recent years has undertaken significant structural change. In November 2023 the board voted to close a substantial portion of its facilities and reassign students to remaining campuses, part of a "rightsizing" plan driven by long-term enrollment decline. Following weak state assessment results across the district, officials have standardized curriculum and literacy instruction, moving to a phonics-based approach for reading and aligning math and reading across all campuses rather than allowing variation by school. These district-wide shifts affect how children are taught and represent a change in direction from the prior approach. Separately, a major bond measure approved in 2020 funded renovations at many district campuses, with facility improvements continuing into 2025.
The downtown location places the school at the civic and cultural center of San Antonio. The neighborhood is highly walkable around the River Walk district, with pedestrian infrastructure, museums, libraries, and mixed-use development. Housing values in the 78205 zip code are moderate to mid-range for the San Antonio metro, and rents have declined modestly in recent quarters. The broader San Antonio economy is anchored by healthcare, military installations, finance, and a growing tech and cybersecurity sector, and the region is one of the fastest-growing in the nation, with significant new residential construction. Inner-city neighborhoods near the school, including King William and Dignowity Hill, contain historic single-family homes and duplexes alongside newer infill.
A parent considering CAST Tech should be aware that the school is in a district managing significant enrollment transition and curriculum standardization. The academic profile shows students gaining foundational competency at solid rates but with lower proportions reaching advanced performance levels, particularly in mathematics. The downtown location offers urban walkability and civic access but is part of a district undergoing restructuring. The school's small size and charter status position it differently within the district's broader changes. A parent may want to look into further detail with the school about its specific curricular approach, its role within the district's recent reorganization, and whether the downtown location and peer composition fit their family's needs.
See more original research from School Decision →