School History

Opened in September 1964 on the site of the former Hot Wells Elementary and Hot Wells Junior High School.

It was named after Charles C. Ball, a longtime SAISD principal and administrator. Charles Clyde Ball was born in a small town in Lake County, South Dakota on October 21, 1881. He graduated from high school in Madison, South Dakota, and later attended Coe Collge in Iowa, where he received his B.A. Degree with honors, graduating Cum Laude. He did his graduate work at the University of Iowa where he received his Masters of Arts Degree.

He served in the Iowa schools as a teacher and later as high school principal until 1923 when he was invited by Dr. Jeremiah Rhodes, the Superintendent of the San Antonio Public Schools at that time, to come to San Antonio Independent School District as Director and Supervisor of Social Studies. This was the year in which the junior school was established in San Antonio. Mr Ball contributed much in the initial planning and organization of this venture which has now become firmly established as an effective part of school organization throughout the nation.

Later, he was placed in charge of Junior schools in San Antonio, serving very effectively in that capacity. In 1933, during the height of the depression years, it was necessary for all schools systems to make drastic economy moves, and in the numerous change that were made at that time, Mr Ball became principal of the Thomas Nelson Page Junior School, where he served faithfully and efficiently until his retirement in 1952. Mr Ball passed away in San Antonio on September 21, 1955.

Our school was named for this educator who worked in San Antonio’s public schools from 1923 until 1952, Ball Elementary opened in 1964 replacing the elementary grades housed at the old Hot Wells School.  Ball is located at 343 Koehler Ct. in the southeast side of San Antonio, Texas.

The original Hot Wells school was established in 1912. Between 1937 and 1952 the campus also contained Hot Wells High School, which served the junior school grades as well. In 1949 the Hot Wells district consolidated with SAISD.