Programs
The Lab School Advantage
Classrooms will be facilitated by highly skilled teachers as well as teaching residents, who are working toward specialized certifications and their graduate degrees in partnership with Si Se Puede Schools. Students benefit from an extra person in the classroom who can help them in their instruction and motivate them to achieve academically. For more information about our charter please visit Si Se Puede Schools.
Serving 21st-Century Learners
Teaching and learning at Ogden will take a creative and distinct approach designed to have the greatest impact on student learning. Every student will receive a Chromebook loaded with a variety of digital tools designed to create small-group learning communities in each subject throughout the school day. In addition, thanks to $18.6 million in renovations through SAISD Bond 2010, Ogden offers its students a state-of-the-art facility in which to excel academically, artistically and socially. Features include: an expanded library; art and music labs; and campus-wide technology.
A Sense of Community
Ogden benefits from good parent and community partner engagement. To continue this momentum, every day will start with a Community Circle, celebrating the successes of the school community, affirming the school’s values, and inspiring each other to pursue dreams. Ogden was awarded the Kindness Certification from SAISD Kindness Challenge for our kindness efforts in the 2022-2023 school year.
School History
Ogden elementary was first established on the corner of Zarzamora and Morales St and known as #31. In 1920, the school’s name was changed to Ira C. Ogden after a San Antonio soldier who was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for his service during World War 1. In 1923, the school was relocated to its present location and housed in a small cottage with one teacher. In 1923, various lots in the Lakewood Community were purchased to make up the present location of the school. On that land, it included a 52 room hotel that had been gutted by a fire which became the school building. Over the next few years, the building was further expanded to include a cafeteria, teacher’s lounge, attendance office, clinic, and sixteen additional classrooms.
In the 1946-1947 school year, a new school called the Lakewood Baptist School opened up in the community. It took forty of the Anglo-American students from Ira Ogden along with the mothers who led the Parent-Teacher Association. This left a school community that was now predominantly Latino. It also shifted the leadership in the Parent-Teacher Association to become reflective of the Latino community.
In 2015, the old hotel structure was replaced by a brand new building giving the school a more modern feel. Parts of the original building were incorporated into the new building. This is evident when you see the original masonry work at the entrance, library, and display areas in the building. The original classroom doors are even hung on the ceilings of the hallway.
From its establishment until 2015, the school has served grades PK to 5th grade. In 2016, the school would begin to take on the changes of becoming an elementary in the district. This meant that the grade levels serviced would range from PK to 8th grade. The very first 8th grade class would graduate from Ogden elementary in 2020. Our 8th grade students had the opportunity to attend high school at our feeder school, Lanier High School, or apply to a specialized program at another SAISD high school.
At the same time, the school would also change from a district public school to an in-district charter school with a partnership with RELAY Lab Schools Texas. This was a result of the accountability system from TEA that indicated the school had been Improvement Required for 3 years. At the time, RELAY was one of the first charter companies to enter into the 1882 partnership with SAISD. Now Ogden is part of Si Se Puede Schools, a charter focused on helping students in communities that need it most.
Currently, Ira Ogden has reverted back to having grade levels from PK- 5th grade. There was also an addition of implementing a Dual Language program in grades PK-1 to better service our English language learners. For the 23-24 school year Ogden is now offering Dual Language from PK-3rd grade.