SAN ANTONIO — South San Antonio High School’s principal, Erika Almendarez, is entering her third year and has a major task ahead. 

She’s going to see a surge in the student population — welcoming 500 students from former neighboring West Campus High School, which closed this past school year. 

“Truthfully, it’s sculpted our lens to make sure we are mindful of that to ensure that every student feels comfortable here,” Almendarez said. 

It’s not the first time this has happened in this neighborhood. West Campus first closed due to low enrollment in 2008.  It reopened 11 years later. 

The recent closure of West Campus by the South San Antonio ISD’s school board has raised concerns among families about history repeating itself. 

Priscilla Hernandez, a West Campus parent, shared those concerns this past December.

“We are concerned about our children. We don’t want them to get lost in a bigger school,” Hernandez said. 

Many alumni say the first time West Campus closed, South San Antonio became overpopulated and saw an increase in fights. 

Almendarez says they’ve had almost a year to prepare for this transition. 

“There’s a big contrast, I think, from (when) the last closure happened. I think that’s number one. Everyone’s been aware of the situation,” Almendarez said. “So it’s not abrupt, it’s not a quick, fast start.” 

This time school leaders are leaning on teachers and coaches like Joe Villanueva, who’s been at South San Antonio for 11 years. 

“It helps me build more opportunities for these kids like I only had a varsity and JV team,” Villanueva, who coaches cross country said. “Now I can maybe have a JV b -team, a JV C team.” 

Extracurriculars started making alterations this summer. Almendarez met with the volleyball team before school started. 

“How many of you girls are coming to me from West Campus? 1, 2 ,3, 4?” Almendarez counted. 

Villanueva says the transition has been seamless for him. 

“You can’t even tell who is from West Campus and who is from South San Antonio — everybody’s South San Antonio,” Villanueva said. 

Almendarez said it was vital to hire West Campus staff members so the 500 students can see familiar faces in a campus full of 2,200 students.

“I don’t think we are in the same predicament that they were when the first time it happened. Just because of that I think we are better off,” Almendarez said.