Sweltering summer heat is spilling into some San Antonio classrooms, with students at Thomas Edison High School saying temperatures inside parts of the campus have climbed well into the 80s.
Students told News 4 that the discomfort has been an issue since the start of the school year earlier this month, as outside temperatures have hit 100 degrees or more for several days. The situation has been made worse by a heat advisory.
“It’s hot, and I’m trying to get inside to cool down. When I get inside it’s worse. It is humid in there, it’s hot,” one student said.
Students reported that temperatures inside the school’s health care building were stifling, with a thermostat reading 80 degrees or higher. With more than 30 students inside a classroom, they said conditions can feel even worse.
“If anything, it makes you get over stimulated faster and it makes you not want to be paying attention,” the student said.
San Antonio ISD acknowledged it is experiencing cooling issues in “isolated areas” across the district and said crews are working as quickly as possible to address the problems. The district said it has set up portable cooling units and has moved students out of affected classrooms “as needed.”
The latest complaints come after previous heating and cooling problems in the district. In January of 2024, SAISD closed all of its schools for several days because of freezing conditions. In May of 2024, the district canceled classes at two schools due to an air conditioning failure. Similar problems were also experienced in 2025 at the Young Women’s Leadership Academy after a chiller failure.
Back at Edison, students said they expect the August heat to linger for several more weeks and hope conditions improve.
“I wish they got it right and I wish my teachers wouldn’t have to have fans in our classrooms,” another student said.
SAISD said it is prioritizing HVAC repairs and adding support as needed. The district is also asking staff to close blinds and report any concerns.