James Talarico Used Private School for Campaign Ad
The campaign filmed at the elite Keystone School using students who previously attended a closed public campus.
Updated on Sept. 30, 2026 in Secondary Education
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James Talarico rented the elite Keystone School in San Antonio for a campaign advertisement. The spot features former students of the shuttered Rhodes Middle School filmed in front of the private school's gymnasium.
Why it matters
The campaign optics have drawn attention due to Talarico’s vocal opposition to school vouchers, a position often at odds with private institutions like Keystone. Talarico previously taught at Rhodes Middle School before it was closed by the district.
Keystone School charges over $27,500 for high school tuition and $17,000 for pre-K. In contrast, Rhodes Middle School was shuttered by the San Antonio Independent School District following four consecutive years of academically unacceptable ratings.
The players
James Talarico
James Talarico is a political candidate who previously served as a teacher in the San Antonio area.
Keystone School
Keystone School is a private, elite educational institution located in San Antonio.
Rhodes Middle School
Rhodes Middle School was a public campus in the San Antonio Independent School District that faced years of low academic ratings.
The details
The campaign advertisement utilized the private school's gym as a backdrop while featuring students who attended Rhodes Middle School during its final years of operation. James Talarico, who taught language arts at the now-closed public school, has centered his political platform on rejecting school vouchers.
Timeline
James Talarico taught language arts at Rhodes Middle School from 2011 to 2013.
The San Antonio Independent School District closed Rhodes Middle School in 2025.
The article detailing the campaign ad location was published in September 2026.
Culture Shift
This incident reflects the growing friction in local politics regarding the divide between private and public education access. It illustrates how campaign optics are being tested against the backdrop of the ongoing political debate over school voucher legislation in Texas.
Residents may see this move as a shift in how political figures engage with the city's private versus public institutional infrastructure. The filming choice directly impacts how local voters perceive Talarico's stance on school funding and the future of public school districts.
The takeaway
The intersection of private school facility use and public school advocacy highlights the complexities of modern political campaigning. Voters are increasingly sensitive to the contrast between a candidate's stated policy positions and the environments they choose for media production.
Further reading
For more context on local schooling challenges, explore our Secondary Education section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Dailywire.
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