For more than 40 years, families across San Antonio have trusted Rhodes Driving Schools to help teens and adults become safe, confident drivers. In 2026 that same instruction is available closer to home for Castroville, La Coste, Hondo, and the growing west-side neighborhoods along Highway 90 and FM 471.
Medina Valley ISD families no longer have to fight Loop 1604 or Culebra traffic just to get a teen into a classroom or behind the wheel. Drivers education that meets every Texas requirement can start in the communities west of San Antonio.
What Medina County students can complete with Rhodes
Teen drivers (ages 14–17) can complete the full Texas path:
- 24 hours of classroom instruction that qualifies them for a learner’s permit.
- 14 hours of professional behind-the-wheel training in dual-control vehicles (7 hours driving + 7 hours observation).
- Help finishing the required 30-hour parent practice log (20 daytime hours and 10 nighttime hours).
- Road-test preparation, with third-party skills testing available at our Eckhert location so you are not stuck in a long DPS line.
Adults 18 and over can take the state-approved 6-hour adult driver education course, add private lessons if they need extra practice, and prepare for the DPS road test without starting from scratch.
Why west-side roads need local practice
Driving in Castroville is not the same as driving on I-35. New drivers out here face two-lane highways, farm equipment moving well below the speed limit, limited lighting on FM roads after dark, and weekend tourist traffic through historic downtown. Those conditions should be part of training — not a surprise after the license arrives.
Our instructors already work these corridors: Highway 90 between Castroville and San Antonio, FM 471 toward La Coste, and the mix of school zones, ranch driveways, and 55–70 mph two-lane stretches that define Medina County driving.
How to get started
Lessons run seven days a week. Vehicles include an instructor brake and dual mirrors. Parents stay in the loop on progress, and we help with permit paperwork so the DPS step is not a mystery.
If you live in Castroville, La Coste, Hondo, or the west-side growth along Highway 90 and FM 471, you do not have to drive into the city for quality instruction.
Safer Roads Start Closer to Home. Call any Rhodes location or visit the Castroville page to see current class options.