The shooting call prompted a major police response at Central Catholic High School

SAN ANTONIO – San Antonio police responded to a downtown high school Monday afternoon after a reported threat turned out to be a hoax, according to authorities.

All approximately 500 students at Central Catholic High School were evacuated from the school as San Antonio Police Department officers cleared the campus room by room. The school is located at 1403 North St. St. Mary’s

WATCH: SAPD Chief William McManus provides details on hoax threat at Central Catholic High School

Students were allowed to return to the building and officials said they would take attendance to ensure all students were accounted for before releasing them to their parents, according to Christine Rodriguez, a school spokeswoman.

Rodriguez emailed parents at 2:44 p.m. to let them know the emergency lockdown has been lifted and that the school will provide more information as it becomes available.

School officials said they will offer counseling to students. Extracurricular activities will resume as scheduled, but parents have the option to take their children home if they prefer, officials said.

SAPD Chief William McManus was among the officers who responded to the scene.

He said a growing trend of so-called “swatting” — an attempt to get police to respond to a certain location under false pretenses of a threat — has been taking place across the country this year.

He said the emergency response was “fantastic”.

McManus said the department learned lessons after the massacre at Uvalde Elementary School in May.

Last month, a chaotic scene played last month at Jefferson High School, where a hoax call prompted a massive police response. However, in that case, frustrated parents stormed the school in an effort to get their child before the police completely cleared the building.

The parents were upset that more information was not provided earlier. The school district, SAISD, later agreed adjust their policy to better notify parents.