The name of the school in local language, Telugu is Andhra Pradesh Gurukula Patasala. The school operates with the theme and inspiration of Gurukulam. Gurukulam is an ancient Indian school system where teachers and students live together in a remote natural campus setting, away from civil life.
All activities both inside the classroom and outside are carried out with tight student teacher association. Academic club membership and PE (games and sports) involvement are mandatory for each student. Students undertake rotational volunteer duties like dormitory cleanup and serving at the mess (cafeteria). From early morning PE till late evening study hour, both students and staff lead an active and involved life at APRST.
Only rural residents are eligible for admission. APREI Society conducts a common entrance test for all the rural students of Andhra Pradesh which is the criteria for student selection. APRST used to cater to the rural students from all coastal Andhra Pradesh, i.e. from, Srikakulam, Vijayanagaram, East Godavari, West Godavari, Krishna, Guntur and Prakasam districts. Impressed with the success of the residential schools, Chief Minister N.T.Rama Rao introduced many new schools under APREIS. With the introduction of new schools, recently, the jurisdiction of the APRST has been limited to Guntur district alone.