Austin Independent School District Profile

Following the motto of “A Universe of Opportunity for Every Child,” Austin Independent School District embraces the wealth of cultural diversity within its 113 campuses. Demographic information for Austin ISD notes a culturally as well as economically diverse student population with a large number of students speaking languages other than English.

Austin ISD student population includes 82,541 students on 113 campuses, consisting of 78 Elementary Schools, 17 Middle Schools, 12 High Schools, and 6 Special Campuses. The district offers several advanced academic magnet programs available to students at the secondary level. The Kealing Magnet School focuses on Math, Science, and Liberal Arts. The Humanities and Law Magnet for International Studies emphasizes Humanities and Law. The Liberal Arts and Science Academy (LASA) offers concentrated studies in Liberal Arts and Sciences.

Each magnet school program has its own admission criteria and application process. Magnet school programs offer students challenging academic programs at a faster pace than the regular school coupled with intensive studies. The students in magnet school programs thrive on challenge from their peers and learn cooperative work strategies to achieve goals.

Austin Independent School District offers the lowest tax rate of any school district in Central Texas at $1.163/$100 valuation.

Each year the Texas Education Agency (TEA) issues an Academic Excellence Indicator System (AEIS) Report Card rating schools upon a number of criteria, one of which is performance on statewide testing. Austin ISD was rated as Academically Acceptable for 2007. Austin ISD has maintained this Academically Acceptable rating each year since the TEA Accountability Rating System has been in place. The averages for Austin ISD were well above state standards in all five content areas.

On the individual school Report Cards, seven Elementary Schools were rated as Exemplary by TEA: Baranoff, Casis, Gullett, Highland Park, Hill, Kiker, and Mills.

In addition, seventeen Austin ISD schools obtained Recognized status for 2007. The Recognized Elementary Schools included Barton Hills, Blanton, Bryker Woods, Clayton, Cowan, Cunningham, Davis, Doss, Joslin, Lee, Metz, Oak Hill, Ortega, Pillow, Summit, and Zilker. Bailey and Small Middle Schools were also identified as Recognized campuses.

Seven Austin ISD schools have been distinguished by the United States Department of Education as National Blue Ribbon Schools. Schools receiving this recognition are those that excel in academics in their states or demonstrate exceptional gains in student achievement. Crockett High School, Lamar Middle School, Davis Elementary, Doss Elementary, Highland Park Elementary, Hill Elementary, and Pillow Elementary have been distinguished as National Blue Ribbon Schools.

Eighth grade students in Austin ISD participated in the Writing Test of the 2007 National Assessment of Educational Progress, the Nation’s Report Card. Of the ten large urban school districts participating, Austin ISD’s eighth graders scored as well or better, on the average, than the majority of the other school districts.

Austin Independent School District is your choice for culturally diverse schools with a wealth of innovative program options.

Ronnie Bredahl is a Texas real estate broker and owner of Austin Referral Realty. The company site offers an exclusive Austin ISD Real Estate Search, allowing visitors to search homes by elementary, middle, or high school campus. You will also find real estate searches for 10 other Central Texas School Districts.