Austin Independent School District


Austin Independent School District is a school district based in the city of Austin, Texas, United States. Established in 1881, the district serves most of the City of Austin, the neighboring municipalities of Sunset Valley and San Leanna, and unincorporated areas in Travis County. The district operates 116 schools including 78 elementary schools, 19 middle schools, and 17 high schools., AISD covers 54.1% of the City of Austin by area and serves 73.5% of its residents.
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Academic achievement

In 2018-19, the school district was rated a B by the Texas Education Agency No state accountability ratings were given to districts for the 2019–20 and 2020-21 school years. Prior to the 2011-12 school year, school districts in Texas could receive one of four possible rankings from the Texas Education Agency: Exemplary, Recognized, Academically Acceptable, and Academically Unacceptable. For the 2012-13 school year, the TEA moved to a Pass/Fail system. In 2017, the TEA adopted an A-F accountability system.
School YearRating
2021-22B
2020-21Not Rated: Declared State of Disaster
2019-20Not Rated: Declared State of Disaster
2018-19B
2017-18B
2016-17Met Standard
2015-16Met Standard
2014-15Met Standard
2013-14Met Standard
2012-13Met Standard
2011-12Not Rated
2010-11Academically Acceptable
2009-10Academically Acceptable
2008-09Academically Acceptable
2007-08Academically Acceptable
2006-07Academically Acceptable
2005-06Academically Acceptable
2004-05Academically Acceptable
2003-04Academically Acceptable

Finances

Like other Texas public school districts, Austin ISD is funded through a combination of local property taxes, general state revenues, and federal education funds. The district also funds some facilities construction and improvements through the issuance of debt by bond elections; Austin ISD's most recent bond elections have been held in 2013, 2017, and 2022.

Board of Trustees

Members are elected in nonpartisan elections and serve four year terms. Positions 1-7 are elected in single-member districts, while positions 8 and 9 are elected at-large.
PlaceNameTermElectedTerm Up
1Candace Hunter1st20222026
2LaRessa Quintana1st20242028
3Kevin Foster2nd20202028
4Katherine Whitley Chu1st20222026
5Lynn Boswell2nd20202028
6Andrew Gonzales1st20222026
7David Kauffman1st20222026
8Fernando Lucas de Urioste1st20242028
9Arati Singh3rd20182026

List of superintendents

  • John B. Winn – 1881–1894
  • Prof. Thomas Green Harris – 1895–1903
  • Arthur N. McCallum Sr. – 1903–1942
  • Dr. Russell Lewis – 1942–1947
  • Dr. J.W. Edgar – 1947–1950
  • Dr. Irby B. Carruth – 1950–1970
  • Dr. Jack L. Davidson – 1970–1980
  • Dr. John Ellis – 1980–1990
  • Dr. Gonzalo Garza – 1990–1991
  • Dr. Jim B. Hensley – 1991–1992
  • Dr. Terry N. Bishop – 1993–1994
  • Dr. James Fox Jr. – 1995–1998
  • A.C. Gonzalez – 1998–1999
  • Dr. Pascal D. Forgione Jr. – 1999–2009
  • Dr. Meria Carstarphen – 2009–2014
  • Dr. Paul Cruz – 2014–2020
  • Dr. Stephanie S. Elizalde – 2020–2022
  • Dr. Anthony Mays – 2022
  • Matias Segura – 2023–Present

Demographics

In the 1970s white flight to Westlake and other suburbs of Austin that were majority white began. In 1970 the student body of Austin ISD was 65% non-Hispanic white. In the late 1970s the student body was 57% non-Hispanic white, 26% Hispanic and Latino, and 15% African-American. Until 1978 Austin ISD categorized Hispanics and Latinos as "white" so they could integrate them with African-Americans while leaving non-Hispanic whites out of integration. That year it was forced to integrate Hispanics and non-Hispanic whites. In 2000 the student body of Austin ISD was 37% non-Hispanic white. The Hispanic student population peaked in 2011, at 52,398 students. As of the 2016-17 school year, there are 48,386 Hispanic students, 22,761 non-Hispanic white students, and 6,578 African-American students.
On November 18, 2019 the Austin ISD board of Trustees voted 6-3 in favor of a plan closing four elementary schools. This vote was criticized by many, including Austin ISD Chief Equity Officer, Dr. Hawley who stated that the "map that you have of the closures is a map of what 21st century racism looks like.... Our process for selecting schools was flawed. It was inequitable." The six Trustees who voted to close the schools were Cindy Anderson, Amber Elenz, Geronimo Rodriguez, Jayme Mathias, Yasmin Wagner and Kristen Ashy.
Demographics2020-212015-162010-112005-06
African-American6.6%7.8%9.5%13.5%
Asian4.5%3.8%3.3%2.9%
Hispanic55.0%58.8%60.3%55.4%
Native American0.1%0.2%0.3%0.2%
Pacific Islander0.1%0.1%0.1%β€”
Two or more races3.8%2.7%2.2%β€”
White, non-Hispanic30.1%26.6%24.3%27.9%

High schools

The following high schools cover grades 9 to 12, unless otherwise noted.

Unzoned high schools

The Ann Richards School, Garza Independence High School, and LASA have independent campuses, but International High School shares a campus with Northeast Early College High School.
High SchoolEstablishedGradesEnrollment NamesakeMascot
Ann Richards School for Young Women Leaders20076-12907Dorothy Ann RichardsStars
Garza Independence High School199810-12188Gonzalo GarzaGriffins
20039-10210β€”β€”
Liberal Arts & Science Academy 20079-121,518β€”Raptors

Other high school programs

The Graduation Preparatory Academies at Navarro and Travis Early College High Schools are officially listed as separate schools from their home campuses, but they are housed within the same building and share many programs.
Host CampusOther programs
McCallum High SchoolMcCallum Fine Arts Academy
Navarro Early College High SchoolGraduation Preparatory Academy at Navarro ECHS
Travis Early College High SchoolGraduation Preparatory Academy
Travis Institute of Hospitality & Culinary Arts

Middle schools

Other middle school programs

The Kealing and Lively magnet programs accept students from across AISD on a basis of academic record and provide them with a more advanced program. The magnet programs are housed in their respective schools, but provide some different classes to their students.
Host CampusOther programs
Kealing Middle SchoolKealing Magnet Program
Lively Middle SchoolLively Humanities and Law Magnet for International Studies

Elementary schools

Alternative Education

  • Rosedale School- It specifically serves kids with special needs

Facilities

Headquarters

The headquarters are at the intersection of Interstate 35 and Ben White. The structure has nine stories.
For a period prior to 1989, the Austin ISD headquarters were on Guadalupe Street, adjacent to the Texas Department of Public Safety headquarters. In 1989, the Texas House of Representatives passed a bill allowing DPS to acquire the former Austin ISD headquarters. That building was known as the Irby B. Carruth Administration Building.
From circa 1994 to 2019, the headquarters were at the Carruth Administration Center, on 1111 West Sixth Street. That building was sold, along with another Austin ISD facility, in 2017. The Schlosser Development Corporation purchased the West Sixth facility. The district used the money from those sales to buy the current headquarters. From around July to September 2019 the headquarters moved to the current location. The employees who went to the current headquarters came from those two sold properties and one other property.

Athletic facilities

AISD.TV

Austin ISD operates AISD.TV on Spectrum and Grande Communications channel 22 and AT&T U-verse channel 99.