Campus Initiatives & Special Programs

Fine Arts Academies offer a rigorous, high-quality and unique educational opportunity for students interested in pursuing an accelerated arts curriculum. These academies incorporate the study of dance, music, theatre and the visual arts.

Montessori  is a child-centered educational approach based on scientific observations of children. Multi-age groupings are the hallmark of the program in which younger children learn from older children. Austin ISD Montessori education is currently offered at Winn Elementary. 

Austin ISD Pre-K provides safe learning environments for 3- and 4-year-olds at 73 campuses throughout Austin. Our program offerings including Head Start and Dual Language (Spanish/English) and Mandarin/English) are available at specific locations. Our faculty includes certified teachers and teaching assistants who provide individualized attention to every student. Tuition is based on income.

Please visit the Pre-K3 or Pre-K4 websites to learn more about the programs and eligibility process. 

Early College Programs at high schools offer scholars the opportunity to graduate simultaneously with a high school diploma and an associate degree—all for free. ECHS is hosted through a partnership with Austin Community College and operates at seven AISD Early College High Schools: Akins, Crockett, Eastside, LBJ, Navarro, Northeast and Travis. 

The program is committed to educating students in a multicultural learning environment and encouraging learners to celebrate diversity and become responsible citizens of the world. AISD’s programs include one-way and two-way Spanish, two-way Vietnamese, and two-way Mandarin Chinese. More information about the program, campuses who offer dual language, and enrollment information can be found through the dual language program page. 

Fine Arts Academies offer a rigorous, high-quality and unique educational opportunity for students interested in pursuing an accelerated arts curriculum. For middle school students, Fine Arts Academies are offered at Covington Middle School and Lamar Middle School; at high school, one is offered at McCallum High School. 

International Baccalaureate curriculum is a challenging framework for high school ​(IB Diploma Program) and middle school students (Middle Years Program) that encourages making practical connections between studies and the real world. It is a comprehensive course of study designed for highly motivated students. In earning an IB diploma from high school, students are automatically granted a minimum of 24 hours of college credit at any Texas public university per Texas Senate Bill 111. The IB program is offered at Anderson High School and Murchison Middle School. 

Magnet Programs offer a theme-based curriculum for students who are interested in specific subjects that match their talents, skills or career path. Teachers receive specialized training aligned to the school's thematic focus, and strong community partnerships support the relevance of the theme with a real-world view. For middle schools, both  Kealing Middle School and Lively MIddle School offer magnet programs. LASA offers a magnet program at high school. 

Single-Gender Schools  in Austin ISD operate through researched based practices showing the range of potential benefits to implementing single-gender schools. AISD has three single-gender schools: the Ann Richards School for Young Women Leaders, Bertha Sadler Means Young Women’s Leadership Academy, and Gus Garcia Young Men’s Leadership Academy.