Sadler Means is more than a school — it is a learning community where young women discover who they are, what they love, and what they are capable of becoming. As Austin ISD’s all-girls Media, Visual & Performing Arts Academy, Sadler Means blends rigorous academics with rich creative and leadership experiences that shape students into confident, thoughtful, and driven young women.
Everywhere you look, you see students creating, experimenting, performing, and leading. Our Dragons are editing video reels, sketching digital art, rehearsing choreography, directing scenes, designing graphics, and coordinating service projects that impact their community. Sadler Means is a place where students step boldly into their gifts and learn how to use them with purpose.
Our M.V.P. Academy is built on four interconnected tracks — Media Arts, Visual/Digital Arts, Performing Arts, and Leadership — each offering students deep exploration in their chosen field. Supported by passionate and experienced faculty, students gain not only technical skill but also confidence, voice, and a sense of ownership over their learning.
As a Creative Learning Initiative (CLI) campus, creativity is at the heart of everything we do. Our students engage in lessons that stretch their thinking, spark their imagination, and encourage them to take risks, collaborate, and problem-solve. They learn to think deeply, express themselves clearly, and approach challenges with curiosity and resilience.
In the Media Arts track, students step into a space that feels part newsroom, part film studio, and part creative lab. Here, they learn how to shape stories — writing scripts, framing shots, adjusting lighting, recording audio, and editing footage until their ideas come alive on screen.
Girls explore the world of radio, television, and film production, taking on roles such as director, editor, broadcaster, producer, and on-air talent. This pathway mirrors AISD’s advanced high school media programs and connects directly to college opportunities like ACC’s Radio-Television-Film and Digital Media Programs and UT Austin’s RTF program. Students leave Sadler Means with foundational media production skills and the confidence to step into any creative space ready to contribute and lead.
Students in the Visual Arts track dive into a wide range of artistic mediums — drawing, painting, sculpture, animation, graphic design, and digital illustration — learning how to transform ideas into compelling visual stories. They explore color theory, composition, perspective, and digital tools that mirror real-world creative careers.
Through reflective critiques, hands-on studio work, and digital portfolio building, students develop both their technical skills and their unique artistic voice. By the time they complete the track, they have a curated portfolio that demonstrates growth, creativity, craftsmanship, and readiness for high school advanced art pathways.
The Performing Arts track immerses students in dance, theater, choir, and music, offering a space where creativity becomes movement, sound, and storytelling. Dragons learn foundational techniques — from choreography and vocal performance to acting, stage blocking, rhythm, and ensemble work.
Students gain confidence through regular performances, rehearsals, showcases, and opportunities to collaborate across disciplines. They learn discipline, teamwork, self-expression, and the power of presence — skills that translate far beyond the stage.
The Leadership Track is designed to help students understand who they are and how they can influence the world around them. Students sharpen skills in public speaking, communication, collaboration, conflict resolution, event planning, advocacy, and community service.
They learn how to lead teams, manage projects, organize events, and navigate real-world challenges with confidence and respect. Through guided practice, service opportunities, and campus engagement, students grow into leaders who act with clarity, intention, empathy, and integrity — qualities that prepare them for success in every future academic, professional, and community space.