Sweeping changes are underway in Austin ISD as the district responds to failing A-F accountability ratings and continues its school consolidation process.
Here are four of the biggest stories from Austin ISD in August and September that you may have missed.
Austin ISD to hold school consolidation meetings as 12 failing campuses require intervention
Twelve AISD campuses will require immediate intervention after receiving three F ratings from the Texas Education Agency, AISD officials announced Sept. 3.
Here are four of the biggest stories from Austin ISD in August and September that you may have missed.
Austin ISD to hold school consolidation meetings as 12 failing campuses require intervention
Twelve AISD campuses will require immediate intervention after receiving three F ratings from the Texas Education Agency, AISD officials announced Sept. 3.
The district could choose to close these schools or restart the campus by hiring new principals and staff or partnering with a charter school.
Something to note
This summer, AISD began a school consolidation process to close and merge some campuses in the 2026-27 school year due to budgetary constraints and declining enrollment. While AISD didn't use A-F ratings to rank campuses for potential consolidation, the 2025 ratings may now limit the district's ability to combine campuses, Superintendent Matias Segura said in a letter posted to the district’s website.
Austin ISD to extend prekindergarten care at 9 campuses with Travis County funding
Austin ISD will begin offering free after-school child care for eligible prekindergarten students at nine campuses this semester.
The Travis County Commissioners Court approved a $3.7 million, two-year contract to fund the new Apple Blossom Centers at an Aug. 26 meeting.
The details
Extended after-school care will be offered for around 300 eligible 3-year-old prekindergarten students from 3-6 p.m. each school day.
Nine elementary schools offering the program have 75% or more economically disadvantaged students or are located in areas lacking adequate availability of child care services, according to Travis County information.
Participating schools include Allison, Padrón, Houston, Norman-Sims, St. Elmo, Andrews, Guerrero-Thompson, Langford and Harris elementaries.
Austin ISD adopts policy banning student cellphone use under new state law
Austin ISD students are no longer allowed to use their cellphones or personal devices on campus.
The AISD board of trustees approved a new device policy at an Aug. 21 meeting to comply with House Bill 1481. The legislation—passed by state lawmakers this spring—requires districts to adopt policies banning the use of personal communication devices during the school day.
A closer look
Under AISD’s new device policy, students must keep their personal devices turned off and stored out of sight in their backpacks or bags for the entirety of the school day. The school day includes any time before the first bell until the last bell of the day but does not encompass before- or after-school activities, according to the district’s updated student code of conduct.
2025 A-F ratings: Austin ISD campuses see some gains while failing ratings continue for others
Austin ISD saw a 10% increase in the number of campuses receiving passing A, B, or C ratings from the state in the 2023-24 to 2024-25 school years, according to newly released data the Texas Education Agency.
Meanwhile, Burnet, Dobie and Webb middle schools received their fourth consecutive F ratings in 2025, putting the district at risk of facing a state takeover or closing those campuses in 2026. TEA data shows 23 new AISD campuses have received multiple failed A-F ratings and will require state intervention going forward.
The background
The TEA released public school accountability ratings for the 2023-24 and 2024-25 school years Aug. 15, wrapping up a legal battle that began nearly two years prior. Texans can find the updated accountability ratings for K-12 districts and individual campuses at www.txschools.gov.
