Austin ISD to retake Mendez Middle School following charter school partnership

Austin ISD will regain ownership of Mendez Middle School in South Austin next school year.

Charter school and nonprofit partners have operated the AISD campus for more than a decade to help improve low academic performance. On Jan. 16, the district announced it will retake the school this fall after the campus earned a B accountability rating in 2025.

What you need to know

AISD has implemented an 1882 partnership at Mendez Middle School since the 2014-15 school year with the goal of raising academic outcomes for students. The agreement under Senate Bill 1882 incentivizes districts to partner with open-enrollment charter schools, higher education institutions, nonprofits and government entities, according to the Texas Education Agency.

The AISD board of trustees partnered with nonprofit group Texas Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, or T-STEM, Coalition in the 2018-19 school year but ended the partnership in December 2021 after three years of continued poor ratings, according to previous Community Impact reporting.

Charter school network Third Future Schools took ownership of Mendez in 2022—during which the campus received a B accountability rating followed by C ratings in 2023 and 2024. In 2025, Mendez received a B rating of 89 out of 100.

“That milestone was met this year and district leaders believe it’s the right time to take this next step,” an AISD spokesperson said in a statement about the campus's 2025 rating.

Some context

The TEA’s accountability system rates districts from A-F based using State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness scores; student preparedness for college, career and military service; and graduation rates. Texas public schools that receive two or more unacceptable ratings must provide interventions through a turnaround plan.

If a campus receives five consecutive unacceptable ratings, the TEA commissioner must close the school or replace the board of trustees with a state-appointed board of managers.

The 1882 partnership allows districts a two-year pause in which campuses are exempt from state accountability interventions.

Over the coming weeks, the AISD board is expected to vote on whether to partner with charter schools to operate Burnet, Dobie and Webb middle schools next school year. The district restarted the campuses by hiring new principals and teachers after they each received a fourth consecutive F rating in 2025.

“While significant growth is evident, it is unlikely that Burnet, Dobie, and Webb will jump two letter grades by this spring,” AISD documents from a Jan. 15 board meeting state.

What’s next

In August, AISD will take over “Mendez’s academics, operations, staffing and campus leadership with the goal of sustaining and accelerating the progress Mendez has made,” an AISD spokesperson said. Third Future Schools will continue to operate Mendez for the remainder of the 2025-26 school year.

The district will survey families and host community engagement meetings to discuss the future of academics, extracurricular activities and special programming at the campus, according to AISD information.

Additionally, district officials will explore and consult with community members about finding a permanent location for the Alternative Learning Center that is currently housed at Mendez.