ACADEMY PLACEMENT INFORMATION FOR INCOMING STUDENTS

First, determine whether you are in the Austin High attendance zone by typing your address into the School Finder tool: AISD SCHOOL FINDER

Students in the Austin High Attendance Zone		Students OUTSIDE the Austin High Attendance Zone
Research the academies at Austin High by visiting the websites and reviewing the Academy at a Glance Overview. Complete the Academy Preference Survey by 11:59 p.m. on February 4, 2025. Be sure to complete "annual forms" section in the Enroll Austin tile to finalize registration. Even if you do not need to go through an application process (because you live in our attendance zone), click on the yellow "Registration" box, then click "Start Your Application," and scroll down to "Complete Annual Forms." How are students placed in academies? We use a blind lottery system using a random number generator to place students in their 1st or 2nd choice academy, whenever possible. If you do not receive your 1st choice academy, you may choose to be added to a waitlist. Many students move off the waitlists in the spring and summer, as other students move and spaces become available. When are academy placements announced? Our lottery is run after the Academy Preference Survey is completed on February 4, 2025. . Academy placement emails will be sent by mid-March, 2025. Is everyone in an academy? Yes! At Austin High, all students are assigned a "house" or academy, which is an interdisciplinary team of teachers providing targeted support for 9th and 10th graders. Each academy incorporates project-based learning, provides field experiences and learning expeditions (including an international travel opportunity for each academy), and the chance to earn a graduation distinction.		If you live outside the attendance zone for Austin High, we would love to have you join the academy model by choosing AHS as your high school! To Apply for Admissions: Step 1: Go to the "Enroll Austin" tile on the parent portal to go through the Priority Registration process, and select Austin High School. You may select several schools of interest and rank your choices. (Each student may rank up to 7 schools.) Enroll Austin will match you to the schools you are eligible to attend. Step 2: Complete our "Next Steps" for Austin High, which is the Academy Model Transfer Application and Academy Preference Survey by 11:59 PM on February 4, 2025. UPDATE: In previous years, students wrote an in-person essay for admission, but this year, the written component is built into the Academy Preference Survey linked above. Enroll Austin is the "common application" used for any choice school such as a magnet, academy-based schools, special programs, etc. Please note: transportation is not provided to Austin High School for students who live outside the attendance zone.

Students in the Austin High Attendance Zone

Students OUTSIDE the Austin High Attendance Zone

Research the academies at Austin High by visiting the websites and reviewing the Academy at a Glance Overview.
Complete the Academy Preference Survey by 11:59 p.m. on February 4, 2025.
Be sure to complete "annual forms" section in the Enroll Austin tile to finalize registration. Even if you do not need to go through an application process (because you live in our attendance zone), click on the yellow "Registration" box, then click "Start Your Application," and scroll down to "Complete Annual Forms."

How are students placed in academies?
We use a blind lottery system using a random number generator to place students in their 1st or 2nd choice academy, whenever possible. If you do not receive your 1st choice academy, you may choose to be added to a waitlist. Many students move off the waitlists in the spring and summer, as other students move and spaces become available.

When are academy placements announced?
Our lottery is run after the Academy Preference Survey is completed on February 4, 2025. . Academy placement emails will be sent by mid-March, 2025.

Is everyone in an academy?
Yes! At Austin High, all students are assigned a "house" or academy, which is an interdisciplinary team of teachers providing targeted support for 9th and 10th graders. Each academy incorporates project-based learning, provides field experiences and learning expeditions (including an international travel opportunity for each academy), and the chance to earn a graduation distinction.

If you live outside the attendance zone for Austin High, we would love to have you join the academy model by choosing AHS as your high school!

To Apply for Admissions:

Step 1: Go to the "Enroll Austin" tile on the parent portal to go through the Priority Registration process, and select Austin High School. You may select several schools of interest and rank your choices. (Each student may rank up to 7 schools.) Enroll Austin will match you to the schools you are eligible to attend.

Step 2: Complete our "Next Steps" for Austin High, which is the Academy Model Transfer Application and Academy Preference Survey by 11:59 PM on February 4, 2025.

UPDATE: In previous years, students wrote an in-person essay for admission, but this year, the written component is built into the Academy Preference Survey linked above.

Enroll Austin is the "common application" used for any choice school such as a magnet, academy-based schools, special programs, etc.

Please note: transportation is not provided to Austin High School for students who live outside the attendance zone.

Want to learn more about Austin High School?

MAROON & WHITE NIGHT

Join us at Maroon & White Night on Wednesday, November 20th to see what Austin High School can offer your future Maroon! The event starts in the Austin High PAC at 6 PM, then moves into an open house format.

This annual showcase event will highlight performing arts and allow time for prospective students to meet with coaches to ask about team tryouts, learn about clubs and electives at Austin High, and explore each academy wing to speak with current students and teachers about their experiences. We recommend all students come to Maroon & White Night before completing the Academy Preference Survey.

SCHOOL TOURS

Are you interested in a school tour for your future 9th grader? If so, click HERE to join an upcoming tour group. We offer two tours each month from October to January, then one tour a month from February to May. We do not have a shadow program at Austin High, and we do not offer private tours outside the scheduled dates. We want to have our Academy Ambassadors on hand to greet you and answer all questions!

COURSE SELECTION

Our counselors have visited Small, O. Henry, Lively, and Kealing to share information about how 9th graders should select courses, and counselors will return to middle schools in January to help students finalize their selections. Please visit the Course Scheduling page under our Student Life tab to read more about choice sheets.

1) Students and families will consult with current teachers to determine if academic level or advanced level courses are the best fit for the following required courses: English I, Biology, World Geography, Math

2) Then select your electives (these are not academy-specific, but blended with students from all academies)

choose a first choice and second choice Fine Arts class
continue the language you started studying in middle school OR begin a World Language. At Austin High, we offer Spanish, French, Latin, and American Sign Language. German is offered through a shared school.
begin a CTE pathway in 9th grade -- pathways require a sequence of 4 courses
sign up for physical education (PE, Outdoor Adventure, sports, dance, cheer, marching band, etc.)

Academy Admissions