Austin, named for Texas colonist and political leader Stephen F. Austin, was chartered as the capital of the Republic of Texas in 1839, and became the state capital when Texas was admitted to the Union in 1845. Austin, which also serves as the county seat of Travis County, is located on the Colorado River in Central Texas along the transition between the rugged Texas Hill Country and the fertile Gulf Coastal Plain.

From Barton Springs and the Highland Lakes to scenic hills and one of the largest bat colonies in North America, the natural features of the Austin are major attractions to both residents and visitors. Austin is also a vibrant cultural center. Austin is one of the few cities in the United States with its own symphony, opera, and ballet, and is known as the "Live Music Capital of the World." Austin is also home to numerous art galleries, museums, and theater companies. The University of Texas at Austin is one of the nation's largest research universities, and several other institutions of higher learning are located in the Austin area. Austin is recognized as one of the nation's intellectual capitals and as a draw to creative people of all types.

Austin, known as the "Silicon Hills," has become one of the nation's prominent high-tech centers. Austin is now one of the top wireless cities. Austin has also become one of the top locations in the nation for filmmaking. Austin is consistently ranked highly in many national "best places" lists, including best places to live and work, best places for business, best places to raise a family, and best places to retire.

It is not surprising that Austin continues to be one of the fastest-growing cities in the state and in the nation. In 2007, the population of Austin was estimated at 743,074 and the population of the Austin-San Marcos Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) - which includes Bastrop, Hays, Caldwell, Travis, and Williamson counties - was estimated at 1,598,161. It is also not surprising that people from all over the nation and the world choose to live in Austin, providing for a population rich in diversity.

As indicated in the AISD Basic Data, the over 82,000 students enrolled in AISD are reflective of this diverse population. The boundaries of AISD include most of the City of Austin and much of Travis County. Of the 29 public school districts in the MSA, AISD is the largest, followed by Round Rock, Leander, Pflugerville, Hays, Georgetown, Bastrop, Del Valle, San Marcos, and Eanes. AISD is also the third-largest employer in the MSA, behind the University of Texas and Dell.