Austin ISD invites current and future middle school students and their families to a middle school fair to introduce them to the diverse and innovative programming offered at AISD middle schools. 

The event gives students and families a single space to explore the many programs offered at AISD’s middle school campuses. It also allows families to speak with campus representatives, who can answer questions and explain their program offerings. 

Middle school students will also perform in four areas throughout the fair. Spanish interpreters as well as community liaisons will be on hand to answer questions related to transfers. Capital Metro passes are available to families through their home campus parent support specialist. 

The fair is free and open to the public.

For families that live outside Austin ISD who are interested in a specific school or program, AISD accepts out-of-district transfer requests. An out-of-district transfer is a process that allows families who live outside AISD to apply to have their student attend an AISD school.

Who: AISD middle school leaders, students

When: 9 a.m.–noon Saturday, Dec. 3

Where: Kealing Middle School, 1607 Pennsylvania Ave.

Schools to be featured

Ann Richards School for Young Women Leaders

The Ann Richards School for Young Women Leaders is a public all-girls school of choice that serves grades 6-12. ARS provides a challenging, college-preparatory curriculum with an emphasis on science, technology, engineering, art and math (STEAM) skills, with project-based, experiential learning to enhance real-world application, and includes collaborative projects within the community to explore career options. ARS dedicates itself to preparing young women to attend and graduate from college, commit to a healthy and well-balanced lifestyle, lead with courage and compassion, and solve problems creatively and ethically in support of our global community.

Bailey Middle School 

Bailey Middle School offers a comprehensive middle school program for students in grades 6-8. Bailey’s mission is to educate all students so that they may achieve their maximum intellectual potential. Bailey offers a supportive atmosphere where staff, parents and community members work together to provide a variety of opportunities for students to grow socially, emotionally, physically and aesthetically. Nationally recognized programs in band and orchestra, an award-winning yearbook program, and athletics and cheering programs are among more than 25 clubs and student activities offered at Bailey.

Bedichek Middle School

Bedichek Middle School is an AVID National Demonstration School that specializes in preparing students for high school, college and beyond. Students use writing, inquiry, collaboration, organization and reading to engage in high-level thought processes. Project-based lessons through technology and standards-based-grading further promote develop 21st century skills and tap into the creativity of each individual student. The campus boasts award-winning fine arts programs and the National Champion Bedichek Junior Marine Corps, the only middle school JROTC program in Austin ISD. Students foster their academic creativity and leadership skills through entrepreneurship, advisory clubs and College for Every Student. Pride in Excellence is not only our motto, but who we are.

Bertha Sadler Means Young Women’s Leadership Academy

The Bertha Sadler Means Young Women’s Leadership Academy will foster a sisterhood environment to develop confident, academically prepared, service-minded and innovative young women leaders for success in college, career and life. A single-gender educational model is a proven and effective method for helping students excel, and as part of this new model, students will be given the tools and options for taking their education to a higher level.

Burnet Middle School

Burnet Middle School motivates and inspires students to succeed in a safe and caring learning environment. Located in north central Austin, where it opened in 1961, Burnet offers a rigorous and relevant education for all students. Beginning in 2015, Burnet will be one of the first in AISD to offer two-way dual language at the middle school level. A focus on literacy is reinforced with Family Literacy nights and other activities. Connections between family and school are reinforced through the PTA, Family Resource Centers, and Boys and Girls Club.

Covington Middle School and Fine Arts Academy

Covington Middle School and Fine Arts Academy is a comprehensive school program where every student takes part in the most rigorous creative learning in a culture of rich social and emotional supports, incorporating AVID college-preparation strategies. Increased self-confidence and self-discipline, performance advancement, strengthened social and problem-solving skills, and FUN are just a few of the many positive outcomes for students at Covington. 

Dobie Middle School and College Prep Academy

Dobie Middle School College Prep Academy has robust fine arts and tech programs and community resources for families. Dobie offers courses in art, band, choir, guitar and theater and Project Lead the Way engineering classes. Parent education and English as a Second Language courses are available for parents, and Dobie regularly hosts events for families. 

Fulmore Middle School

Fulmore Middle School, located just down the street from the Texas State Capitol on historic South Congress Avenue, serves approximately 1,000 students. Fulmore offers dynamic programs where students are challenged and supported in our historic and beautiful setting. The Fulmore Humanities and Law Magnet for International Studies offers advanced academic programming that provides engaging coursework.  The three strands of Law, Humanities, and International Studies provide the basis for a wide array of unique academic electives which are found exclusively at Fulmore. Magnet students enroll in accelerated language arts and social studies courses where they enjoy cross-curricular, project-based learning that is literacy intensive.  

Fulmore’s Spanish Dual Language Program provides students the opportunity to become bilingual, bi-literate, and bicultural through high-level cognitive instructional practices, which supports Austin ISD’s Dual Language Programming. Students take one core content class per grade level in Spanish and also Spanish for Spanish Speakers, culminating with Advanced Placement Spanish in 8th grade. 

Fulmore students can also take courses for high school credit, such as Algebra, Geometry, and foreign languages, which prepare them to be successful in any high school setting. All students at Fulmore are welcome to enroll in our diverse academic electives, and our award-winning fine arts and athletic programs.

Gorzycki Middle School

Located on 42 acres along West Slaughter Lane in far southwest Austin, Gorzycki Middle School first opened its doors to students for the 2009–10 school year. Gorzycki is named in honor of longtime music educator and band director Diane Elaine Gorzycki, who worked with the district for 30 years. Our staff of dedicated teachers serves more than 1300 students in grades 6, 7 and 8. We strive to create a secure and collaborative climate where the Gorzycki community is empowered to challenge, design, build and lead tomorrow’s world citizens.

Gus Garcia Young Men’s Leadership Academy

In an environment of brotherhood, the Gus Garcia Young Men’s Leadership Academy will develop scholars who are empathetic, service-oriented, problem solvers, life-long learners who are successful in high school, college, career and life. A single-gender educational model is a proven and effective method for helping students excel, and as part of this new model, students will be given the tools and options for taking their education to a higher level.

Kealing Middle School

Kealing Middle School, right in the heart of East Austin, has a tradition of excellence for all students. One school with two programs, Kealing provides unique opportunities for its students to grow. The Kealing Academy Program, which primarily serves students who live in the Kealing attendance zone, offers students rigorous core classes—using strategies focused on writing, inquiry, collaboration, organization, and reading—to prepare them for increasing levels of academic achievement. The application-based Kealing Magnet Program serves students from across Austin ISD and fosters advanced academic development beyond the scope of traditional middle school expectations.  In addition to robust core classes, Kealing offers all students the opportunity to take one of a kind, engaging electives which serve to extend and unify the skills and concepts learned in the core classes.

Lamar Middle School and Fine Arts Academy

Lamar Fine Arts Academy provides an inspiring program for students throughout Austin to pursue an accelerated arts curriculum as fine arts majors. Lamar offers its students both meaningful and enriching opportunities in the areas of visual arts, dance, band, orchestra, choral music, drama, classical guitar, piano, digital arts and media, as well as the nationally recognized Lamar Jazz Factory.  Established in 2012, LMSFAA is aligned with McCallum High School and Fine Arts Academy and also provides curriculum in Engineering, Street Law, Computer Sciences, Advanced Sciences, Creative Writing, and Languages other than English.

Martin Middle School

The Innovation Academy is a specialized program at Martin Middle School that is focused on Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math, or STEM, in order to align with the East Side Memorial vertical team.  Our goal is to better prepare the students for a successful high school career and college readiness.  The Academy is looking to identify students from across the district and surrounding areas who excel in the classroom.  These students would benefit from the various enrichment opportunities, such as a partnership with the University of Texas Mexican American Latino/Latina Studies department and the National Wildlife Federation that the Academy has to offer.  As well as a high level of rigor, including cross-curricular Project Based Learning (PBL) curriculum. 

In addition the Academy, Martin has a robust Fine Arts program, advanced technology courses, and a state of the art schedule that affords more time to growing the whole child.  Martin also offers a Spanish AP track, which gives the students an opportunity to acquire Spanish college credits while in middle school. 

Mendez Middle School

Mendez Middle School, serving approximately 900 students in South Austin, aims to provide students with a wealth of opportunities on their path to success. Consuelo Herrera Mendez, the school’s namesake, worked as a teacher for nearly 50 years and was a tireless advocate for Mexican-American rights. With a focus on both community service and career and technical education, Mendez strives to live up to her legacy by providing students with the foundation they need to enter the global workforce and become contributing members of their community. 

Murchison Middle School

Murchison Middle School begins each student’s secondary experience with a focus on language development, cultural perspectives, and global awareness. A rigorous curriculum with a plethora of learning experiences, technology applications, and community service is the cornerstone of Murchison. High academic expectations are the standard for all students, and advanced Pre-AP classes and high school credit courses provide the rigor for students who pursue higher level achievement. Fine Arts at Murchison is an integral core for student development. The International Baccalaureate Middle Years Program provides the framework for Murchison academics, campus-wide activities, instructional design and community service. Designation as a No Place for Hate campus is a continuing commitment and tenet for action. Our Highly Certified AVID program prepares students and families new to college prep and supports rigorous learning through collaboration, inquiry based learning, and Socratic questioning. Language options include Spanish, French, German, Latin, and Chinese. Technology is tightly integrated into the curriculum through problem based learning and research. Career and Technology courses include Project Lead the Way foundation and specialization classes, graphic and web design, robotics and more.

O. Henry Middle School

O. Henry Middle School is named for short- story writer William Sydney Porter, better known by his pen name of O. Henry.  Located in central west Austin, we serve students from Barton Hills ES, Bryker Woods ES, Casis ES, Mathews ES, Oak Hill ES, Pease ES, Zilker ES, Alison ES, and Govalle ES.  Our school offers strong academic programming and a focus on social and emotional learning.  In addition to band, orchestra, athletics, and Pre-AP courses, we have a unique enrichment program that meets the diverse needs of our student body.  O. Henry was named a 2012 Schools to Watch by the National Forum to Accelerate Middle-Grades Reform and was re-designated in 2015.  The school earned the recognition for challenging students to use their minds well, being sensitive to the unique developmental challenges of early adolescence and providing every student with high-quality teachers and resources.

Paredes Middle School

Paredes Middle School is named for Américo Paredes, a seminal 20th century Mexican-American scholar. The mission of Paredes Middle School is to prepare students to be successful and productive community members, lifelong learners and creative problem solvers who value teamwork, cultural diversity and mutual respect. Student achievement is a top priority at Paredes. The school's climate encourages positive, respectful behavior that is conductive to teaching and learning.

Small Green Tech Academy

The Green Tech Academy at Clint Small Middle School offers courses in environmental studies and career and technology education, including a STEM program using the national pre-engineering curriculum of Project Lead the Way. Students in the advanced learner track can earn high school credit, and programs in the fine arts and athletics provide a well-rounded education focused on development of the whole child.

Webb Middle School 

Webb Middle School, which is the heart of the St. John neighborhood in Northeast Austin, is a tightly knit community bound by one shared belief: It takes a village to raise a child. The community school works closely with students, families and partners to develop rigorous curriculum, as well as integrated support systems that ensure every student is prepared for college, career and life. Webb is part of the Reagan family of schools. As an early college high school, Reagan offers students the opportunity to earn college credit and graduate with a diploma in one hand and an associate’s degree from Austin Community College in the other.

For more information, please contact Ollie White in the Middle Schools Office at 512-414-4481.