Exploring the Academy of Global Studies at Austin High School

Austin High School is the second closest AISD school to my home. In Austin Independent School District they have a number of high schools that have academic programs called, "Academies." At first I figured the academies were similar to Magnet programs, but I'm wrong. Traditionally, in all of the places I have lived before, Magnet programs were meant to draw populations with a particular interest to a school. On the face, there's nothing wrong with trying to make school more enjoyable by employing programs that students would love to participate in if they have a keen interest in arts, science, technology, etc. Except in my experience, these programs are usually started at schools that have higher number of children from low income housing.

How do I know this? I was one of those kids who attended a special public school program where a certain group of students were bussed from one side of town to the other to try and even out the income disparities. To be honest, it's hard not to notice the physical geographic lines through all of the cities I have lived in of where the haves from the have nots are, and it's not just heartbreaking, it's wrong. Schools should have programs not because they want to lure a specific demographic to a school, but because all the kids already in that school deserve such a program.

Today I was learning about the Academy of Global Studies from a high school junior. She was a great tour guide in that I got to see the whole building. You should know it was built in the 1970s when open classroom and pod learning were very popular. I guess this has fallen out of favor, because they have created floor to sealing dividers that break each of the rooms up into various classrooms. Similarly, different areas of the buildings have wings -- the social studies wing, the athletics wing, the science wing, the arts wing. The school is three floors and has been added onto over time. 

Aesthetically, everything is dated. Some classrooms had newer desks that crated hexagons for group study, but like your typical public high school -- it's not flashy. 

As I was walking into the building, a small group of theater students were working outside together. They were clearing enjoying their assignment and appeared to be trying to block out a scene together. It made me happy to see arts at the forefront of the building. Upon walking in, a security guard greeted me and asked me for my ID. My tour guide explained that this was a new protocol put into place by the new principal, who she said was doing a great job on making some changes to create a safer atmosphere at school. There were also signs indicating that only seniors are allowed to leave the high school campus during the day. 

While I waited for my security name badge to print out, I stood across the open space from the orchestra room. It was very peaceful. All the students were in class, so it was very quiet in the hallways except for the classical music.

I walked up to the second floor office with a school nurse. She asked me about X-man, and I told her that I was touring early to try and come up with some decisions because he's a bit quirky. She smiled and claimed to have a similar child. She told me that her child went to the Eanes school district, but that it was not a good fit. And that if she had the chance to do it all over again, Austin High School would have been a better fit. "We have all kinds of kids here and they are definitely more accepting of difference." 

And I have to tell you, there were a lot of different kids, which I loved. Kids in wheelchairs. Kids in newspaper. Kids working on group projects. Lots of diversity, and their seemed to be a very casual air about it. The high schoolers were all wearing jeans with layered t-shirts and sweatshirts. It wasn't anything fancy. I saw no girls in heels. It felt -- normal. 

The global studies program is for students who are interested in international problem solving and current events. Each semester the students travel somewhere. Freshmen year is usually a trip to a Poverty Simulation in Arkansas. Sophomore year is usually a trip to Costa Rica. This year's juniors are headed to New Mexico, and the senior class is off to China. 

My tour guide said that class size in her Academy has always been smaller than her other classes. She said 16-20 was her norm in Global Academy, but 32-35 in all other classes. However, she said that low student to teacher class number probably will not continue and that they will be raised to be the same across the board next year. The classrooms are fairly large, but they are filled with large bodies. The classes are quiet though, and focused. There were no "out of control" classes, that I sometimes had at my high school. Everyone was focused and doing their thing. 

Austin High School is a neighborhood school, so children in that area get first dibs on spots at the school and in the Global Academy. Then if they have space, they let other students transfer in. When my tour guide was applying to schools, they weren't taking any transfers. She physically moved in with a different relative in order to use their address to go to school. When I set up my appointment, the woman said that in 2017 they would be accepting up to 40 transfers, which means competition is pretty high for the few number of slots they have.

I also learned that right now the plan for Austin High School is to start three more Academies. My tour guide thought for sure there was one based on technology (They do have a lot of computer labs, which are all PC. The only Macs are found in the newspaper, school multi-media and yearbook rooms.), one based on STEM and Classical Studies. The plan was, she thought, that everyone who attended the school would choose an Academy to be a part of. So that there was no "traditional" educational pathway at that high school any more. Applications to the Academies are due by Feb. 1 for out of "attendance zone" applicants. 

One of the things I did love was that the teachers had little signs with their names, what they taught and where they graduated from college outside their door. Classrooms had varying levels of technology. Some classrooms had Chromebooks, other did not. 

One of the things I look for when I visit a school is how my sensory sensitive child would react in an environment, and I have to be honest that Austin High School might be hard for him. The first issue was that at lunch time all of the students in the school eat at the same time. The cafeteria is large, but my guide told me students eat everywhere, in the halls, on the stairs, outside, basically wherever they can find a space with their friends. The cafeteria looks kind of like a McDonald's. It's got booths lining one side and lots of tables around the room. I was pretty sure that X-man would never wait in line for any kind of lunch purchasing, and the noise of the chaos of all of the students eating together, would likely drive him mad.

On the flip side, off of the school library, they have what's called an innovation room. If you get done early with something in class, you can ask for a pass to go there and work on whatever you're curious about, so that you don't get in trouble being bored. I thought this was a wonderful idea, and I liked that it was situated off of the library. The library is large, more tables for work than there are stacks, but they have one, and it is clearly used. 

Another thing I noticed was that everything in the school was hard surfaced. It was a lot of rock and concrete and plastic chairs. There was one couch in a hall which had a teenager sleeping on it at 10:15 a.m. And I noticed another teen carrying around a pink fuzzy baby blanket. He might have gotten it from the child development class, or he might have brought it from home. 

There was a Healthy Snack vending machine being stocked while I was there. Students are also given FIT time, which is Flexible Instruction Time that allows students to get extra help and guidance from teachers in specific subjects. It's not only for those where students struggle, but also in areas that students excel. There is also a Culinary Arts program at the school for any future chef in your life. 

My guide said school usually starts at 9 a.m. and ends at 4:30 p.m. So your child will never have to wake up when it's dark outside again. (Woot!) But if you attend an academy and don't live in the Austin High School designated neighborhood area, the district does not provide transportation for your child. You will have to drive him. City buses are available, but my guide said that they don't drop off at the high school (!). Instead they would have to walk from down near the Y or from over near Magnolia on the other side of Mopac in order to walk to school. From where we live, it might even be worth finding someone near the lake that would allow us to park a kayak and have X-man kayak to the school. :-) 

My guide said there are tons of extracurriculars to choose from, which is an advantage of larger high schools. She said there is also a late activity bus home for children who stay late for practices, if students live in the attendance zone.

My guide was really pleased with her choice in schools. She loved her travels and learning about complicated world issues.