One reason that
Austin, TX is such a desirable place to live is its strong focus on education: The city is home, after all, to the highly regarded University of Texas at Austin as well as some top-quality public schools. If you’re considering a move to Austin, let
Movoto Real Estate help you track down the ideal home in the Live Music Capital of the World. And because the caliber of schools is such an important factor when weighing a potential new community, we’ve rounded up some useful information on some of Austin’s educational institutions—including Anderson High School in Northwest Austin.
School Overview
Anderson—established in 1973 and located along Mesa Drive just a stone's throw from Austin's Northwest Hills neighborhood—sets as its mission the goal of “provid[ing] a comprehensive educational experience that is high quality, challenging, and inspires all students to make a positive contribution to society.”
One notable way the school distinguishes itself is by offering the International Baccalaureate (IB) Program, which verses students in high-level coursework that, as the school explains, “meets standards of international academic excellence and promotes admission to college and universities throughout the world.”
In addition to completing a curriculum in six focus areas (Native Language, Language Acquisition, Individuals & Societies, Sciences, Mathematics, and the Arts), those aiming for an IB diploma also must complete a “Theory of Knowledge” course, a 4,000-word essay based on original research, and “Creativity, Action, Service” (CAS) work engaging with the community. Anderson High School also offers a full suite of Pre-Advanced Placement (Pre-AP) and Advanced Placement (AP) classes, giving participating students the opportunity to get a taste for college-level studies and thereby better prepare themselves for admission—and, hopefully, strong performance—in higher-education institutions.
Anderson is one of Texas’s leading high schools in terms of academic accomplishment. The “Washington Post” ranked Anderson among the “Most Challenging High Schools in America,” a classification based on AP and IB exam scores as well as the school’s emphasis on boosting the performance of “at-risk” students (in Economically Disadvantaged, Minority, and Migrant/Refugee/ESL categories). The school's also been highly ranked in Austin and the Lone Star State at large by the organization CHILDREN AT RISK, which assesses the educational opportunities available to Texas students of all backgrounds.
What Parents Are Saying
“The academics at this school are unmatched in the Austin area. I attribute Anderson's prestige and high level of achievement to the principal, Ms. Donna Houser. Ms. Houser is fair, kind, and able to relate to the children, but she is also a competent, qualified, capable leader. I cannot say enough about Anderson and the kind of environment Ms. Houser has created there; one which nurtures learning and encourages kids to succeed to their highest potential.”
“But there is real dedication all over the campus in the staff, the kids, the teachers and the parents and that's part of what makes Anderson a great place. It is what you as a student and a parent make of it. I'd also put it up against any verticals in town - it's hands down part of the best. People buy into the neighborhoods that feed Anderson and Murchison for very legitimate reasons.”
“As a professional collaborating with faculty and staff at Anderson High School, I am repeatedly shocked by the level of disorganization and poor building security. Meetings are poorly planned, staff are unprepared, and follow through is lacking in the special education/504 areas and with discipline issues. Students are free to roam the building and grounds during classes and visitors can freely walk through the halls without identifying themselves or checking in. Staff have difficulty locating students when needed. I feel it is an unsafe and disorganized environment. Test scores are only one aspect of a school's success.”
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