Travis Heights Elementary School

2010 Alameda Drive

School District

Austin Independent
Grade

PK, K-5
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:14
Type

charter

School Map for Austin Independent School District

GreatSchools Rating

The school rating calculation is based on four ratings: the Student Progress Rating or Academic Progress Rating, College Readiness Rating, Equity Rating, and Test Score Rating each designed to show different facets of school success. Learn more about GreatSchools Ratings

Reviews

Submitted by parent on June 03, 2018

We have been extremely happy with THES. I was initially concerned with the ratings, but don't be fooled by the numbers. This is a very inclusive and supportive school. The teachers and staff are top notch and have gone above and beyond to support my son. He also participates in the dual language program and is grade level for both English and Spanish. Come check out this hidden gem.
Submitted by parent on March 19, 2018

This school has been great for my 2 kids. Great parents community. This is an in-district charter school within Austin Independent School District, so they have more freedom to try advanced teaching methodologies. I recommend this school.
Submitted by parent on February 07, 2018

The school is very community-based. Lots of parental involvement, great teachers, active PTA. I highly recommend -- I have twin daughters there, and occasionally substitute teach and am the PTA treasurer.
Submitted by parent on February 06, 2018

The characteristic I hold in highest regard is that even though much of the school is economically disadvantaged (~70%), most all the parents are involved. I walk my kiddos in everyday and am joined by parents of all races and socio-economic backgrounds. I see clusters of parents networking with each other and parents just about everyday.
Submitted by parent on January 26, 2017

Unfortunately as a parent I've had to witness the assistant principal, on two different occasions, make comments to parents that were highly inappropriate. On both occasions these parents were trying to handle delicate situations with their children who were experiencing great states of distress. The assistant principal spoke very harshly to both of these parents in a very rude and condescending manner. What is especially troubling is that this was done in front of other parents at least twice that I've witnessed. It is not the job of school staff to openly critique individuals ability to handle crisis situations in public!
Submitted by other on August 29, 2016

My son is in 3rd grade dual language at Travis Heights Elementary. He's been attending since kindergarden. It's an excellent school and a great community. I appreciate the parent involvement we have. Great leadership, AMAZING teachers and staff. Diversity in terms of economic background and ethnic heritage. Innovative programs. Couldn't be happier. My 5 year old started dual language this year and he's enjoying it.
Submitted by parent on May 25, 2015

We've been in THES for 2 years and are extremely happy. Every school has its challenges but here, the teachers, parents and administration care SO MUCH about making it the best experience possible for each student, no matter what kind of student he/she is. It's a really diverse community, which is very hard to find in Austin and I think very important for children to learn what's out there in the world (hint: the world DOES NOT look like Westlake!). And my daughter is getting Spanish immersion for free, in our neighborhood, vs. some friends I have who are paying a lot for private school (and a big commute) to do the same. I really love the community feel of the school - everyone trying to help each other and just being friendly anytime we run into each other in the neighborhood. But most of all I love that my daughter is always excited to go to school in the morning.
Submitted by parent on May 15, 2015

Our child is in 1st grade and loves Travis Heights. He is learning Spanish, excelling in math, and participating in after-school Prime Time classes. Travis Heights is implementing innovative instruction, including Project Based Learning, Blended Learning for math with 1:1 laptop ratio, Dual Language learning, and Social and Emotional Learning. The school is extremely diverse, with engaged parents, great teachers, and a caring staff.
Submitted by parent on May 15, 2015

Our daughter is in third grade now and has been at Travis Heights Elementary since kindergarden. We all think it is an excellent school and a great community to be a part of. Great leadership, great teachers and staff. Diversity in terms of economic background and ethnic heritage. Innovative programs. Couldn't be happier with our choice of school for our daughter. Our 4-year-old can't wait to be a Travis Heights Thunderbird!
Submitted by parent on May 14, 2015

I am a parent of a THES 2nd grader and one starting Pre-K. I am frankly shocked to see this wonderful school be rated as "5" a rating sadly based only on test scores and not reflective of this school at all. Travis Heights does so much to prepare its students academically and socially for the real world. Parents, teachers and the community came together a few years ago to make this school an "in-district charter", a term that means it is an AISD school with more flexibility to incorporate ideals important to our Austin neighborhood - cultural bi-literacy, service, project based learning, technology, community. THES welcomes all kids, from ESL to gifted to special needs...and disregards how certain students might affect the campus test scores. Staff/Teachers work to assess and meet the needs of each individual child. As with any school, it is not perfect, but the staff is always assessing and truly welcomes parent input/involvement. While many kids go on to do well at Fulmore Middle, I understand that, for the last 4-5 years, students who applied to Middle magnet programs were all accepted at one. And parents say their kids were well prepared for these challenging programs.
Submitted by parent on May 14, 2015

My child has been at Travis Heights Elementary for two years in the dual language program. THES is an in-district independent charter, which gives the teachers much more flexibility to create a curriculum that serves the diverse student body. With blended learning my child is able to push ahead at his own rate -- the software is also available at home so he can do extra work at home if he chooses. The project based learning they are doing is very exciting. My child is engaged and challenged. He has gone from no exposure to Spanish before starting school, to writing multi-sentence stories in Spanish in less than two years (kinder & 1st). The specials (music, art, P.E.) teachers and programs are outstanding and the librarian is awesome. We are very happy with Travis Heights.
Submitted by other on August 20, 2014

I am new to the neighborhood and caught wind of the school at my little coffee shop/market from a poster that was posted in the window. I went to the website and the schools seems to be doing some pretty cutting edge stuff as far as a public school goes.
Submitted by parent on August 20, 2014

My child has been at Travis Heights and in Special Education for a few years. There is a partially new staff in SPED this year and I have met them. They seem vibrant, engaged and ready for the challenge with fresh ideas and a positive attitude. The district itself clearly struggles with how to best serve our most vulnerable kids. We have been at others schools in AISD, but we have found the principal at Travis Heights to always be approachable, responsive and willing to dig in deep to make sure the instructional experience is appropriate. Even so far as to push on the district to get needed or unique resources on campus for our child. I'm sorry to hear one person is upset prior to even starting the school year, but raising a child with special needs can be difficult. I have always found the leadership and teachers at this school to be supportive, proactive and thoughtful about how to truly serve our child.
Submitted by parent on August 22, 2013

Travis Heights Elementary. I think that Travis Heights is a wonderful school. The new charter will give we as parents more of a say as to how our children are being educated. Ms Robertson is wonderful. I like the morning exercise, the music, Korean activities, I work as a math mentor at the school. It has been one of the most rewarding things that Ive done! I am looking forward to my younger sone to begin school at Travis Heights.
Submitted by parent on April 24, 2012

Excellent teachers and course works!! I am so proud of having my kids attending at Travis Heights school due to sincerely treating kids, various education programs and very supportive faculties. Especially, I love they have multicultural education programs.
Submitted by other on April 24, 2012

Travis Heights Elementary School provides the outstanding level of education and careness. This is an excelent school. Love it
Submitted by parent on January 27, 2012

Last year my son started school here at Travis Heights. I absolutely fell in love with his kindergarten teacher, Ms. Mrowca. She was loving and encouraging as well as structured and firm when needed. She had some very difficult students in her class and worked very hard to both be firm with them and to find things to encourage in them. She was very open to talking with the parents and very understanding when I discovered some visual problems my son was having. She was always enthusiastic about helping to make the classroom a good space for him to learn. Really, all of the kindergarten teachers are great! Now that my son is in first grade, he is in the dual language program. I have enjoyed that Spanish is a challenge to him as most everything else comes very easily to him. Not every single teacher at the school is as amazing as Ms. Mrowca, but I cannot imagine a school where that isn't the case. I have recently spoken with a parent with a child now in the magnet program at Kealing, and she felt like THES prepared her son very well, better, in fact, than some other elementary schools prepared their students. I found this quite encouraging to hear.
Submitted by parent on November 27, 2011

I am thrilled with THES' Dual-Language Program. My daughter's Kinder teachers are both native speakers from Chile. Aside from providing my child with constant exposure to Spanish (she has Science in Spanish daily and Mon and Wed/alternate Fridays are Spanish days), they are remarkable instructors who respond with a great balance of humor, nurturance, and structure. I initially was concerned with the amount of (or lack of) outdoor time (i.e., recess). But being involved in the school community, I see that the children are moving a lot throughout the day (learning with music through stand-up choreographed movements, working on various stations, changing classroom - library, art, p.e., music, Korean class - yes, they are the only school that has a third language!) My daughter loves walking to and from school with the neighbors and I've seen our community strengthen across Socio-Ecoomic lines and individual differences. THES is incredibly unique and flourishing to be one of the most diverse and innovative campus. If you are in doubt, just spend some time visiting the campus. Volunteer in the library - walk the halls. See for yourself. It's very honest and authentic.
Submitted by parent on June 19, 2011

as we enter our fourth year at THES, i look forward to continuing our relationship with the forward thinking staff, administration and educators. the children here are happy. with excellent parental involvement, during school hours and outside of school hours, the students feel the community is on their side. the teachers welcome this involvement and the students benefit greatly. so many teachers spend weekends and after school hours assisting any child who needs that bit extra. knowing that each student continues their education outside of school hours, the parent support specialist as well as teachers and administration offer encouragement and resources to parents so that they may help their reach for more.
Submitted by parent on September 25, 2010

My Daughter just started Kindergarten here. I must say she is having a ball and is challenged. I was really worried that as a precocious, spirited child who requires tight, loving boundaries to thrive, wouldn't get them and would be labeled "trouble". Instead we are delighted that her energy, desire to lead and learn is being lovingly directed and challenged with appropriate demands. The diverse environment is exactly the environment we wanted to encourage empathy, open-mindedness, etc that will set her up for smooth success in this ever changing world. Overall, the principle, PTA, and especially the teachers, are committed and skilled enough to provide every student the love, support and challenge they need and deserve. We are a proud "Thunderbird" family!!.