AISD Invites Prospective Students to School Choice Fair Saturday

Austin ISD invites prospective students and their families to a school choice fair to introduce them to unique opportunities available through the Fulmore and Kealing magnet programs, the Ann Richards School for Young Women Leaders, the Fine Arts Academy at Lamar Middle School, Small Green Tech STEM Academy and the new School for Young Men and School for Young Women (Garcia and Pearce middle schools) in District One.

The AISD School Choice Fair gives students and parents the opportunity to explore the various programs offered at these specific middle school campuses and to speak with representatives from campuses that will answer questions and showcase their programs.

The fair is from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, Dec. 7, at the Fulmore Middle School gymnasium at 201 E. Mary St.

School Information

Fulmore Middle School: The school has about 1,000 students and has been recognized nationally. Among its alumni is John Henry Faulk, the defender of the First Amendment, for whom the downtown public library is named. Fulmore is known for the rigor of its academic classes, being named the new Humanities and Law Magnet for International Studies.

Kealing Middle School: The school has about 1,200 students and has a tradition of providing a quality education for all children. In 1986, the school was opened as a junior high school, both for students in the Kealing neighborhood and for students throughout AISD who were accepted into its rigorous and innovative academic magnet math and science program. In 1993, the magnet program expanded to include a focus on the liberal arts.

Ann Richards School for Young Women Leaders: The school currently serves more than 700 sixth through 12th grade students. The unique all-girls school was founded to educate young women and give them the confidence and skills necessary to succeed in college, in their careers, and in their communities. The campus focuses on the whole girl, providing academic and enrichment opportunities that engage students, expand their horizons, and provide them with the tools to achieve their dreams.

Fine Arts Academy at Lamar Middle School: The school provides an inspiring and robust program for students across Austin for the purpose of pursuing an accelerated arts curriculum as fine arts majors. Lamar Middle School 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 Band.

Small Green Tech STEM Academy: The school offers courses in both environmental studies and technology. These options represent the fabric of the city’s merging high-tech and environmentally sensitive community. With an outdoor classroom, a greenhouse, a chicken coop, composting, recycling, water-harvesting, a wind turbine, a Japanese garden (including a student-made pond), a state-of-the art technology wing, robotics, and the Project Lead the Way (Gateway to Technology) Pre-Engineering curriculum, Small Middle School is leading the way in “Green-Tech” elective course offerings.

School for Young Men/School for Young Women at Garcia and Pearce middle schools: In January, the AISD Board of Trustees voted to combine the Garcia and Pearce middle schools attendance areas to facilitate the design of two, single-gender middle schools for SY2014-15. This educational model will provide 6th-8th grade girls and boys a dynamic learning experience that encourages critical thinking, inspires confidence and nurtures the intellectual and social development necessary for success in college, career and life.

The fair is free and open to the public.

For more information, please contact Fulmore Middle School at 512-841.4916 or e-mail isabel.triana@austinisd.org.