Austin, TX—IDEA Allan, Austin ISD's new, in-district charter school, is on-track to meet its enrollment goals after completing its first phase of enrollment, which ends today. In addition, enrollment at two of the district's area elementary schools, Govalle and Ortega, will increase for the 2012-13 school year.

Based on preliminary enrollment figures, 40 percent of the 166 students in the Allan Elementary School attendance area are enrolled in IDEA Allan for kindergarten and first and second grade. In addition to the 67 students who will enroll in the new, in-district charter school, 49 chose Govalle and 36 selected Ortega. Fourteen students chose other schools.

For next year's IDEA Allan 6th grade class, almost 70 percent of the 112 available seats have been filled. Seventy-seven students are enrolled in IDEA Allan, 101 selected Martin Middle School and 108 used the Diversity Choice process or selected another school.

There are three phases to the enrollment plan for IDEA Allan. During the first phase, which ends today, AISD offered priority enrollment to families living in the Allan attendance area. During the second phase, which begins today, the district will provide a preference period for families in the Martin attendance area—including Allison, Brooke, Govalle, Metz, Ortega and Zavala—through March 30. AISD will send letters to families, which will allow them to change their child's school assignment if they would prefer to enroll their child in IDEA Allan.

During the third phase, AISD will open enrollment to students throughout the district until the end of the school year in May. IDEA Allan will continue to more actively engage AISD students and families, while also reaching out to the, at minimum, 4,000 families who have made other school choices in the past.

To strengthen the pre-kindergarten through 12th grade team of schools in the Eastside Memorial High School neighborhoods, AISD developed the partnership with IDEA Public Schools to create a pipeline for enrollment beginning at Allan because two-thirds of students who enter elementary schools in the area do not choose to attend Eastside Memorial.

"The district is pleased to be partnering with IDEA Public School to enhance our rich portfolio of options, so all families have access to a range of high-quality choices," AISD Superintendent Meria Carstarphen said. "We also look forward to welcoming new students to AISD who may not be in the district's family of schools."

To learn more about IDEA Allan, please visit http://www.austinisd.org/fmp/facilities-recommendations/IDEA.