Eanes Independent School District: Excellence in Education

Located in the picturesque Texas Hill Country in metropolitan Austin, Texas, the Eanes Independent School District (ISD) is widely recognized as a leader in educational excellence in the region. Comprised of six elementary schools, two middle schools and a high school, the district has achieved the Exemplary rating, the highest rating in the state of Texas, for each of its schools for the years 2008 and 2009. Students score well above the national average in standardized tests, and parent involvement is exceptionally high in the Eanes ISD.

Incorporating portions of the cities of Rollingwood, West Lake Hills, and Austin, the Eanes ISD is regarded as one of the most desirable school districts in Texas due to the quality of its teaching staff, curricula, and facilities. Real estate values are higher than average, but the excellence of the school system eliminates the expense of private school tuition, making the Eanes ISD more affordable for many families. Austin has long been considered one of the best places to live and work in the United States. Its employment outlook is bright, especially in the electronic and software fields. A thoroughly modern city, Austin attracts the best and brightest. Eanes ISD reflects this in its innovative and award-winning schools.

Westlake High School, in particular, has received many awards for academic performance. Its advanced placement program in physics was named the Best in the World by the College Board in 2005, and Westlake’s AP Physics scores consistently are among the highest in the nation. Of its approximately 2,400 students, about ninety-five percent continue their education in a college setting. While academics are the emphasis for the Eanes ISD, a wide variety of extracurricular activities are available to Westlake students. The school newspaper, the Featherduster, has achieved national ranking for its quality. A wide array of creative arts courses and clubs are available to students. The sports programs at Westlake offer the chance to compete athletically at the state level; Westlake’s football program consistently wins district awards and has competed for the state championship title on a number of occasions.

This record of success is possible due to the educational foundation built in the elementary and middle schools. Both the Hill Country Middle School and the West Ridge Middle School have received the prestigious National Blue Ribbon School award, as have three of the six elementary schools in the Eanes ISD. These results are achieved, in part, through a consistent effort on the part of school administrators to keep parents informed and involved in their child’s progress. Parents can choose to access their student’s attendance records, class schedules, and grades through a district-run website, Skyward Upward Access, designed to allow parents to track progress on a daily basis. The individual schools in the Eanes ISD also have their own websites, allowing parents to access lunch schedules and menus and other helpful information.

No discussion of the Eanes ISD would be complete without mentioning the teaching staff. Experience and education make the difference in the Eanes ISD; about a third of the teachers in the district have earned their master’s degree, and over half have at least ten years of teaching experience under their belt. Experienced teachers, state-of-the-art facilities, and school administrators dedicated to providing children the best possible education make Eanes ISD a world class school district.