Middle School Information
The University of Texas does not yet have a middle school program, most of our students go on to their Austin Independent School District assigned-school. We also encourage our students to apply to competitive middle school programs, such as the Ann Richards School for Young Women Leaders or St. Andrews Episcopal School.
Applying to any of these programs requires a significant investment of time and effort on the part of the fifth-grade student. Many of these programs require the application to be turned in between December and February during the fifth-grade year. Application materials can include essays, recommendations from teachers, samples of work, TAKS scores, report cards and portfolios.
While teachers and administrators at the school will help to guide your fifth-grade student in the process and will receive help from volunteers, it is up to the student to be self-motivated to complete these materials with the support of their family. We urge all parents to think deeply and to take action at the beginning of the fifth grade year to decide the correct match for their child for middle school. Teachers will prepare middle school information for October parent conferences, and middle school presentations will occur both to the fifth grade class in November and at the November Parent Forum meeting.
Please watch timelines carefully because all of the options have different deadlines and criteria for enrollment. Besides your home middle school, there are many other options available for your child for 6th grade.
Private Schools
St. Andrew’s Episcopal School: 299-9802
St. Stephen’s Episcopal School: 327-1213
St. Michael’s Catholic Academy: 329-6137
Kirby Hall: 474-1770
These are just some of your options. Many of these private schools provide scholarships. The staff at U.T. Elementary School would be happy to assist you in meeting with private school advisors.
Charter Schools
KIPP Austin College Prep: 637-6870
Harmony Elementary-Austin (K-8): 821-1700
NYOS Secondary School (6-12): 583-6967
AISD Magnet Schools: 414-1700
Kealing Magnet School: 414-3180
Ann Richards Leadership Academy for Young Girls: 414-3236
AISD Elementary Schools with 6th Grade: 414-1700
Alison Elementary School
*Barrington Elementary School
Brown Elementary School
*Brykerwoods Elementary School
*Lee Elementary School (closed to general transfers)
Maplewood Elementary School
*Mathews Elementary School (closed to general transfers)
Pease Elementary School
Zavala Elementary School
*Zilker Elementary School
AISD schools listed with an asterisk (*) are open to Priority Transfers. This would include a sibling currently attending the school or a seeing a majority to minority transfer. This means transferring into a school in which your child’s ethnic subgroup is a minority. General Transfers to all AISD schools open the first week in February. They are granted on a first come, first serve basis at the AISD Central Administration Building at 1111 W. 6th Street. Priority Transfers are open the first two weeks in February and must be mailed or hand delivered to the AISD Student Services Office at the same address by a mid February deadline. AISD student transfer forms will be available in the UT Elementary School office. Please be on the lookout for specific times and dates for general and priority transfers.
Another option for transfers in AISD is called Diversity Choice. Parents who live in certain assignment areas for Allan, Allison, Barton Hills, Becker, Blackshear, Brooke, Bryker Woods, Campbell, Govalle, Mathews, Metz, Norman, Oak Springs, Ortega, Sims, Zavala or Zilker AND who have a child (or children) currently in the fifth grade may request a diversity choice assignment. You will need to contact AISD to secure your diversity choice transfer.
