A 17-year-old boy from Afghanistan works on his laptop during class at the Austin ISD International High School on Friday August 27, 2021. AISD plans to close the school next fall.
Jay Janner / American-Statesman, Austin American-Statesman
The Austin Independent School District is disbanding a school that serves high school students new to the United States. The decision is part of a district-wide plan to shutter 10 schools next academic year in a bid to reduce a $65 million budget deficit.
Housed in Northeast Early College High School, International High School serves ninth and tenth graders new to the country with specialized English learning classes and academic curriculum. Students typically learn for two years at International High before transitioning to Northeast for their junior and senior years. The school opened in 2003.
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AISD will close the school due to declining enrollment — in a year, the number of students enrolled plummeted from 213 to 95. Demographic shifts, state and federal policy and migration patterns play a role in enrollment at the campus, spokeswoman Maritza Villela said.
Even with the centralized school closing, Austin ISD officials said they plan to continue services for newcomer students at their zoned campuses. The district will continue offering English language development acceleration courses, Villela said. These classes teach foundational English development and help students acclimate to the U.S. education system.
“Many campuses offer newcomer-specific courses or cohorts that integrate literacy development, foundational academic skills and explicit language instruction,” Villela said.
International High does amazing work at preparing students for the country’s academic system and for life in Austin, said Erica Hoffman, an English teacher at the school.
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“It’s about immersing them in the English language for two years with a lot of adapted and specialized instruction,” Hoffman said.
Some students may not know how to read or write in their home language, much less English, when they arrive, so teachers work with students who start at different points in their education level, she said.
Efforts to build community across students from diverse backgrounds at International High are unique, said Nathan Brown, who used to teach language arts and reading at the school. Because the students are all learning and adapting to the country together, there’s a sense of camaraderie and safety, he said.
“The only thing they have in common is they’re new here,” said Brown, who now teaches at a different AISD school. “They’re terrified. They’re never going to admit that, but they all have to learn.”
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Current International High students will be able to stay at Northeast next year through their final year of graduation with transportation provided by the district, according to a December letter sent to families. However, students can also choose to enroll in the campus where they are zoned, according to the letter.
Hoffman’s major concern is students’ continued access to specialized newcomer services in other Austin ISD high schools.
The district plans to continue community building programs for newcomer students like advisory periods, peer mentoring, family engagement, information sessions and partnerships with community organizations, Villela said. Some of these programs will be supplied through community partners. Many of these programs are already offered on campuses, but have historically had a more intensive focus at newcomer-specific hubs, like International High.
International Welcome Center in flux
Austin ISD may also close the International Welcome Center at Webb Middle School at the end of this academic year, Villela said. Open for at least 20 years, the welcome center has helped refugee and newcomer families with language proficiency tests, online registration, school day orientation, transportation options and parent workshops.
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The decision to close the center isn’t yet finalized. The final outcome will depend on funding, she said.
A grant to help refugee students, those who fled their country because of fear of past or future persecution, ended in April. The grant, administered through the nonprofit Catholic Charities of Central Texas, ended in April. The money funded services meant to help refugee students and their families transition into the education system.
About a year ago, the Trump administration froze the federal grant, and Austin ISD had to quickly reassign eight welcome center employees tasked with helping students acclimate. At the time, Austin ISD pulled from other departments to continue staffing the center, Villela said.
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However, the number of refugee students has declined in Austin ISD, likely because of the Trump administration’s efforts to discourage immigrants from coming into the country, Villela said.
Even if the center closes, Webb’s newcomer program — which provides academic supports through instruction specifically for English learners and language development — would continue, Villela said.