Austin ISD is diverse, but our schools are not. In fact, they are incredibly segregated. The vast majority of black and Hispanic students attend high poverty schools, while the vast majority of white students go to low poverty schools in the district. Our black and brown children are in a sense attending a separate school system than our white children.
The question we are confronted with is, are we living out our values, the values that we profess to our children? We teach our children about the history and importance of the Civil Rights movement, but are we ignoring injustices that we are perpetuating in our city and communities? How can we move forwards, 'bending the arc of history towards justice', and living into Dr. King's dream?
The purpose of this website is to share the data on segregation in our district, and begin a conversation within the community about ways forward towards integrated schools. The purpose is not to point fingers or try and lay blame. We are responsible for our schools and the values they reflect. The change has to start with us, the members of this community. We need to need to start by looking the truth in the face, reflecting on what this means and having crucial conversations with each other.