Austin East High/Magnet School

This school is struggling with fighting battles. As a parent, it appears the principals do not share the same vision. It makes me feel sorry for not only my child and other students, but for some of the teachers there as well. I have watched some teachers try their best every day only to be rejected and outright wronged by students, parents, and the administrative team just to have a more positive 'perception'. Those in control of AE need to recognize that ideas that look good on paper should be trashed if they aren't working in real life. Teachers who have been there forever and perpetuate the culture of failure should be fired as they bring down the teachers with expectations. Being a good community contact is not a requirement in the classroom. Having high expectations and holding students to reach their potential is NOT a bad thing.
--Submitted by a parent

This school includes a great group of students excelling in Performing Arts and with academic achievment.The only bad thing about Austin East is the bad reputation brought from outsiders looking in!
--Submitted by a student

There are some good programs and great teachers. We had a problem and after a lack of response from the administration I transferred my child to another school.
--Submitted by a parent

If you must let the hoodlums in the school at least get them to check the 'HOOD' attitudes, the drugs and the weapons at the door. If you don't want to learn leave the seats for those who do!
--Submitted by a parent

I am a graduate of AE. My entire family also graduated from AE. I must say that I am shocked at how low this school has gone. It saddens me to know that so many students do not care about an education, thus they disrupt the class so that the kids who want to learn must suffer. I am happy that the school has been restructured and I applaued the teachers who try. Parents, it is up to you to structure your home, so that your children will succeed.
--Submitted by a parent

AE has some great teachers and can be incredibly flexible for gifted kids. The magnet program has dwindled lately, which means that many AP/honors classes are extremely small (the biggest class I ever had was ~20 and I had several with 3-5 students). On the other hand, some classes (such as AP Calculus) aren't being offered due to lack of demand and there definitely isn't the same level of extracurricular offerings found at larger schools. You can get a great education at AE if you try (and there are plenty who don't), but gifted kids might be frustrated by the current lack of a smart peer group.
--Submitted by a student

My child went from middle to high school. we have had little success with the staff. They have been unfriendly and have not responded to any of our requests for a meeting. AE will struggle to get out of the bottom schools with this lack of flexibility and the inability to meet the needs of its gifted students. At this point AE is on the bottom of my list.
--Submitted by Joanne Dean, a parent

This school is great the respect that you get from the teachers and also the students is a great school for your child to be in I repect others and they respect me also as well as the teachers the students that do not do what they are told are taking care of at that time and the ones who do what they are suppose to they are appreciated very much I must say austin east high is a great school for all children of all races thank you for your time and respect
--Submitted by Opal Lundy, a student