Barton Hills Elementary School

Barton Hills Elementary is amazing. Academics are very strong, yet students never feel pressured or stressed. There is also a strong emphasis on the arts. My (KINDER) son is learning to read music, has discovered he loves to sing, (thanks to an amazing music teacher) discusses Picasso and Degas, attends a beautiful computer lab weekly & goes to school every morning excited to learn. Huge emphasis on character education: atmosphere is polite, calm, and respectful. I feel like I have stepped back in time (in a good way) whenever I enter the school. The parents are diverse and relaxed, fancy cars mix with rusted old clunkers, and there is never a feeling of snobbery. I looked at every school and neighborhood in Austin before choosing BHE and it's exceeded my expectations. My VERY shy son feels safe here. There are so many parent & grandparent volunteers patiently helping kids who need extra help, it feels very homey. Every teacher is certified to teach gifted students. The older kids (the products of & the best measure of a school) are polite, sweet, and allowed to BE KIDS: a rarity in the world today. You don't ever hear bad language or see bullying. Wonderful atmosphere.
—Submitted by a parent

BHE has great kindergarden teachers, however in the oldest grades some teacher don't go further to keep advance students stimulate. This school don't have a strong gifted program. Infrastructure and cafeteria are not very clean and students are constantly sick. Some teachers and personal are not very competitive to manage challenging situations. On the other hand, the school has great parent participation and good PTA. Excellent in the areas of music and the environment is somehow positive. Some teachers make the difference !!
—Submitted by a parent

We took great care in selecting an elementary school and went out of way to transfer to Barton Hills Elementary with the hope that it would live up to all the great things we heard. Indeed it has so far! We're in our third year and have been so pleased with the teachers, not just from an academic standpoint, but also in terms of the positive learning environment they create and the "emotional IQ" learning that goes on, which some public schools seem to be lacking because the teachers simply don't have time to deal with it. There seems to be such respect for the children as individuals and a welcoming atmosphere for the parents to truly participate in their children's education. The small school and class size and the friendly, down-to-earth community makes it a warm and wonderful place. Most parents are involved and enthusiastic about making it even better. We also love that the schools feels connected with Austin's vibrant urban center.
—Submitted by a parent

I went to Barton hills from grade PK-5th grade and I loved every min. of it. 20 years later, I know have a child of my own and want her to go there, I am praying they do not close the school down! Best school ever!
—Submitted by a parent

Barton Hills is a small neighborhood gem in this large urban district. With skilled, caring teachers and hardworking, talented parent volunteers, the educational experience is rich. It's an incredible community to be a part of.
—Submitted by a parent

Small classes, fantastic teachers and great academic enrichment opportunities.
—Submitted by a parent

It is a true neighborhood school in the best sense.
—Submitted by a parent

This is an A+ school with all the right ingredients first-class teachers, engaged kids and involved parents. It's no surprise folks camp out overnight to transfer their kids here. Plus, this school offers sixth grade, which is becoming increasingly unusual at AISD.
—Submitted by a parent

Best elementary school in Austin by far... the teachers are Outstanding!Parents are all involved.
—Submitted by a parent

Barton Hills is a great school. The students are great, the parents help out alot and the teachers really care about their students.
—Submitted by a teacher

Barton Hills has caring teachers, staff, parents and administration. Children are generally kind and accepting of differences. Many teachers are committed, experienced, and enthusiastic. Parents and PTA are supportive, and the school climate makes you feel welcome. I am pleased with the school, and am glad I chose to send my kids here.
—Submitted by a parent

It is interesting to see how the reviews on this site have deteriorated over the years. I am also rapidly losing my enthusiasm. Yes, there is great parent involvement, it is small, there are some excellent teachers, and the PTA does wonderful things. But my kids have received a very uneven education. A small school like this one doesn't afford much choice when teachers aren't meeting your child's need. And the principal is doing very little to weed out those teachers who are not performing. There is no program to accommodate and challenge gifted kids. My observation is that the TAKS is the focus. How sad.
—Submitted by a parent

I have had kids at Barton Hills for the past 8 years. First, the positives: high parental involvement; the experience of being in a small school where you get to know everyone; an outstanding kindergarten staff, with highly experienced teachers. Now the negatives: overall, a steady deterioration in quality. Except for the kindergarten program, the other grades have suffered high staff turnover. Many excellent teachers have left, and their replacements have not always been up to par. The prinicipal has alienated many staff and parents. There is essentially no program for gifted and talented students. My kids experienced wildly uneven curriculum. Although my oldest child had generally good instruction, except for spelling, my younger child never learned cursive, learned no keyboarding, had no computer lab for almost a year, had no consistent instruction in grammar or spelling beteen 1st and 5th grade, and was inundated with busy work.
—Submitted by a parent

Barton Hills is a great school academically, but a bit too much focus on teaching to the test. We love the activities- music, art, etc. and programs they bring to the school. Teachers are caring, and staff is friendly.
—Submitted by a parent

Good academics. A mix of excellent, and OK teachers. All enrichment comes from the PTA. The G/T program is mostly lip service. Principal refuses to implement foreign languages instruction. Her focus is on test scores. I am told programs for underachieving kids are good. But no school time or resources are spent on promoting excellence. Anything like that is relegated to the PTA. Thankfully they always do what's best for the kids and pick up the tab too.
—Submitted by a parent

administration is falling apart they are focused only on taks scores, and not the quality of education of your children
—Submitted by a staff

For a small public school, there is an excellent mix of academics along with value-development, appreciation for culture & the arts, and physical well-being. Parental involvement includes a great mix of stay-at-home folks & those who work outside the home. Community businesses are also big supporters and help underwrite many events. It takes a village to raise a child and BHE teachers, families, & neighbors work well together to create a wonderful learning environment for all children. Staying active & connected is expected; that pays great dividends for the kids. If issues occur, the principal and teachers are attentive and responsive. Finally, the on-site afterschool program is well-organized, action-packed, safe, and fun.
—Submitted by a parent

Overall academic programs are good. And the school staffs are very friendly. The number of students is rather small which is pretty satisfactory. This school functions as a center of Barton Hills community.
—Submitted by a parent

Barton Hills elementary is a great school, or that is what they say. It attracts a lot of the central austin crowd andhas a lot of stay-at-home parents that are able to help in the school.
—Submitted by a parent

Very strong parental involvement carries an above-average school into the excellent category. Strong leadership from Kati Achtermann, principal. Drawbacks include a weak program for gifted students. Also, the quality among the teachers can vary greatly. If you get the 'good' teacher for that grade, you will see your child thrive. If you don't, you may feel like your child is getting a very average education.
—Submitted by a parent