Avana Maravilla (Austin: appointed, homes, transfer)

[llkltk]

Most of the ethnic diversity in SW AISD is due to the transfer students. There are 450K homes in Hielscher that are around 8 years old that don't need updating and are nicer than the product SPH is putting out. When I look at the MLS at what is for sale in Avana, I see bland exteriors and a 450K price tag for 2700 square feet on a small lot! I'd say that is overpriced. Sure, prices will go up for a while but they will plateau. For those who bought in Maravilla at base price of 550K plus lot premium plus upgrades, it will be a risk in the long run. It's just a fact. Don't take such offense to it. All real estate is a risk. It's just life.

[AMJ27]

Originally Posted by llkltk

Most of the ethnic diversity in SW AISD is due to the transfer students. There are 450K homes in Hielscher that are around 8 years old that don't need updating and are nicer than the product SPH is putting out. When I look at the MLS at what is for sale in Avana, I see bland exteriors and a 450K price tag for 2700 square feet on a small lot! I'd say that is overpriced. Sure, prices will go up for a while but they will plateau. For those who bought in Maravilla at base price of 550K plus lot premium plus upgrades, it will be a risk in the long run. It's just a fact. Don't take such offense to it. All real estate is a risk. It's just life.

How do you know that "most" of the ethnic diversity in SW AISD is due to transfer students? I can't speak for the other schools, but I can speak for Clayton. My children's friends who are minority students live in the neighborhood. I've been to their houses. They aren't transfer students. Besides, all of the SW AISD schools are closed to transfers. I'm sure there are "some" transfer students in the school population, but you are spreading misinformation by saying "most" of the ethnic diversity is due to transfer. That simply isn't the case!

[llkltk]

Most elems in SW Austin are closer to 80% white, Clayton may be less. I don't think they close off the majority to minority transfers, I think they keep that open. I have nothing against diversity. I was just taken aback by one posters comment that they were looking for diversity because SW Austin just doesn't seem diverse to me. I went to diverse schools growing up and this is not even close to being diverse!

[AMJ27]

Originally Posted by llkltk

Most elems in SW Austin are closer to 80% white, Clayton may be less. I don't think they close off the majority to minority transfers, I think they keep that open. I have nothing against diversity. I was just taken aback by one posters comment that they were looking for diversity because SW Austin just doesn't seem diverse to me. I went to diverse schools growing up and this is not even close to being diverse!

I looked Clayton and Kiker's statistics on the Texas Tribune website. The most recent data is from 2010, but at that point they were around 70% white, 11-12% Asian, 15% Hispanic, and 3-4% other. In the last couple of years, my daughter had been in classes that are closer to 50% minority, but that could just be luck of the draw.

Maybe our perspective on diversity is different. I grew up in a Chicago suburb that was overwhelming white, like over 95%, so 70% feels a lot more diverse to me than I grew up with and I really want my kids to grow up with more diversity than my husband and I did. The schools in Dripping Springs were closer to 85-90% white.

[llkltk]

I don't think schools should be knocked for diversity or non diversity. Plenty of people knock DSISD for not being diverse. That's not the resident's fault. Lakeway gets the same rap.

[Pjcowboy]

Originally Posted by AMJ27

How do you know that "most" of the ethnic diversity in SW AISD is due to transfer students? I can't speak for the other schools, but I can speak for Clayton. My children's friends who are minority students live in the neighborhood. I've been to their houses. They aren't transfer students. Besides, all of the SW AISD schools are closed to transfers. I'm sure there are "some" transfer students in the school population, but you are spreading misinformation by saying "most" of the ethnic diversity is due to transfer. That simply isn't the case!

You are incorrect on SW schools being locked to transfers. I know of several ethnic families that have received transfers.

[AMJ27]

Originally Posted by Pjcowboy

You are incorrect on SW schools being locked to transfers. I know of several ethnic families that have received transfers.

From the AISD website:

SCHOOLS TO BE FROZEN TO TRANSFERS IN 2014-2015:

• High Schools (5): Akins, Anderson, Austin, Bowie, McCallum
• Middle Schools (5): Burnet, Gorzycki, Lamar (effective 2/20/14), Murchison, O.Henry, Paredes, Webb (effective 2/20/14)
• Elementary Schools (19): Baldwin, Baranoff, Blazier, Brentwood, Bryker Woods (grade 5), Casey, Casis, Clayton, Doss, Graham, Highland Park, Hill, Kiker, Langford, Lee (graders 3 & 5), Menchaca, Pickle, Rodriguez, Travis Heights, Zilker Kindergarten (effective 2/20/14)

Transfer Information | Austin ISD


Circle C schools are Clayton, Kiker, Gorzycki, and Bowie. Meridian's elementary school is Baldwin and it tracks to the same middle and high school. These schools comprise the majority of SW Austin and are on the list. I am not particularly knowledgeable about the exceptions or grandfathering policies of the transfer process, but I was going off the information posted on the Austin ISD website.

[Pjcowboy]

Originally Posted by AMJ27

From the AISD website:

SCHOOLS TO BE FROZEN TO TRANSFERS IN 2014-2015:

• High Schools (5): Akins, Anderson, Austin, Bowie, McCallum
• Middle Schools (5): Burnet, Gorzycki, Lamar (effective 2/20/14), Murchison, O.Henry, Paredes, Webb (effective 2/20/14)
• Elementary Schools (19): Baldwin, Baranoff, Blazier, Brentwood, Bryker Woods (grade 5), Casey, Casis, Clayton, Doss, Graham, Highland Park, Hill, Kiker, Langford, Lee (graders 3 & 5), Menchaca, Pickle, Rodriguez, Travis Heights, Zilker Kindergarten (effective 2/20/14)

Transfer Information | Austin ISD


Circle C schools are Clayton, Kiker, Gorzycki, and Bowie. Meridian's elementary school is Baldwin and it tracks to the same middle and high school. These schools comprise the majority of SW Austin and are on the list. I am not particularly knowledgeable about the exceptions or grandfathering policies of the transfer process, but I was going off the information posted on the Austin ISD website.

We live in SW Austin also.
On paper you are correct.

[AMJ27]

Originally Posted by Pjcowboy

We live in SW Austin also.
On paper you are correct.

Which school received the transfer that you are you referring to in your earlier post? I'm genuinely curious how transfers to frozen schools occur. Are these new transfers to one of the schools on the frozen list or are they something along the lines of a sibling transfer?

[G Grasshopper]

Originally Posted by llkltk

Most elems in SW Austin are closer to 80% white, Clayton may be less. I don't think they close off the majority to minority transfers, I think they keep that open. I have nothing against diversity. I was just taken aback by one posters comment that they were looking for diversity because SW Austin just doesn't seem diverse to me. I went to diverse schools growing up and this is not even close to being diverse!

I don't have statistics to quote, but my Circle C neighborhood, which is very close to Kiker, has lots of ethnic diversity. I see kids walking to school and people taking walks as well as knowing my immediate neighbors, and many ethnicities are represented. I do see fewer AAs than others, though. Mostly various Asian countries, Hispanics, and middle eastern. I agree that economic diversity is limited, but I don't see how you would change that, other than bussing in kids. And a note about children growing up with diversity. There is no question that it is good to be exposed to lots of people, but I grew up in a very white town in Wisconsin (lots of recent German, Scandinavian and Polish immigrants, but still all Caucasian.) Even so, I grew up without racist attitudes because my parents believed this was wrong, and conveyed this to their children. When we did move to places with more diversity, we took their attitudes with us, and learned about varying people as young adults. I'm just saying that growing up with racial diversity is not a guarantee of open attitudes if children are taught to be narrow and judgemental at home. Likewise, growing up without racial diversity is not a guarantee that one will be a racist.