ABOR and AISD Partner to Educate Realtors about Austin Schools

The Austin Board of Realtors® and the Austin Independent School District are teaming up to help Austin Realtors provide homebuyers with more knowledge about area schools.

“The quality of area schools is consistently one of the most important factors that homebuyers consider when choosing a new home,” said Austin Board of Realtors President Barb Cooper. “Homebuyers want to know how local schools measure up, and they look to their Realtor to point them in the right direction.”

The partnership began when the district asked ABOR for feedback on individual web pages the district was redesigning. The request evolved into easy-to-navigate pages that highlight each school’s individual strengths, such as its programming and performance, plus photos and demographic data. (View the pages for the schools here.)

Additionally, in October AISD hosted Realtors on a bus tour to visit three south Austin schools: Cunningham Elementary School, Covington Middle School, and Crockett High School. A second tour for additional schools already is planned.

“The school tour was a valuable opportunity for Realtors to get a firsthand look at the innovative, forward-looking programs that many AISD schools are embracing,” Cooper said.

For example, what did Realtors learn?

• Crockett High School has the nation’s first K–12 Entrepreneurship Program. In partnership with Bazaarvoice, the program teaches students how to launch a business or nonprofit upon graduating. 
• Covington Middle School Fine Arts Academy uses drama-based instruction in its classes in order to help students develop deeper understanding of subject matters.
• The MicroSociety Program at Cunningham Elementary School serves as the framework for campus initiatives, such as the school’s community farm.

“I’m so excited that AISD and the Austin Board of Realtors are developing a partnership that is sure to benefit families moving to Austin,” AISD Trustee Julie Cowan said. “Realtors will have the opportunity to step inside our schools and learn about the unique programs found on each campus. For too long we’ve assumed Realtors and the general public knew of all the good work taking place in our schools. Now we’re taking steps to ensure that they do.”