Becker Elementary

Becker is a wonderful school being led by a new and amazing principal. An urban school with a small, family feel that challenges students and is more concerned with educating each unique human beyond a test!

Becker is a great, diverse school with a very strong Dual Language (Spanish) program, that most of the school's children are enrolled in. Principal Borchers leads a great team, and touches to the small campus like the chicken coop, mosaic and green garden make it a delightful place for children to grow.

Becker Elementary is one of the finest schools I have had the opportunity at which to volunteer. I have four grown children and I am so amazed at the superior experience the Becker children are receiving. I am a grandmother of six and two of our grandchildren have the privilege to attend Becker. I volunteer in several capacities and observe almost daily the high quality and stellar education these children are receiving.

Becker Elementary, the oldest elementary school in South Austin, is in the heart of the Bouldin Creek Neighborhood. It is one of AISD's Two-Way Dual Language (DL) schools. Becker has an excellent, enrichment academic program. Becker’s population reflects the breadth and depth of Austin and Becker proudly celebrates its diverse heritage.

In two-way dual language programs, students who are native Spanish speakers and native English speakers are taught together. Students are taught in both English and Spanish, in order to become academically bilingual by the end of the 5th grade: able to speak, write, and think in both languages. The research is extensive on the advantages of bilingual education and long-term benefits for both native Spanish speakers and native English speakers who begin early in their academic careers. See http://dlti.us/7.html. Indeed, native Spanish speakers who are enrolled in dual language programs outperform their native English speaking peers in tests of reading and writing in English.

The dual language program has drawn numerous transfer families, as well as families from within the neighborhood. The school accepts applications from students zoned to Becker and other AISD schools’ attendance zones (transfers). Becker has an "open-enrollment" Pre-K, meaning anyone who qualifies based on income or who speaks only Spanish can attend for free and anyone else can pay tuition to attend.

Becker’s teachers are well-trained and are committed to implementing the dual language program with fidelity. The school also has a Chicken Coop and Green Garden Classroom, where each class tends its own garden plot. It also enjoys the Any Given Child Arts' program and Social Emotional Learning. Together all are working together to build a vibrant, active, diverse community.

The school’s website is: www.beckerelementary.com.

I had read many wonderful reviews about Becker and wanted to check it out before we moved to the neighborhood. I was very disappointed with the lack of help and information I was given when we went into the office to speak to someone. I even asked if I could schedule a time to come back at a more convent time to get information but they said they were just too busy to fit us in. I would never put my daughter in a school that made me feel so unwelcome.

Becker es una escuela lindisima con maestros excelentes y muy dedicados al exito de todos los estudiantes y padres muy comprometidos y trabajando juntos para crear una comunidad de alumnos motivados. Estamos muy contentos con el curriculo, la facultad y la comunidad en general. La recomendo mucho!

Fantastic neighborhood school. Family atmosphere and great diversity. Dual Language program is a fantastic model . . . this school is a gem very close to downtown, in South Austin!

My son is a kindergartner at Becker and we are having a wonderful year. The principal is very involved with the students and takes a lead role in community activities, such as reserving school buses for students and their parents to attend the Marathon Kids kickoff event. The teachers are wonderful and engaging and the school itself is a gem - historic building located in a historic neighborhood. The school received the state's Exemplary rating last year for academic performance and just this year instituted a dual language program, which has the goal of helping students become bi-literate, able to read, write, and speak in both English and Spanish. The community (both within the school and the neighborhood) is engaged and supportive. The school is one of the few within Austin ISD that is truly ethnically diverse, and the lessons my child is learning about living in a global community are priceless.

Becker Elementary is a wonderful school nestled in the heart of south Austin's 78704. We absolutely love the entire school community...amazing families are highly involved in making this school the success that it is...amazingly dedicated educators work tirelessly creating a wonderful school environment for the children here. The Dual Language program adds a unique and rigorous learning environment where the children become biliterate as well as bilingual. We love the Green Classroom (community/school organic garden), the chicken coop, and the bungalow art house! I'm so glad that our family has landed here...we love it...and look forward to many years of great involvement in this school as our children are a part of the Becker family!

A campus listed on the Texas Historical Commission register, nestled in the greenbelt right in the heart of the urban inner-core of the city, Becker Elementary has STRONG community support and involvement and an academically "exemplary" rating. With one of the most diverse student populations in the Austin Independent School District, Becker also offers a variety of interesting and challenging specialized programs, including The Chicken Coop/Green Classroom, Two-way Immersion Dual Language and Open enrollment Pre-Kindergarten. School administration, teachers, staff, parents, community members and campus organizations (PTA and Campus Advisory Council) all play a hands-on role in making Becker Elementary a nuturing and empowering educational environment where young students can and do thrive.

** So glad we transferred in! **

We started our daughter in Kindergarten at Becker this year, after transferring in from another school. We knew that Becker had earned exemplary school status last year, but we still weren't sure what to expect. Overall, we have been tremendously pleased with Becker.

I cannot praise the administration highly enough. The principal or the vice-principal stands outside of school each morning, greeting children and families as they arrive. (By the second week of school, the principal knew the names of every child at the school--amazing!) We've also been able to meet privately with the principal and discuss our child's special needs with her. She was understanding, responsive, and immediately started working with us (and our child's teacher) to accommodate our concerns.

As for the student body, we've been surprised and pleased by the diversity in this little school. Children of many racial backgrounds--Caucasian, Hispanic, and African-American--are all well-represented, as are children of different socioeconomic backgrounds. What an asset to find a school that is so inclusive, so diverse, and still so academically successful! Becker is able to offer our children all the advantages of a cultural "melting pot," in addition to the great academic focus we expect from schools.

Yet another aspect of Becker that has really impressed me is the level of parental involvement. The parents and families of children at Becker truly care about this school and are committed to working for its success. I can't imagine a harder working, more supportive group of families than those at Becker. They spearhead new projects, support awesome extracurricular activities for students and families, and are just generally nice folks to chat with while waiting for school to let out each afternoon.

All in all, we feel lucky to have stumbled upon this wonderful community and would wholeheartedly recommend Becker to anyone researching elementary school options in South or Central Austin. (We drive 30 minutes each way from East Austin everyday, and we don't regret the commute at all!)