Geographic Information Systems
We were able to deliver the data that Austin ISD needed to pave the way for an equity-based long-range facilities plan. We accomplished this using Geographic Information Systems. GIS enabled us to examine the economic, social, and environmental conditions within the communities of Austin ISD. Our analysis was focused on three main categories 鈥 students, neighborhoods, and facilities.
With the help of Austin ISD and community stakeholders, we developed a list of historically underserved student groups. This revealed the schools with high percentages of students from these underserved groups. We then analyzed census tracts and the CDC鈥檚 Social Vulnerability Index to confirm the neighborhoods these students lived in.
Finally, we examined the conditions of the existing facilities in the district. Using GIS, we overlayed the data we used to find underserved student populations, neighborhoods with high social vulnerability, and schools with average or worse facilities.
Through this process, the team collectively prioritized 25 schools that have average or worse facilities conditions and are in neighborhoods of high social vulnerability where high percentages of underserved student populations attend. Identifying these schools created a launching point to go into the community and conduct listening tours.
In total, we delivered over 400 strategies to Austin ISD that were both operational and bond related. These strategies were broken down into three categories to meet immediate goals, near-future goals, and future goals. They covered every facet of the district, encompassing academics, athletics, facilities, food services, maintenance, resiliency, safety, technology, transportation, and visual and performing arts.