Austin Academy for Excellence has served the Texas communities of Garland, Rowlett, and Sachse since 1987.  The school serves over 900 students in grades six through eight.  300 spaces are reserved for students from the surrounding neighborhood. The remaining spaces go to students whom the district has identified as academically gifted and/or musically or artistically talented. Gifted students compete for spaces based on test scores, grades, parent recommendation, and teacher recommendation. Talented students earn spaces through audition in music, or, in art, the submission of a portfolio, interview with a committee, and completion of work in the presence of the committee. Students are ranked in each category, and vacancies are filled with the highest scoring students. Once a student enters the program, he or she is guaranteed a place as long as he or she maintains the required academic and discipline standards.

Austin Academy offers an educational environment that includes high standards and challenging curricula. Nearly 200 students complete courses for high school credit in science, math, English, and/or foreign language. Because active learning best suits the needs of middle school students, active instructional strategies are prevalent in our classrooms. Teachers balance teaching common curriculum elements with opportunities for students to choose their own learning. Research, analysis, and sharing of results are common instructional elements in all of our classrooms. Students utilize resources at our campus and in the community. These practices help students develop the independent learning skills necessary for success in a society that increasingly values life-long learners.

With a diverse student body that includes students of many ethnicities and who live in many different parts of our school district, Austin Academy works to teach students the value of diversity and the history and contributions of people of many backgrounds. Although a magnet school, our instructional program is designed around the philosophy that every student deserves access to the most rigorous academic program in which he or she can succeed. All students at Austin Academy are encouraged to participate in our advanced academic classes and fine arts programs.

Austin Academy was recognized as a National Blue Ribbon School in 1993.  It received a rating of "Recognized" from the Texas Education Agency for the school years 1995-96, 1997-98, 1998-99, 1999-2000, 2000-2001, 2003-2004, 2005-2006, and 2006-2007.