Becker Elementary School

Becker Elementary is in the heart of the Bouldin Creek Neighborhood, just south of Town Lake. It is one of Austin ISD's Two-Way Dual Language schools and one of only a few accepting transfers. Becker has an excellent, enriched academic program. 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. 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. The research is strong 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 e.g., Removeddlti.us/7.html. The dual language program has drawn numerous transfer families, as well as families from within the neighborhood. The teachers are well-trained and are committed to implementing the dual language program with fidelity. The school has a Chicken Coop and Green Garden Classroom, where each class tends its own garden plot and is part of the District's Any Given Child arts program and Social Emotional Learning. Together all are working together to build a vibrant, active, diverse community.

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.

I transferred my child to Becker because of its Dual Language (Spanish) program. Principal Borchers is great, as are every teacher my child has had. Both staff and parents are committed to creating a truly bilingual campus. The school is small and charming, with a chicken coop and green garden that children tend to. The student body is diverse in economic background and ethnicity. Becker is a special place and I'm glad to have found it. This is NOT a "teach to the test" school.