Austin ISD to resume control of Mendez Middle School after four-year charter partnership

January 21, 2026

Austin Independent School District will resume ownership of Mendez Middle School following a four-year arrangement in which a charter school network operated the campus. The move ends the partnership and returns day-to-day oversight, staffing decisions, and academic responsibility to the district.

District officials say academic progress at Mendez under the charter operator played a central role in the decision to retake the campus. School metrics showed improvement during the partnership period, and the district intends to build on those gains as it reintegrates the campus into AISD systems.

The transition will affect campus governance and administrative oversight, though AISD has not yet released a full implementation timeline. Parents and staff should expect district-led planning for the handover, and AISD leaders say they will provide details on staffing, programming, and supports as they become available.

Students who attend Mendez will remain on the same campus, with AISD assuming responsibility for curriculum, discipline policies, and other school operations. District representatives emphasize continuity for students as a priority while they restore direct management.

The four-year charter partnership was part of AISD’s broader approach to address performance and turnaround at specific schools. In this case, the collaboration produced measurable academic improvement, prompting the district to reclaim the site and incorporate successful practices into district-run operations.

Community members and families are likely to watch how AISD incorporates lessons from the charter operator into long-term strategies for Mendez. The district faces the task of maintaining momentum in student achievement while aligning the campus with districtwide standards and supports.

AISD officials say they will share further information with families, staff, and the public as plans for the transition take shape. The change marks a shift in how the district manages improvement efforts, returning a formerly partnered campus to direct district control while acknowledging the academic gains achieved during the charter-led period.