About Bastrop ISD

Bastrop Independent School District (ISD) is located in Lost Pines, Texas, 30 miles southeast of the capital city of Austin. Within its 433 square miles of Bastrop County, the district also includes the incorporated areas of Paige, Red Rock, Rockne, Cedar Creek, and Bastrop. The school district has one high school, two middle schools, two intermediate schools, six elementary schools, and one alternative high school campus.

Bastrop ISD has a current enrollment of more than 8,500 students, but as one of the fastest-growing school districts in the area, demographics studies have produced a projected enrollment of more than 9,500 by the fall of 2012. New home construction will likely contribute to this addition of 1,000 students during the next five years and will add more than 2,100 students in the next ten. Within the current population, 48% of students are Caucasian, 41% are Hispanic, and 9.5% are African American. More than 55% of students come from economically disadvantaged families.

A Commitment to Excellence

As an important part of teaching students to be successful both in and out of the classroom, Bastrop ISD has instituted a character education program. Every month the district emphasizes a different character trait, such as honesty, loyalty, and compassion. Teachers and administrators are dedicated not only to teaching but also to modeling these qualities every day.

Because so many children come from economically disadvantaged families, having a strong after-school care program available is a critical part of helping Bastrop ISD students succeed. The Students Together Achieving Remarkable Success (STARS) program provides after-school care so that parents can work without having to worry about after school child care. This program is more than babysitting, however. It includes time for organized recreational games, cultural activities, working or playing in the computer lab, and help with homework. Overall the fun and educational environment that the STARS program provides gives kids another tool for success, even in the times when their parents cannot be with them.

Teaching in Bastrop ISD

Bastrop ISD currently has more than 570 teachers, and as the district continues to grow, the need will continue to increase. Classrooms in this district currently have an average student to teacher ratio of less than 15 to 1. New teachers with a bachelor’s degree earn a starting salary of $40,000.

For more information about the opportunities in this growing school district, including an online job application, visit Bastrop ISD’s website: http://www.bastrop.isd.tenet.edu

Alternative Certification Programs

Our children are our future, and many of them today just need to know that someone is there to encourage and to support them. If you would like to make a difference in the life of a child, consider joining the Bastrop ISD family. To teach in this or any other school district in the state of Texas, you must have a teaching certificate or be enrolled in an alternative certification program. Those who choose teaching as a first career often complete the academic portion of the certification process while they are still in their undergraduate training. Those who come to a teaching position later in life, however, will likely have to return to an academic program if they hope to get a teacher’s certificate. For those who work full-time or raise a family, returning to school full-time is not an option. Fortunately, our online alternative certification program (WCACP) can help you get certified.

WCACP is a program conducted entirely online that allows future teachers to work at their own pace toward in obtaining a teaching certificate. The flexibility of the online program allows teaching candidates to complete the majority of the core curriculum within 3-4 months. Additional coursework in conjunction with your mentor is required during your one-year teaching internship.

To be considered for admission into the WCACP, you must have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.