Location and Demographics

Comal Independent School District (ISD) serves approximately 16,000 students from 589 square miles of Guadalupe, Kendall, Hays, Bexar, and Comal Counties. This region includes a number of urban and suburban areas, including Startzville, Fischer, Hancock, Sattler, Canyon Lake, New Braufels, and San Antonio. The district currently has three high schools, five middle schools, twelve elementary schools, and one alternative school campus. Plans are also in the works to finish another elementary school in the year 2010.

A little more than two thirds of the students in Comal ISD are Caucasian. Around 30% are Hispanic, and just over 2% are African American. Around one-third of the students in the district are considered either at-risk or economically disadvantaged. Just under 5% have limited English proficiency.

A Pattern of Success

Four of Comal ISD’s elementary schools have been rated as “exemplary” under the Texas Education Agency’s Academic Excellence Indicator System. Six elementary schools and three middle schools received a “recognized” rating. The other schools were listed as “academically acceptable.” The district overall enjoys a “recognized” status, which means that at least 75% of students met the standard score on the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills. Comal ISD schools also earned 47 Gold Performance Acknowledgements, which recognize successes in areas such as attendance rates, AP and IB test results, ACT and SAT scores, and other criteria not considered in the accountability ratings.

For Comal ISD high school students, the average SAT score is 1487 on a 2400 point scale. The average ACT score is 21.4, which is just above the average score for the state of Texas. Hundreds of students and teachers have also been recognized on the state and national levels for their achievements in academics, athletics, and fine arts.

Although Comal ISD has already had tremendous success, the school district has outlined specific goals in the areas of student performance, facilities, technology, communication, financial management, personnel, and career and technology programs to help “provide extensive learning opportunities for all students to ensure they become contributing members of our society.” As a specific example of how Comal ISD is working to meet those goals, in November 2008 the district purchased Mac Book Laptop computers for use in the classroom.

Teaching in Comal ISD

Comal ISD is committed to both its students and its staff. The district currently has a faculty and staff of approximately 2,000 dedicated employees, making it the largest employer in Comal County. The district even has a program in place to help current staff members who want to become teachers go through the certification process. Because the district continues to grow by approximately 600-800 students each school year, a number of positions are available, especially for bilingual or special education instructors. New teachers with a bachelor’s degree earn a very competitive starting salary of 41,500.

For more information about Comal ISD, including a job application and information about the hiring process, please visit the school district’s website at: http://www.comalisd.org/

Web-Centric Alternative Certification Program

The Web-Centric Alternative Certification Program may be an attractive option If you are interested in teaching in Comal ISD or any other school district in the great state of Texas, but do not have a teaching certificate. WCACP allows you the opportunity to complete the required curriculum from the comfort and convenience of home.

In addition to providing lectures and reading guides, WCACP utilizes chat sessions and videoconferencing to help you stay personally connected with Program Directors and other teaching candidates. Because of the flexible nature of an online curriculum, students can work at their own pace during the program.