Overview of Elgin ISD

Elgin Independent School District (ISD) is a Region 13 school district located across 168 square miles of central Texas. Approximately 55% of students in the district come from the city of Elgin, located just over twenty miles from the capital city of Austin. The rest come from outlying areas in Travis, Lee, and Bastrop Counties.

The district serves more than 3,900 students in its six campuses. Elgin Elementary School has approximately 640 students, Neidig Elementary School has 660, Booker T. Washington Elementary School has 640, Elgin Middle School has 830, Elgin High School has nearly 1,100, and Phoenix alternative high school has 45. Of Elgin ISD’s 3,904 total students, 1,332 are Caucasian, 1,970 are Hispanic, 569 are African-American, 19 are Asian or Pacific Islander and 14 are Native American. More than 2,400 students come from economically disadvantaged families, and nearly 700 have limited English proficiency.

Elgin ISD received an “academically acceptable” rating from the Texas Education Agency’s Academic Excellence Indicator System. The district as a whole and some individual schools also earned Gold Performance Acknowledgements in a variety of areas, including the “recommended high school program” for the class of 2007.

Looking Toward the Future

Elgin ISD continues to grow and expand its facilities. In 2006 voters approved a $44 million bond package for renovations, repairs, and building projects. The new middle school campus opened in the fall of 2008 with capacity for 1,100 students. The building features expansive sporting facilities, including two gymnasiums. Around the same time renovations began on Elgin High School, which ultimately gained ten classrooms, two computer labs, four science labs, and expansion of office space and common areas. Some of the elementary schools also received upgrades and repairs. The bond money was also used to invest in upgrading technology across the district. In addition to the changes that have already been made, the old middle school building will be completely renovated and re-opened as an elementary school in 2009. As administrators continue to look toward the future, they also have set aside funds in the same bond package to buy another school building to accommodate the district’s growth and changing needs.

Growth in Elgin ISD

If you are interested in joining the 333 staff members, including the more than 250 teachers, who help lead the Elgin ISD educational community, the district continues to need qualified educators. As it strives to grow in the years to come, the district will seek out capable teachers who are passionate about investing in the lives of the next generation.

New teachers with a bachelor’s degree typically earn a starting salary of $37,595. Employment opportunities are generally best for bilingual teachers or educators from high-demand fields, such as special education or Spanish. Check out Elgin ISD’s website for more information about the school district and the hiring process: http://www.elginisd.net/

Web-Centric Alternative Certification Program

If you are interested in becoming a teacher in Elgin ISD or any other public or charter school in the state of Texas but do not have a teaching certificate, know that you do not have to give up on your goals. You do not have to return to school full time to receive quality educational training. The Web-Centric Alternative Certification Program (WCACP) is designed for college graduates who want to do the coursework needed to complete the certification process from the convenience of home.

WCACP offers programs in a variety of fields, including the high-demand subjects of math, science, special education, Spanish, and bilingual education. The coursework prepares you for a year-long teaching internship, which is required to become a certified teacher in the state of Texas.

To qualify for admission into the program, you must have a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university and a minimum 2.5 grade point average.