UT Reporter: UT Elementary School

The University of Texas has students as young as 4 years old taking classes. UT's elementary school charter was drafted by the UT system 8 years ago.

It's considered a department of the university and parents say they're happy with both the school's progress -- and its plans for the future.

Second grader Sirena Gatica says she loves going to school.

Her mom decided to send Sirena to UT Elementary School three years ago.

She says the faculty there was a major factor.

"The compassion the children have here is amazing, and they get it from the teachers and the administration," she said.

However, the school's principal, Melissa Chaves, says there's another reason why her charter school calls itself a success: the high amount of parent involvement.

In fact, each parent agrees to volunteer at the school upon enrollment.

"One thing I really respect about the school is that there is a parent accountability," Gatica says.

When the school opened it was the first university-based charter school in Texas.

Now it is one of only three East Austin elementary schools to receive "exemplary" status in academics. Gatica says her daughter's progress is easy to see.

The school uses technology as a tool for learning in the classroom. For example, students and teachers can write whatever they want on an electronic board, and erase if they make a mistake.

These electronic boards will be in every classroom by the end of the year.

The school's tools and strategies come together for one major goal: so students like Sirena will have the opportunity to succeed after graduation, and go from being a little longhorn, to a student at UT.

For their student to get a spot in the school, parents need to live in the general area and register for the school lottery in the Spring.

Enrollment is completely randomized.