Austin Pets Alive

Austin animal advocates reflect on four years as a no-kill city

For the past four years, Austin Pets Alive! has celebrated the February anniversary of the city keeping Austin pets alive. On Sunday, the grassroots nonprofit celebrated in grand style with a party featuring a performance from fellow local legend Dale Watson.

Led by Emancipet founder Dr. Ellen Jefferson, APA! began rescuing at-risk animals from being euthanized in 2008. "What we did was pretty innovative in Austin," says Communications and Marketing Manager Rebecca Reid. "We actually looked at the euthanasia list, found patterns and designed programs to save these animals that were destined to be euthanized."

In March 2010, after an intense campaign spearheaded by the nonprofit, and a unanimous vote from the city council, Austin became the largest no-kill city in the country.

But the mission was about more than just establishing a no-kill shelter — APA! wanted a no-kill city. In March 2010, after an intense campaign spearheaded by the nonprofit, and a unanimous vote from the city council, Austin became the largest no-kill city in the country.

In order to maintain a no-kill status, a city must keep the monthly survival rate of all rescued cats and dogs at 90 percent or more using euthanization only for health or behavior issues. In February 2011, Austin reached that level and has maintained it ever since. "It takes a village to keep that possible," says Reid. "On our side, there's still a constant sense of urgency to save lives everyday to remain no-kill.

APA! is not only largely responsible for Austin's no-kill status; the nonprofit has helped find forever homes for thousands of animals. From the headquarters at the Town Lake Animal Shelter to the Tarrytown adoption center to the daily pop-up on South Congress Avenue, APA! fosters a community to connect animals with Austinites. Using these methods, APA! has saved more than 30,000 cats and dogs since 2008.

"It's empowering to know that a community that cares about something so much can make [change] happen so quickly," says Reid. "Not that long ago, we were at a 50 percent save rate. Not long before that, it was closer to 15 [percent]," says Reid "It's powerful to know that there's that much passion and compassion in the Austin community."

The APA! mission now continues beyond city limits. The Austin nonprofit is in charge of American Pets Alive!, a country-wide movement to help other cities transition to being no-kill. From online webinars to yearly conferences (one of which is happening this weekend), APA! brings together city officials and shelter representatives together from all over the U.S. to discuss how to implement innovative programs in their own hometown.

Here in Austin, APA! is looking to streamline the internal infrastructure without losing the grassroots edge. "We acknowledge that it takes an entire community," says Reid. "We're not just a no-kill shelter — we're a no-kill city."

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Can you picture one these pets from APA! in your home?

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schools with high achievers

19 Austin elementary and middle schools rank among Texas' best for 2025

enrollbasistx.com

Congratulations are in order for the Bats.

Several Austin elementary and middle schools are at the top of the class when it comes to educating and preparing the next generation for a successful life and career, according to U.S. News & World Report's just-released list of 2025 Elementary and Middle Schools Rankings.

One such school – Basis Austin – is the No. 1 best middle school in Texas for 2025.

U.S. News ranked more than 79,000 public schools on the state and district level using data from the U.S. Department of Education. Schools were analyzed based on their students' proficiencies in mathematics and reading/language arts on state assessments, and tie-breakers were decided based on student-teacher ratios.

Texas' best middle schools for 2025
Basis Texas Charter School's Austin campus has a total enrollment of 273 students, 19 full-time teachers, and a student-teacher ratio of 14:1, according to U.S. News. A majority of students at this charter school – 89 percent – scored "at or above the proficient level" in mathematics, and 92 percent showed at or above proficiency in reading.

"Basis Austin did better in math and better in reading in this [test score] metric compared with students across the state," U.S. News said in the school's profile. "In Texas, 51 percent of students tested at or above the proficient level for reading, and 41 percent tested at or above that level for math."

Basis Austin also ranked No. 16 in the statewide rankings for the best elementary schools for 2025.

Eight other Austin-area middle schools earned spots in Texas' top 100, including:

No. 31 – Canyon Vista Middle School, Round Rock ISD
No. 40 – Chaparral Star Academy
No. 47 – Hill Country Middle School, Eanes ISD
No. 64 – Cedar Valley Middle School, Round Rock ISD
No. 81 – West Ridge Middle School, Eanes ISD
No. 85 – Pearson Ranch Middle School, Round Rock, Round Rock ISD
No. 91 – James Garland Walsh Middle School, Round Rock, Round Rock ISD
No. 100 – Florence Stiles Middle School, Leander, Leander ISD

The best elementary schools in Texas
Jesus A. Kawas Elementary school in Laredo was crowned the No. 1 elementary school in Texas for 2025, while three Austin-area schools were among the top 25.

Round Rock's Cactus Ranch Elementary is the No. 18 best elementary school statewide, boasting 743 students, 47 full-time teachers, and one full-time counselor. Students at this public school scored 88 percent efficiency in math and 90 percent efficiency in reading.

U.S. News says student success at Cactus Ranch is significantly higher than the rest of Round Rock ISD.

"In Round Rock Independent School District, 64 percent of students tested at or above the proficient level for reading, and 52 percent tested at or above that level for math," U.S. News said in the school's profile. "Cactus Ranch Elementary did better in math and better in reading in this metric compared with students across the state."

Following one spot behind Cactus Ranch in the statewide ranking is Austin's Canyon Creek Elementary in Round Rock ISD, coming in at No. 19. Canyon Creek has a student population of 369 with 27 full-time teachers, and one full-time counselor. The school's student-teacher ratio is 14:1, and 90 percent of students are proficient in math, and 88 percent in reading.

Other Austin-area elementary schools that were ranked among the 100 best in Texas are:

No. 22 – Patsy Sommer Elementary, Round Rock ISD
No. 31 – River Ridge Elementary, Leander ISD
No. 42 – Elsa England Elementary, Round Rock ISD
No. 53 – Laurel Mountain Elementary, Round Rock ISD
No. 81 – Laura Welch Bush Elementary, Leander ISD
No. 88 – Mills Elementary, Austin ISD
No. 94 – Clayton Elementary, Austin ISD
No. 100 – Cedar Creek Elementary, Eanes ISD

"The 2025 Best Elementary and Middle Schools rankings offer parents a way to evaluate how schools are providing a high-quality education and preparing students for future success," said LaMont Jones, Ed.D., the managing editor for Education at U.S. News. "The data empowers families and communities to advocate for their children’s education. Research continues to indicate that how students perform academically at these early grade levels is a big factor in their success in high school and beyond."

schools rankings us news & world report