AHSCH 2011 AR-Newsletter 15ƒ.indd - AHISD ¦ Alamo Heights ...

Continuing Excellence
The Impact of Senate Bill 1
When you combine highly experienced and degreed teachers, an engaging curriculum, extracurricular programs
in the arts, academics, leadership and athletics and a community that supports its school district, you produce
students who are highly competitive at the state and national level. Alamo Heights High School was named one
of the top 1% of schools nationally in college preparation. Ninety-four percent (94%) of Alamo Heights Independent
School District graduates continue on to college. In order to continue that kind of stellar achievement, the District
must maintain the best PK-12 grade programs. Surprisingly, the District has managed to maintain this extraordinary
achievement in spite of major budget cuts. Several years ago, AHISD faced over $2 million in cuts to its budget.
District administrators were determined not to allow those cuts to impact students in the classroom, and the
District became one of the leanest districts in administrative and non-teaching personnel in the state.
Unfortunately, the cuts did not stop there. In this past legislative session, the Texas Legislature cut public education
even more drastically. AHISD faces more than $5 million in total cuts over the next two years. While it is impossible
to prevent these cuts from impacting students, the Alamo Heights School Foundation can, and should,
do more. The Foundation generates funding annually for the district in two ways:
02
Annual giving, raised through individual contributions from the Annual Giving Campaign, Business Honor
Roll and the Greater Heights Night party;
Endowment giving, which consists of restricted dollars that are limited to investment returns.
Through annual giving support, the Foundation can make the most signifi cant impact on the District. Last year,
AHISD student enrollment was 4,618 with an average annual cost to run the district of approximately $7,500 per
student. The Foundation raised $110 per student or 1.5% of the annual student cost through private support. The
Foundation is grateful to the 680 people who donated over $511,000 through our annual giving campaign, business
honor roll and special event fundraiser.
While private support from 680 contributors is very helpful, it falls well short of the signifi cant impact our community
is capable of making. That type of signifi cance will require many additional supporters. We are asking you, as
a parent in the District, to make a contribution to the Alamo Heights School Foundation so that your child’s education
will not be impacted by these budget cuts. How can we expect the District to maintain the level of academic
excellence we have come to appreciate from Alamo Heights Schools without additional support?
The Foundation extends its deepest gratitude to all of our supporters and contributors, and we are certain that
through greater participation, we will reach greater heights.
Scan the code to donate now on your smartphone
or visit www.ahschoolfoundation.org.
AHSCH 2011 AR-Newsletter 15ƒ.indd 4 11/11/11 10:29:57 AM