Established in 1881,[2] the district serves most of the City of Austin, the neighboring municipalities of Sunset Valley and San Leanna, and unincorporated areas in Travis County (including Manchaca).

[9] As of 2013[update], AISD covers 54.1% of the City of Austin by area and serves 73.5% of its residents.

[16] In the late 1970s the student body was 57% non-Hispanic white, 26% Hispanic and Latino, and 15% African-American.

[19] On November 18, 2019 the AISD board of Trustees voted 6-3 in favor of a plan closing four elementary schools.

The six Trustees who voted to close the schools were Cindy Anderson, Amber Elenz, Geronimo Rodriguez, Jayme Mathias, Yasmin Wagner and Kristen Ashy.

The magnet programs are housed in their respective schools, but provide some different classes to their students.

In 1989, the Texas House of Representatives passed a bill allowing DPS to acquire the former Austin ISD headquarters.

[63] From circa 1994 to 2019, the headquarters were at the Carruth Administration Center, on 1111 West Sixth Street.