2000s, property values around the school increased. This created the large student population decrease as gentrification makes the surrounding area more expensive. This led to the demotion of the school from 5A to 4A as per the University Interscholastic League ranking. By 2018 a reconstruction project began where much of the building, except for historically significant sections, was rebuilt. The Temporary Learning Center (TLC) accommodated students during the process. As of 2020 Orlando Reyna is the principal. Academic performance In 1995 the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAAS) passing rate was 19.8%. In the 1990s the school's reported dropout rate declined from 14% to 0.3%, and because of that the Texas Education Agency gave the school an "exemplary" rating. In 2001 the TAAS passing rate was 90.5% and the official dropout rate was about 12%. The TEA gave Austin High a "low-performing" rating in late 2003. By 2003 accusations had been made that Austin High's dropout rate data was falsified. Demographics For the 2014-15 school year: African American: 3.7% Hispanic: 94.8% White: 0.8% American Indian: 0.3% Asian: 0.3% Pacific Islander: 0.0% Two or More Races: 0.2% Economically Disadvantaged: 84.2% As of 2011 the school had almost 2,000 students. 95% of the students were of a low economic status, and 96% of the total student body were Hispanic or Latino. In 2007 the school had 304 12th grade (senior students). That year a counselor estimated that 250 of them had permission to leave Austin High during the school day, and many of those students had outside jobs. In 1940 less than 1% of the student body of the school was of Mexican origin. Campus In 2012 Richard Connelly of the Houston Press ranked Austin as the most architecturally beautiful high school campus in Greater Houston. Connelly said that "Another in the classic mode, with an entrance that just says "high school." And we don't mean the gate." Neighborhoods served by Austin Several areas inside the 610 Loop that are east of Downtown, including the area known as the East End, are zoned to Austin; several East End subdivisions such as the Second Ward, Eastwood, Idylwood, East View, Riverview, Forest Hill, Hampshire Oaks, Simms Woods, Houston Country Club Place, Woodleigh, Sunnylan, Broadmoor, Central Park, and some of Magnolia Park, are zoned to Austin. In addition a section of East Downtown is zoned to Austin. Academics The school is ranked 72 by