Location
The Allandale neighborhood is actually composed of three parts: (1) Older Allandale, (2) Allandale, and (3) and Allandale North. When most folks think of Allandale they are referring to the part that is bounded by Anderson Lane on the north, with Burnet Road as its eastern boundary, and Mopac as the western boundary. Exactly where Allandale ends on the south side is often up for debate, but it’s generally considered to be Shoal Creek at 45th Street
About the Allandale neighborhood
Allandale is a mature neighborhood with towering oak and pecan trees. The streets are wide and winding, making it a frequent choice for runners, bike riders, and walkers alike. There are plenty of activities to choose from in Allandale with nearby use of an off-leash dog park; Northwest District Park with its tennis courts, pond, playscape, and swimming pool; baseball fields; and a running track. With easy access to the restaurants and other activities along Anderson Lane and Burnet Road, Allandale is a vibrant part of Central Austin. It’s also convenient to Mopac so navigating around town is relatively simple.
History of the neighborhood
The Allandale neighborhood dates back to the 1930s. The area was initially owned by George W. Davis, who was given the land in 1841 by the President of the Republic of Texas for his service in the battle at San Jacinto. For history buffs, the Davis family cemetery, a Texas Historical Cemetery, can be found within the borders of Allandale.
Attractions in the neighborhood
Beverly S. Sheffield Northwest District Park
31-acre park located at 7000 Ardath Street, the park is named after former director of the Parks and Recreation Department, Beverly S. Sheffield. Park amenities include baseball fields, basketball and tennis courts, a pool, rentable picnic spaces, a duck pond, and trails along Shoal Creek.
Great Northern Dog Park
Large off-leash dog area featuring walking paths, a retention pond & grassy open areas
Alamo Drafthouse Cinema Village
Voted the number one movie theater in the country by Entertainment Weekly. In addition to playing movies, they have a full multi-course menu. Favorites include “Royale with Cheese”
Chaparral Ice
Chaparral Ice is a family-owned ice rink offering public skate times, figure skating & hockey lessons & party packages.
Public Schools
The Austin Independent School District serves the neighborhood. Schools include Gullet Elementary (PK-5), Lamar Middle School (6-8) and McCallum High School (9-12).
Gullet Elementary is a highly rated school with 522 students in grades PK-5. The student teacher ratio is 13 to 1. 76% of the students are proficient in math while 73% of the students are proficient in reading.
Lamar Middle School is a highly rated middle school with 1,230 students and a 17 to 1 student teacher ratio. 66% of students are proficient in math while 69% of students are proficient in reading. Lamar Middle School, home to one of the district’s middle school Fine Arts academies, provides a robust program for students across Austin in visual arts, dance, band, orchestra, choral music, drama, classical guitar, piano, digital arts and media. As the primary feeder school for McCallum High School, the school is strongly aligned with McCallum’s fine arts programs. Lamar’s academic programs are comprehensive and rigorous, and its athletics programs are dynamic. In 2013 and 2014, Lamar Middle School’s Jazz Factory was ranked as the top middle school jazz ensemble in the nation in the Mark of Excellence Recording Competition from The Foundation for Music Education. Jazz Factory has received numerous awards, from competing in Festival Disney in 2014 to being invited to the 69th annual Midwest Clinic in Chicago this year. Listen to the Lamar Middle School Symphonic Winds.
McCallum High School is a highly rated public school with 1,835 students and a 17 to 1 student teacher ratio. 77% of students are proficient in math while 73% of students are proficient in reading. McCallum High School and Fine Arts Academy is located in the heart of North Central Austin. McCallum’s inclusive culture provides equal access for all students on campus to explore a wide variety of challenging academic pathways, specialized fine arts courses, competitive sports teams and clubs for diverse interests.
Established in 1993 as Austin ISD’s districtwide fine arts intensive high school program, the Fine Arts Academy at McCallum High School provides an exemplary arts education program for ninth- through 12th-grade students to pursue an accelerated arts curriculum as fine arts majors.
