Education
Georgetown Independent School District seeks to empower students to become life-long learners and leaders by providing quality education and superior schooling. Our schools and our teachers have been recognized as some of the best in Texas and the nation. Strong parental involvement and community support for our schools remains the basis for the quality education GISD seeks to provide to all students.
GISD serves a diverse population of Williamson County students from pre-kindergarten to twelfth grade. The District serves elementary students in three PreK-2 campuses, three 3-5 campuses, and three K-5 campuses. Secondary students attend one of three middle schools and a ninth-grade campus before attending the district's high school. The 2010 Accountability Rating System ranked Georgetown ISD as an Academically Acceptable district with 7 of its schools being rated Exemplary, 7 rated Recognized and 1 being Academically Acceptable.
Recreation
Whether you enjoy golf, tennis, cycling, running, walking or watching kids play in the gold medal award-winning parks, Georgetown is the place for you. Georgetown offers one of the finest softball venues in America along with youth and adult leagues in a wide variety of sports. For those who love to golf, Georgetown is home to five magnificent golf courses including, Berry Springs, Cowan Creek, Georgetown Country Club, Legacy Hills, and White Wing Golf Course.
Meandering right through the very heart of Georgetown is the San Gabriel River. San Gabriel Park is graced with 200 year-old oak trees that offer the shade of their branches to family picnics, games of touch football or Frisbee, concerts, festivals, canoeing, swimming and, well, a lazy day of fishing. You can also visit the scenic Blue Hole park which is lined by limestone bluffs and is a good wading spot to cool down with the kiddos.
For the more serious angler or water enthusiast, Lake Georgetown is a 1200 acre lake offering boating, skiing, fishing, four separate camping areas, a wildlife preserve and 16 miles of hiking trails. Cedar Breaks Park and Jim Hogg Park have boat ramps and camping facilities with RV hook-ups and restrooms with showers. Russell Park also features a swimming area. Fishing is some of the best in the region, with small and large mouth bass, white bass, flathead and channel cat.
Among the wonderful natural features found in the Texas Hill Country are incredible living caves and caverns. Inner Space is a living cave located in Georgetown. For over 80,000 years the cavern has been constantly changing, allowing for such spectacular displays as the “Soda Straws” and the breathtakingly beautiful “Ivory Falls” formations.
For the history buff, you can stroll beautiful downtown Georgetown and appreciate some of the finest Victorian architecture in the state of Texas. Unique shopping and delicious dining are some of the options which await you. Or, simply enjoy the restored historic buildings and landmark descriptions that describe a portion of Georgetown’s rich history. Established in 1848, Georgetown is the county seat of Williamson County and has over 180 homes and buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Georgetown was the recipient of the Great American Main Street Award in 1997, the first Texas city ever so recognized.
Quality of Life
What makes Georgetown so special is its unique quality of life. Georgetown offers both residents and visitors such features as: Warm and friendly neighborhoods; Excellent public schools and university; Beautiful lakes, parks, trails and caverns; World-class golf courses; Historical, cultural and artistic amenities; and a wide variety of dining, shopping, & lodging. Some of Georgetown's accolades include:
- Georgetown was the only city in the country to receive a perfect score as a place to launch a small business, Fortune Small Business, 2008
- Named in 10 Great Retirement Spots for Golf Nuts by U.S. News & World Report, 2008- Williamson County ranked 9th fastest growing county in U.S., CNN Money, 2010
- Georgetown Ranked #1 Place to Retire in America by Retirement Places, 2007- Texas Trails Network Partnership Award for San Gabriel River Trails, 2008
- Best Places to Buy an Old House: Editors’ Top 12 Picks by This Old House, 2008
Georgetown has increasingly become one of the most popular retirement spots in the southwest. It has increased in popularity after being rated "#1 Place to Retire in America" in 2007 by Retirement Places Rated. With a genuine “small-town feeling” Georgetown offers residents an abundance of recreational activities, one of the nation’s lowest crime rates, the opportunity to know your neighbors, and real peace of mind. Austin is just 26 milesaway, and Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio are all just a few hours drive, so retirees often choose Georgetown as their home to be near children and grandchildren. A pleasant climate and scenic beauty add to the many amenities.
Business Overview
Georgetown is home to one of the fastest growing and most talented work forces in the nation. The industry sectors employing the largest number of people in the city are education, health, and social services; these are followed by manufacturing and retail. In addition, companies located in Georgetown have access to an Austin metropolitan area workforce surpassing three-quarters of a million people. And without question, the city and regional workforces are one of the most technologically proficient in the country with thousands employed in such industries as electronics manufacturing, software development, computer services, telecommunications, data services, and management.
Georgetown offers easy access to IH 35, dual rail service, industrial parks and other prime sites, a city-owned utility service, a high quality of life, amotivated and highly-educated workforce, and a community that is dedicated to preserving its history while creating an atmosphere where businesses can succeed. Show Less...