1. Nixon-Smiley Consolidated Independent School District
College Connection
Nixon-Smiley Consolidated Independent School District
December 13, 2006
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2. Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board’s Strategic Plan “Closing the Gaps” Overview

3. Closing the Gaps
Closing the Gaps warns that if more Texans do not receive college degrees by 2030, the State could lose up to $40 billion in annual household income.
The goal is to increase student enrollment in higher education by 630,000 by 2015.
Most students will elect to start at a community college.
Austin Community College expects 15,000 more students by 2015.
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4. Education Beyond High School
Increases earning potential and employment opportunities
U.S. Department of Education

5. Learn to Earn
Source: Postsecondary Education OPPORTUNITY

6. College Connection Overview

7. Improving High School to College Transitions - Goals
Create an expectation that “College is in everyone’s future.”
Increase percentage of high school seniors who enter college after high school graduation.
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8. Austin Community College Service Area College Transition Rates
Texas High School Graduates from FY 2005 Enrolled in Texas Higher Education Fall 2005
School District
Total High School Graduates
Students Enrolled in Texas Universities
Students Enrolled in Texas 2-year Colleges
Students Not Located in Texas Higher Education *
Austin
3,732
1040
28%
687
18%
2,005
54%
Bastrop
446
105
24%
102
23%
239
Blanco 63 18
29% 14
22% 31
49%
Coupland**
Del Valle
360 57
16% 67
19%
236
66%
Doss**
Dripping Springs
234
114 54 66
Eanes
576
256
44% 53 9%
267
46%
Elgin
211 58
27% 42
20%
111
53%
Fredericksburg
228 90
39% 30
13%
108
47%
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*Includes students who were not enrolled in Texas colleges or universities in the year immediately following graduation, as well as students who were enrolled out-of-state.
**Districts with less than 25 graduates are not included in this report.
Source:

9. Austin Community College Service Area College Transition Rates
Texas High School Graduates from FY 2005 Enrolled in Texas Higher Education Fall 2005
School District
Total High School Graduates
Students Enrolled in Texas Universities
Students Enrolled in Texas 2-year Colleges
Students Not Located in Texas Higher Education *
Georgetown
530
189
36% 95
18%
246
46%
Harper 33 17
51% 4
12% 12
Hays
531
164
31% 77
15%
290
55%
Jarrell 38 10
26% 18
47%
Johnson City 58 23
40% 9
16% 26
45%
Lago Vista 65 21
32% 8 36
Lake Travis
320
150 54
17%
116
Leander
1,016
312
282
28%
422
42%
Liberty Hill
138 42
30% 30
22% 66
48%
Lockhart
241
27% 28
147
61%
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*Includes students who were not enrolled in Texas colleges or universities in the year immediately following graduation, as well as students who were enrolled out-of-state. **Districts with less than 25 graduates are not included in this report. Source:

10. Austin Community College Service Area College Transition Rates
Texas High School Graduates from FY 2005 Enrolled in Texas Higher Education Fall 2005
School District
Total High School Graduates
Students Enrolled in Texas Universities
Students Enrolled in Texas 2-year Colleges
Students Not Located in Texas Higher Education *
Luling 81 17
21% 7 9% 57
70%
Manor
140 27
19% 26 87
62%
McDade**
Nixon-Smiley 59 10
17% 13
22% 36
61%
Pflugerville
940
334
36%
202
404
43%
Prairie Lea**
Round Rock
2,202
747
34%
398
18%
1,057
48%
San Marcos
400
102
26% 64
16%
234
59%
Smithville
105 25
24% 24
23% 56
53%
Wimberley
160 65
41% 34 61
38%
Total
12,907
4,059
31%
2,414
6,434
50%
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*Includes students who were not enrolled in Texas colleges or universities in the year immediately following graduation, as well as students who were enrolled out-of-state. **Districts with less than 25 graduates are not included in this report. Source:

11. College Connection Program
Many high school students find the college enrollment process intimidating.
Austin Community College provides hands-on, one-on-one support to assist every student through each step of the college admissions process.
During graduation ceremonies, high school graduating seniors receive acceptance letters to Austin Community College. k

12. College Connection Students Receive On-Campus Activities:
Access to college and help getting started
Student life information
Admission application
ACC Video Teleconference
Financial aid application
ASSET assessment
Tour of Austin Community College campus(es)
Pre-Advising (ACC 101)
Advising
Acceptance letter to ACC at graduation
Registration for ACC classes
Red=Required Blue=Recommended Black=Optional k

13. School Districts Participating in the College Connection Program
(Year 1)
San Marcos CISD
(Year 2)
Austin ISD
Bastrop ISD
Del Valle ISD
Leander ISD
San Marcos CISD
(Year 3)
Austin ISD
Bastrop ISD
Del Valle ISD
Hays CISD
Leander ISD
Manor ISD
Pflugerville ISD
San Marcos CISD
(Year 4)
Austin ISD
Blanco ISD
Bastrop ISD
Del Valle ISD
Elgin ISD
Fredricksburg ISD
Harper ISD
Hays CISD
Jarrell ISD
Johnson City ISD
Lago Vista ISD
Leander ISD
Liberty Hill ISD
Lockhart ISD
Luling ISD
Manor ISD
Nixon-Smiley CISD
Pflugerville ISD
Prairie Lea ISD
Round Rock ISD
San Marcos CISD
Smithville ISD k

14. “Attaining advanced levels of education for disadvantaged students cannot be done without developing a college-going culture in every middle school and high school in the state of Texas...then suddenly, (going to college) changes from being a possibility to an expectation.”
Raymund Paredes
Commissioner, Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board
January 6, 2005

15. “The state must look for successful programs with statewide potential, such as ACC’s College Connection program, in which seniors in participating high schools are given help with financial aid forms and required to fill out applications.” Raymond Paredes State Higher Education Commissioner Austin American Statesman, April 16, 2006

16. College Connection Program National Acclaim & Recognition
NOTE: Both Washington Post and Seattle Times
SMHS, ACC, and the ENLACE Coalition collaborated on an ambitious initiative to have every SMHS senior complete the application and assessment process for acceptance into ACC.
332 students for 82% of our seniors successfully completed the process.

17. The College Connection Web Site
Information for parents
Information for students
Information for school district personnel
Calendars
Links to pertinent Austin Community College sites

19. Austin Community College welcomes Nixon-Smiley CISD into the
College Connection Program

20. 5930 Middle Fiskville Road Austin, TX 78754
Mary Hensley, Ed.D.
Austin Community College Vice President College Support Systems and ISD Relations
5930 Middle Fiskville Road Austin, TX 78754
(512) (512) (fax)
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21. For a copy of this presentation:
BoardPresentation.ppt