Last week, the Austin Chamber of Commerce named Round Rock ISD and McNeil, Stony Point and Westwood high schools award winners during their 2021 State of Education and Talent event on Oct. 28. The annual celebration recognizes school districts and campuses for their progress and successes in developing future talent and preparing students for postsecondary and career success.
Round Rock ISD earned the Greatest Improvement in Direct-to-College Enrollment for a School District Award, which recognizes the Central Texas school district with the largest gain in college enrollment after high school graduation.
McNeil and Stony Point were named a Greatest Improvement in Direct-to-College Enrollment for a High School Campus award winner and, for the second time, Westwood earned the Highest Senior Survey Participation Rate by Enrollment Award for achieving the highest Apply Texas submission rate and the highest senior survey participation rate among large high schools in Central Texas.
“I am proud of the progress we have and continue to make at our high schools and as a school district in this important field,” said Superintendent of Schools Dr. Hafedh Azaiez. “While we remain proud, we know there is much work that needs to be done to further improve and ensure that every Round Rock ISD student is prepared for postsecondary success and has the support and opportunities to make their dreams a reality.”
Since 2006, the Austin Chamber has partnered with local colleges and several Central Texas school districts to improve college enrollment. The Direct-to-College 70 (DTC70) program is working to attain a 70 percent rate of direct enrollment into postsecondary education, on par with the national average. Round Rock ISD continues to surpass this average and currently has a 72.5% rate.
Efforts to increase college readiness in Round Rock ISD include offering multiple school-day college assessment opportunities, embedding SAT/ACT test-taking strategies in language arts and math courses, and providing access to tutorials and other support systems. The District also ensures all eighth-grade students take the PSAT at no cost and pays for all high school juniors to take the SAT.
