What can schools and local businesses do to help more students succeed?

How the project works:

1. A few months before graduation, seniors complete surveys detailing their family education background, perceptions of college readiness in different subject areas, study/work habits, the completion of key college preparation activities, such as submission of FAFSA and completing the Texas Common Application, and what they look for in a college.
2. Researchers link the senior surveys to administrative records, employment records, and actual post-graduation activities to develop a comprehensive analysis of programs and activities that increase the likelihood of students enrolling in college.
3. Students are followed up to four years after high school graduation to discover what activities help students succeed in college.

The data gathered gives school districts and postsecondary institutions insight on what seniors are doing after graduation and why they are making these decisions. Researchers discover trends among different student groups and develop reports for each ISD. School districts can utilize the information they receive to improve programs both district-wide and on a school-by-school basis. Counselors and educators can even use this information to target specific student groups in a way proven to get results. 

The ability to make data-based decisions helps educators and districts eliminate unproductive programs and focus limited resources on those specific, measurable activities that lead to higher enrollment. Postsecondary institutions can use senior surveys to discover what students are looking for in their quest for higher education. Of those students who enrolled in college, 64% went to a four-year university while 36% went to a two-year institution. In addition, only 14% of the 2008 graduates enrolled in an out-of-state institution.

Since 2005, over 27,000 seniors have been surveyed and followed after graduation. The number of districts participating in the project has more than doubled from the original four ISDs. Published reports and findings have already helped Opportunity Austin and participating ISDs focus on two areas shown to improve enrollment rates; completing the Texas Common Application and submitting a FAFSA application.

Once screened and trained by APIE, volunteers provide academic support to students in a small interactive group learning model via Classroom Coaching programs. This year, more than 850 Classroom Coaches join an additional 800 mentors as APIE volunteers in Austin ISD.

APIE’s College Readiness program is communicating with more than 1,147 families this school year in Austin, helping them understand the importance of college readiness. The College Readiness team provides outreach, advising, and tutoring to help students who have passed exit-level tests and are graduation ready but have not scored high enough on tests to meet the state’s requirements for College Readiness under the Texas Success Initiative. The College Readiness Program will help hundreds of students in Austin graduate high school college-ready this year, saving them the time and expense of developmental courses upon college entrance.

Visit Austin Partners in Education to learn more, get involved, and donate.

SOURCES

1. University of Texas at Austin, Ray Marshall Center, Student Futures/Chamber DTC70 Partner multi-year postsecondary enrollment outcomes 2006-2021.

2. ApplyTexas and Financial Aid Outcomes, aggregated by OneLogos and Opportunity Austin from THECB and U.S. Department of Education respectively for Class of 2021-2022.

3. U.S. Department of Education, Q1 First-time FAFSA Filings by Zip (Austin MSA), 2005-2021.