Mornings aren’t complete without a cup of joe!
Now anyone in need of a caffeine fix at McNeil, Westwood, or Round Rock high schools can stop by Java City Monday through Friday from 7 to 9 a.m.
The campus coffee shop first opened in 2011 at Westwood, alongside Cedar Ridge, and Round Rock high schools. However, all locations were forced to close in 2020 due to staff shortages during the pandemic.
Westwood High School is the latest to reopen its Java City location.
Sophomore Jhivan James said he thinks the coffee shop will be good for both the school and the students.
“I thought it would be really good business if we opened Java City back up again because a lot of the students are tired,” he said.
Aramark, Round Rock ISD’s food service provider, was able to revive its Java City programs by launching a student employment program. This allows Java City to give students work experience alongside a $14/hour salary.
Sandra Phillips, a human resources manager at Round Rock ISD, said the program provides real-world experience to students who might not otherwise have the opportunity due to transportation, academics, and extracurricular activities.
“These students are responsible for serving at the same standards as your local coffee shop,” she said. “They manage money, provide customer service, prepare and serve products according to Child Nutrition standards, and troubleshoot under pressure.”
Jhivan said he didn’t expect to get paid when he applied to be a barista, but acknowledged it’s definitely a plus to working at Java City.
“It’s really nice that we’re getting paid,” he said. “I would definitely recommend working at Java City. It’s a fun, easy job. It’s quick money, you don’t have to work that long… it’s a good first job to have.”
Round Rock High School reopened its cafe in 2022, and McNeil High School reopened its in 2023. The Cedar Ridge High School location remains closed at this time.
When openings arise, students can apply to work for their school’s respective Java City on the Aramark website.
