We prepare future-ready students with FREE and discounted college options.

Freshmen Program of Choice Family Information Sessions

Attend a freshmen family information session to learn how your student can gain an associate degree, college credit, and career certifications while earning their high school diploma at little or NO COST.

Early College High School, P-TECH Nursing Early College, and the Middle Years and Diploma International Baccalaureate programmes are comprehensive four-year programs of choice for rising ninth-graders.

Select the date and location convenient for you.

Tuesday, October 8, 2024
Canyon Vista Middle School, 8455 Spicewood Springs Rd. – 6:30 p.m.
Add Tuesday, OCT. 8, information session to your calendar.

Tuesday, October 15, 2024
Hopewell Middle School 1535 Gulf Way Round Rock, TX 78665 – 6:30 p.m.
Add Tuesday, OCT. 15, information session to your calendar.

Tuesday, October 22, 2024
Cedar Valley Middle School 8139 Racine Trail Round Rock, TX 78717 – 6:30 p.m.
Add Tuesday, OCT. 22, information session to your calendar.

Thursday, November 7, 2024
Deerpark Middle School, 8849 Anderson Mill Road Round Rock, TX 78729 – 6:30 p.m.
Add Thursday, Nov. 7, information session to your calendar.

Tuesday, November 12, 2024
C.D. Fulkes Middle School, 300 West Anderson Avenue Round Rock, TX 78664 – 6:30 p.m.
Add Tuesday, NOV. 12, information session to your calendar.

Thursday, November 14, 2024
Join a virtual lunch and learn – 12 p.m.
Add Thursday, Nov. 14, virtual information session to your calendar.

Learn more about four-year planning

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Early College High School

Students grades 9 through 12 can earn a high school diploma AND up to 60 transferable college credit hours in four years at NO COST.

Early College High School students are given the tools to succeed while immersed in a higher education experience, beginning their freshman year of high school and ending with an associate’s degree or up to 60 hours of college credit, accepted at all Texas public colleges and universities.

Early College High School is made possible through a partnership with Austin Community College (ACC). Students attend school each day at the ACC Round Rock campus, located at 4400 College Park Dr. in Round Rock.

College-focused, success-oriented

Equivalent of two years of college FREE includes tuition, books, and transportation.
Small school environment of up to 500 students as opposed to 2,400-3,400.
Students begin taking college courses as early as 9th grade with a structured sequence of courses that leads to an associate’s degree or towards a bachelor’s degree.
Students are taught study methods and organizational strategies to help them boost their academic skills.
Classes will be rigorous, with most being advanced (formerly called Pre-AP) or dual credit courses.
The project-based learning instructional model challenges students with a meaningful course of study and real-world applications.
Frequent advisory provides 1:1 academic support and personal encouragement.

LEARN MORE ABOUT EARLY COLLEGE

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P-TECH, Nursing Prep Early College High School

Students earn their high school diploma PLUS gain hands-on work experience as a licensed vocational nurse AND earn certifications, college credit, or their Associate’s degree for FREE. Tuition, textbooks, and transportation* are INCLUDED.

Experience and participate in no-cost dual credit high school and college nursing courses taught at Cedar Ridge High School.
Gain real-world skills such as time management, relationship building, and communication.
Build a resume and work ethic through internships, job shadowing, and job training.
Start college with up to 60 credits.
Earn a high school diploma, college credit, a two-year post-secondary certificate, or industry certification.

Academic and professional skills

Pathways in Technology Early College High Schools (P-TECH) is a public-private partnership involving Austin Community College and St. David’s Health Care that will prepare Round Rock ISD students for high-skill health science jobs as licensed vocational nurses (LVN).

Students in grades nine through 12 will experience a seamless high school and college coursework and workplace learning sequence where they will earn their high school diploma, industry-based certification, a Level 1 or Level 2 certification and/or transcript college credit toward an Associate degree culminating in an A.A.S. degree at no cost.

Graduating students will have the academic and professional skills required to either continue their education in a four-year post-secondary institution or enter into entry-level career.

LEARN MORE ABOUT P-TECH

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International Baccalaureate (IB)

The IB Diploma Programme, designed for college-bound and highly motivated students, is a rigorous and comprehensive curriculum based on international standards. Students who complete the challenging two-year program (junior/senior level) may earn college and university credit as well as the IB Diploma. Some IB courses may be taught concurrently with Advanced Placement (AP) courses.

The distinction as an IB World school student can earn you significant credentials for college applications, award you college credits, and save money on tuition.

Round Rock ISD IB High Schools

McNeil | Stony Point | Westwood

LEARN MORE ABOUT IB

More choices. More opportunities.

Dual Credit

Dual credit is available to high school students who meet TSI requirements for their chosen course. Classes can be held either on the high school or college campus during school hours, allowing students to earn both high school and college credits.

Career and Technical Education Academies

CTE helps prepare students who want to embark on a career trajectory while still in high school. Students can choose from almost 30 pathways.

Some pathways can result in industry certifications while still in high school; others provide early credit toward a post-secondary degree; and still others provide the opportunity to connect with future employers through job shadowing and internships.

Coursework prepares students with career-focused opportunities in high-wage, high-skill, and high-demand professional and occupational fields. Students have access to more than 60 programs to earn industry certifications. Career and Technical Education courses are available at all our middle and high schools.

Advanced Placement (AP)

AP is sponsored by the College Board and offers highly motivated and capable high school students an opportunity to take college-level courses in high school. Courses are offered in language arts, mathematics, social studies, science, foreign languages, art music, and computer science.

AP courses are open enrollment and participation is based on course prerequisites as indicated in the course catalog. In addition to all Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills, a wider range and greater depth of content is taught, with an emphasis on higher level critical thinking skills as well as provisions for creative and productive thinking. The students are required to complete independent as well as guided research.

OnRamps Program

OnRamps is an innovative dual-enrollment program that brings rigorous courses aligned with the high standards and expectations of The University of Texas at Austin to our district students. The key benefit of early exposure to postsecondary education is the authentic entry point to college expectations it provides for students and their families. Additionally, students are eligible to earn transferable college credit, accelerating degree completion and reducing costs associated with college.

Students are taught by a high school teacher in collaboration with a college professor and take college assessments over the year.

Students who earn a passing score average on college assessments are eligible to earn college credit. High school grades and college grades are recorded separately, and a passing college grade results in a UT transcript.

Texas First Diploma

The Texas First Early High School Program was established to promote efficiency in the state public education system and incentivize the enrollment of high-performing students at eligible institutions by allowing public high school students who demonstrate early readiness for college to graduate early from high school and providing eligible students a scholarship credit equivalent to up to one year of the Texas Grant (graduating one semester early qualifies the student for one semester of the Texas Grant).

Associates Degree in high school

This is not a program or cohort model, like ECHS, but a strategic collection of coursework that meets both high school and college requirements. Students are already taking various college-credit-bearing courses, but not necessarily in a pattern that aligns with higher education requirements.

The district has created a program to support students and their families in navigating the higher education requirements in a more streamlined and efficient manner. Even if a student does not meet all the requirements to earn the full associate’s degree, they will be able to be more strategic in their course selections and be closer to earning a degree as a result.

Any student interested in a rigorous learning experience and willing to take a significant amount of college-credit-bearing coursework should consider taking advantage of the pathway. By strategically planning the four-year course schedule, they are able to maximize their efforts.

Freshmen Four-year Planning