College Preparatory Program

The Ann Richards School is a college preparatory school focused on 100 percent of our students applying to and being accepted to college. To achieve this goal, the Ann Richards School has a strong college advising program that is fully integrated into our academic and enrichment programs.

Based on a proven successful model developed by the Young Women's Leadership Foundation in New York City, the Ann Richards School incorporates the following key components:

• A school culture that includes an expectation that all students will apply to and be accepted to college: Students at the Ann Richards School come from a variety of educational and socioeconomic backgrounds. Regardless of background, each Ann Richards student will know that the pursuit of a college education is not just a dream, but an expectation.
• A full-time college advisor: Success depends upon having full-time staff dedicated to developing and implementing a college counseling program. This individual is responsible for all aspects of the program, ranging from preparing students to apply to college to developing relationships with colleges and universities around the country.
• Awareness and exposure to higher education: Beginning in the 6th grade, Ann Richards students participate in college-exploration activities. Younger students tour local college and university campuses. Older students attend academic summer programs at colleges and universities all over the country. Students of all ages attend age-appropriate events on college campuses.
• Career exploration: Our students are encouraged to dream big and think beyond high school through a career-exploration program that is integrated into the curriculum. Students identify and interview women in diverse professions. Women from a variety of professions speak to the students in classes and at school events. Students have the opportunity to participate in after-school programs in areas such as filmmaking and robotics as well as summer internships in professional environments.
• The Ann Richards School college advising program will guide students through the entire college-entrance process: From choosing the right classes in high school to preparing and sitting for standardized tests to applying to colleges,each student’s college search will be personalized to help the student and her family navigate the path to college admission. The college adviser will help students and families identify and apply for financial aid and scholarships to ensure that each student has the financial support necessary to pursue a college degree.

For questions regarding college bound programming, please contact Judy Kenney, College Advisor, at judy.kenney@austinisd.org or 512-841-7461.

back to top