A group of Round Rock leaders last night formally announced to the ACC Board of Trustees their intent to pursue annexation of the remaining portion of the Round Rock Independent School District (RRISD) into the Austin Community College District. Currently, only 1/3 of RRISD located within the City of Austin boundaries is part of the college’s tax-paying district.
“More than half of all area students enter higher education through ACC,” said Dr. Stephen B. Kinslow, ACC District president/CEO. “From the Round Rock area alone, the college has seen a 40 percent increase in enrollment the past four years. Expanding the district’s capacity is imperative to meet the demands of this growing community.”
The college’s Board recently authorized staff to negotiate the purchase of land adjacent to the Round Rock Higher Education Center (RRHEC) for the construction of a comprehensive campus. Allied health science programs, such as nursing, will be anchors at the new campus in Round Rock, aligning the college with current and future development of local hospitals in that area. The college’s future expansion in Round Rock is guided by the ACC District Master Plan and consultant recommendations intended to assist the college with meeting its enrollment targets, as outlined by the State’s initiative.
“Of over 5,000 Williamson County students, only 512 take classes at the Round Rock Higher Education Center,” said John Hernandez, chair of the ACC Board of Trustees. “This demonstrates the need for a comprehensive ACC campus with expanded community college programs and services not currently offered in Round Rock.”
Through a successful annexation election, all RRISD residents will benefit from the following at the newly constructed campus:
Lower in-district tuition ($39 per credit hour, versus $110 out-of-district rate)
FREE Early College Start classes for high school students who wish to earn up to a year of college credit (classes are $40 for out-of-district students)
Expansion of university transfer courses and programs
Expansion of high-demand career (workforce) programs
Expansion of access/foundation programs for the not-yet-college-ready
Expansion of student success services such as free tutoring labs and open computer labs
Election of governing board members
“The education and training ACC offers directly impacts economic development and we appreciate the folks in Round Rock who see the value in supporting our diverse mission by becoming a part of the ACC District,” said Kinslow.
For more information regarding this citizen-driven annexation effort, please visit
Fast Facts about ACC Students
RRISD Data: Fall 2006
3,465 – total ACC students who live in RRISD boundaries
876 – in-district
2,589 – out-of-district
Round Rock Area Data: Fall 2006
2,368 – total ACC students from Round Rock area
306 – at RRHEC
*2,248 – at ACC campuses
*number includes 186 students who also attend RRHEC
40% enrollment increase from Round Rock area (fall 02-06)
Williamson County Data: Fall 2006
5,189 – total ACC students who live in Williamson County/Round Rock
512 – students attending RRHEC
*4,964 – students driving to ACC Campuses
*number reflects 287 students also attending RRHEC
37% enrollment increase from Williamson County (fall 02-06)