College & Career Readiness

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The Austin ISD Learning Community is committed to preparing all students to graduate college, career and life ready!

We are focused on ensuring that our students are prepared for a changing and increasingly complex future; to cultivate the knowledge, skills, mindset of a lifelong learner in order to be successful beyond high school.

Austin ISD College Advisors; work in collaboration with School Counselors, AVID, GEAR UP Austin, CTE, other partner organizations and college access programs to create and promote a college-bound culture across all campuses.

Explore Career Opportunities

Explore opportunities based on your interests and work values, match characteristics of your current or most recent occupation with similar occupations, and find specific information such as the fastest growing jobs, levels of education and training requirements, and average salaries.

Evaluate Expenses Against Careers

Estimate how much money you need for housing, utilities, transportation, clothes, health care, entertainment and other expenses, and see which careers will pay for these needs.

Compare careers and expenses using Reality Check.

Find and Compare Colleges & Universities

College Scorecard (U.S. Department of Education) will help you find and compare college and university programs and costs, as well as compare types of possible financial aid.

College Applications

College Readiness & TSI (Texas Success Initiative)

The TSI is designed to measure college readiness skills in the areas of reading, writing and math. If you are a student planning to enroll in college level coursework, you may need to take the TSIA2 exam. Some students are EXEMPT from the TSI exam, provided they meet specific criteria. For more information about the TSI, visit: College Board/Accuplacer. Also connect with your Project Advance College Advisor, designated TSI testing coordinator, Counselor or ECHS Coordinator for TSI test dates, information and how to get free practice to do well on the TSI through the accuplacer.org website.

A student shall be exempt from taking the TSIA if the student meets the following benchmarks on or after 2/15/23:

  • a combined score of 40 on the English and Reading (E+R) tests shall be exempt for both reading and writing or ELAR sections of the TSI Assessment.
  • A score of 22 on the mathematics test shall be exempt for the mathematics section of the TSI Assessment. There is no composite score.
  • The use of scores from both the ACT administered prior to February 15, 2023, and the ACT administered after February 15, 2023, is allowable, as long as the benchmarks set forth in the first two bullets of this list are met.
  • taken the SAT administered March 2016 and later and earned a minimum score of 530 in Mathematics shall exempt the Math section of the TSIA.
  • taken the SAT administered March 2016 and later and earned a minimum score of 480 on the Evidence-Based Reading and Writing test for an exemption in the reading and writing sections of the TSIA.

Please refer to the TEA TSIA website  for more information. 

TSI Study Resources

  • IXL found in your Austin ISD Portal 
  • Practice Resources
    • Pdfs of practice tests available 
  • ACCUPLACER STUDY APP
    • Students can create an account using their personal email address to create an account. The Accuplacer Study App mimics the real exam and allows students to explore tool functions and the test format. 
  • TSIA2 Learning Locator Resources 
    • This resource can provide targeted test preparation resources

Financial Aid

House Bill 3 Financial Aid Graduation Requirement

Beginning with students enrolled in 12th grade during the 2021-2022 school year, each students must do one of the following in order to graduate: 

  1. Complete and submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or 
  2. Complete and submit a Texas Application for State Financial Aid (TASFA) or 
  3. Submit a signed opt-out form. 

Seniors and their parents/guardians should reach out to their Austin ISD college and career advisor or counselor for assistance in completing their financial aid application.

What is FAFSA?

The FAFSA is the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). It is a free online application that should be completed during the student’s senior year in high school. Completing the FAFSA may qualify a student for federal and state grants, federal work study programs, and federal student loans. Additionally students could qualify for additional institutional scholarships at colleges or universities. 

FAFSA Eligibility

  • United States Citizen or 
  • United States Permanent Resident (I-551 or I-151 visa) or 
  • United States Conditional Permanent Resident (I-551C visa) or 
  • Eligible Noncitizen with an Arrival/Departure (I-94 visa).

The U.S. Department of Education (Department) today announced that the 2025-26 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA® form) will be launched through a new process. Starting on October 1, the Department will release the 2025-26 FAFSA form for testing with a limited set of students and institutions. The Department will make the application available to all students on or before December 1. 

For more information on the FAFSA visit here. 

What is TASFA? 

The Texas Application for State Financial Aid (TASFA) is a free application that collects information to help determine eligibility for state (or institutional) financial aid programs administered by institutions of higher education in the state of Texas. 

Students classified as Texas residents who are not eligible to apply for federal financial aid using the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) are encouraged to complete the TASFA. 

Please note there is a free online application that is available. For more information on the TASFA visit here. 

Why should I complete my child’s financial aid application

Students and parents should complete their financial aid application so they can be considered for federal and/or state grants, work-study funds, and loans. These financial sources can assist students and families to pay for college/career/trade schools. 

Many states and colleges use your FAFSA information to determine your eligibility for state and school aid. Some private aid providers may use your FAFSA information to determine whether you qualify for their aid.

What information is needed to complete the FAFSA/ TASFA Application ?

In order to complete your child’s financial aid application you will need the following information:

Student Information Parent Information

Valid Email Address & Phone Number

FSA ID Username and Password

Social Security Number

2023 Income Tax Return (if applicable)

2023 W2 (if applicable)

Residency Card (if applicable)

Investment Information (if applicable)

Valid Email Address & Phone Number

FSA ID Username and Password

Social Security Number

2023 Income Tax Return

2023 W2

Residency Card (if applicable)

Investment Information (if applicable)

Financial Aid Completion Resources

The Austin ISD High School College and Career Advisors are available to support students and parents in completing their financial aid application. 

The College Hub from Foundation Communities provides free help for prospective and current college students to complete financial aid, scholarships, college application, college enrollment and more. 

You are welcome to connect with the College Hub here.

Compare your financial aid packages

Scholarships

A comprehensive list of scholarships for Austin ISD students can be found in the Naviance. Students can log into Naviance, by logging into their Austin ISD student portal and search for ‘Naviance’. Once the tile appears students can click on it. 

Additional scholarship opportunities can be found College Board Opportunity Scholarships. 

Military/Veterans Legacy Funding for Dependents

Campus College and Advisor Point of Contacts 

Students, in particular seniors that need to navigate the college application process and financial aid in preparation for post-secondary options;  remember to log in with your Austin ISD Login through the AISD student portal. You will be able to access many resources as well as key milestones that you must take during your senior year. As well as many scholarship opportunities.

About Naviance

Naviance offers a robust selection of college and career readiness tools and resources easily accessible to all our middle school and high school students, families, counselors and educators. Students can explore colleges and careers using research tools, career and personality assessments, and College SuperMatch!

Juniors and seniors are able to build a college list to keep track of transcript requests, college applications and teacher recommendations. These tools keep the college application process; organized, streamlined and allow full communication between students, counselors, college advisors and parents. 

A Naviance account allows students and parents to communicate with Guidance and College Counselors; research post-secondary options from college & career, to work & volunteering; find and learn more about financial aid options and more. Learn more about Naviance.

PSAT 8/9 and PSAT/NMSQT Testing 

Austin ISD believes in creating as many opportunities as possible for our students to own their future. That’s why we offer the PSAT 8/9 and PSAT/NMSQT® (Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test) to our students. Whether your child is thinking about attending a two- or four-year college, a job training program, or isn’t sure what they want to do after high school, the PSAT 8/9 and PSAT/NMSQT can help make their career goals and postsecondary path clearer. Results from the PSAT 8/9 and PSAT/NMSQT provide insights into your child’s academic strengths, along with areas they can work on while still in middle and high school. 

Taking the PSAT 8/9 and PSAT/NMSQT can also help your child to: 

  • Enter the National Merit® Scholarship Program if they meet program requirements specified in the PSAT/NMSQT Student Guide. 
  • Understand your skills and knowledge and which areas to focus on improving. 
  • Practice and prepare for the SAT®. 
  • Find out what AP® courses they’re ready to take. 
  • Plan and pay for college. 
  • Explore personalized career insights aligned to their score. 

Your child will take the PSAT 8/9 and PSAT/NMSQT on Wednesday October 9th, 2024 with makeup testing on Tuesday October 22nd, 2024 using their own school-issued device. Please note some middle and high school campuses may be testing on different dates. Please check in your student’s school about their testing dates. 

College Board Resources