ROUND ROCK, Texas — “Summer melt” is a common scenario where high-school graduates apply to college, are accepted and say they plan to enroll in – but then they don’t.
Historically, about 90% of more than 13,000 Central Texas high school graduates indicate they plan to pursue postsecondary enrollment. But only 63% actually do, according to the Austin Chamber of Commerce.
"We get really excited about kids filling out their scholarships and applying for financial aid," said LaShanda Lewis, Round Rock ISD's director of counseling. "But there's those little bitty things that students sometimes don't think about."
Round Rock ISD high schools have a program dedicated to helping address “summer melt.” Counselors assist recent graduates in navigating their path toward higher education.
After students receive acceptance letters and decide to attend a particular college, they must complete several tasks to start college successfully. However, many times, they don't follow through with those tasks.
"If their parents are not college – have not gone to college – or it's been a really long time since their parents have had a child go off to college or been in college themselves, there are fees for room and board that they have to pay upfront," Lewis said.
When these next steps are unknown to the students and families, it's hard for them to follow through.
The Round Rock ISD program makes sure students meet those next steps, including:
- Determining the cost of attendance
- Making sense of financial aid award letters
- Understanding tuition bills and required deposits
- Identifying and budgeting for expenses (including health insurance, textbooks, meals)
- Registering for and attending orientation
- Receiving required immunizations
- Taking placement tests
- Completing housing forms
- Registering for classes
- Arranging transportation
- Accessing and navigating online portals
"We noticed that a lot of our students would not get their immunizations, and that is something that they have to have, to go off to college. Especially, if they're staying in a dorm," Lewis said. "There are just these little bitty fees that sometimes students don't realize that they have to take care of and pay before they can actually get to school. And that's outside of their tuition, their books."
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Lewis said there was a decline in students not going off to college. However, Round Rock ISD is hoping to equip students with the tools they need moving forward.
Lewis said any former Round Rock ISD student can get help. No matter how long ago you graduated, there's always a place for you to get help in Round Rock ISD, according to Lewis.
Austin, Leander, Pflugerville and Hutto ISDs also have or have had similar programs.