More Metro Austin high school graduates are enrolling in college than ever before. The percentage of students enrolling in post-secondary education rose 15 percent for the Class of 2008, reaching 62 percent.

At the Fourth Annual State of Education event at the Frank Erwin Center on December 8, the Austin Chamber of Commerce recognized local schools and school districts for increasing the number of students enrolling in post-secondary education and completing key steps in the college enrollment process.

“We can fuel our economy with graduates from California and Massachusetts and other states and other countries—up to a point. But that is no substitute for Texas-bred intellectual talent, with its roots in our community and its commitment to building our state and all the benefits it would bring to our arts and civic and educational communities, on top of the economic muscle it would add,” said Dallas Federal Reserve Bank President Richard W. Fisher, the 2009 State of Education keynote speaker.

Metro Austin college and workplace readiness rates are up across the region. Students who don’t meet state college readiness standards must take remedial classes if they enroll at a Texas public higher education institution. San Marcos CISD had the greatest improvement in the rate of seniors meeting state college readiness standards. Nearly 40% of its Class of 2008 was college-ready, compared to 27% for the Class of 2007.

The State of Education event is part of the Chamber’s 20,010 by 2010 initiative to increase Metro Austin’s college enrollment rate by 20,010 more students by the year 2010. The 20,010 by 2010 initiative also includes a project to use technology to allow college enrollment managers to track college and financial aid application submissions and dozens of Financial Aid Saturdays at which families receive free help completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

The initiative also includes annual Progress Reports which communicate school district progress in the areas of greatest concern to the business community and the University of Texas’ Ray Marshal Center’s Student Futures Project, which collects and analyzes data from local school districts to determine the factors affecting Metro Austin students’ decisions to enroll in college.

This year’s recognitions for Metro Austin schools and school districts which have increased their common application, FAFSA, college readiness and college enrollment rates comes as the state school accountability system introduced college readiness measures. This year, 2009, was the first year that Texas schools were graded on their percentages of college-ready graduates in order to determine the schools’ eligibility for a Gold Performance Acknowledgement in this area.

“As a business person, I can tell you that in order for Austin to prosper, more of our local residents need to enroll in post-secondary training, whether at a four-year college, two-year college or technical certificate program,” said Austin Chamber Education/Talent Council Chair Gene Austin, CEO of Austin-based software company Convio Inc. “Today, we’re celebrating educators’ successes in helping more students enroll in higher education, and in helping Metro Austin continue to thrive.”

2009 State of Education Award Winners include:

• Highest ApplyTexas Submission Rate: LBJ High School, Austin ISD, 92%
• Highest Financial Aid Saturdays Participation: Stony Point High School, Round Rock ISD, 89 attendees
• Highest College/Workforce Readiness Rate (Campus): Westwood High School, Round Rock ISD, 87%
• Highest College/Workforce Readiness Rate (District): Eanes ISD, 82%
• Greatest College/Workforce Readiness Rate Improvement (Campus): Pflugerville High School, Pflugerville ISD; 52% for Class of 2008 vs. 35% for Class of 2007
• Greatest College/Workforce Readiness Rate Improvement (District): San Marcos CISD, 39% for Class of 2008 vs. 27% for Class of 2007
• Highest Student Futures Project Participation Rate: Hendrickson High School, Pflugerville ISD, 84%
• Highest Direct to College Enrollment Rate: Eanes ISD, 87%
• Greatest Direct to College Enrollment Rate Improvement (Campus): Del Valle High School, 45% for the class of 2008 vs. 35% for the class of 2007
• Greatest Direct to College Enrollment Improvement (District): San Marcos CISD, 44% for the Class of 2008 vs. 36% for the Class of 2007
• 2009 Chamber College Essay Contest Winner: Katie Padilla, Del Valle High School
• 2009 APIE College Readiness Tutor: Rich LaSota
• 20,010 by 2010 Business Volunteer of the Year: Bob Digneo, AT&T
• 20,010 by 2010 Superintendent of the Year: Dr. Patty Shafer, San Marcos CISD
• Austin Human Capital Award: The Hon. Florence Shapiro, Texas Senator

For more information about the Austin Chamber’s education initiatives or how you can get involved please visit www.CollegeReadyAustin.com.