The growing number of children from underrepresented groups who are entering the Texas educational pipeline deserve both the opportunity to enroll in college and the chance to thrive there. To this end, the DDCE is committed to increasing the success of students from PreK through 12th grade. The DDCE’s pre-college initiatives reach communities statewide to foster a culture of academic success for students from first generation or low income families or who attend high schools that are underrepresented in higher education.
Some initiatives offer incentives and support for academic success, while others provide dual high school and college credit, tutoring, mentoring, and interactive conversations with families about what it takes for students to be ready for college.
AdviseTX
Advise TX places exceptional recent college graduates from all fields of study on high school campuses as near-peer college advisers to lead low-income and first-generation students to college.
CalcBridge
CalcBridge is a partnership among Texas high schools, the Department of Mathematics, and the DDCE. It allows high school students to earn college mathematics credit while connecting students with collegiate scientists and researchers.
ChemBridge
ChemBridge is a partnership among Texas high schools, the College of Natural Sciences, and the DDCE. It allows high school students to earn college chemistry credit , while earning concurrent high school credit for an advanced science class.
Longhorn Center for School Partnerships
Serving more than 10,000 students annually, LCSP is a portfolio of programs that provide college readiness services for underrepresented students that include both academic and college awareness initiatives.
MathBridge
MathBridge is a partnership among Texas high schools, the Department of Mathematics and the DDCE. It allows high school students to earn college mathematics credit while connecting students with collegiate scientists and researchers.
Neighborhood Longhorns Program
NLP is a partnership between Texas Athletics and the DDCE. It works in 30 Title I elementary and middle schools in Austin to improve academic performance and to increase retention by providing educational incentives and scholarships.
Project MALES
Project MALES is a multi-faceted research and mentoring initiative that is working to increase retention and graduation rates of Latino male students (and other males of color) enrolled at UT Austin and partner institutions.
WritingBridge
WritingBridge is a partnership among Texas high schools, the Department of Rhetoric and Writing, and the DDCE. It allows high school students to college rhetoric credit while connecting students with collegiate readers, writers and researchers.
The University of Texas Elementary School
UTES is a public charter school located in East Austin. Its mission is to: develop students into lifelong learners; provide opportunities for professional development for UT Austin; and serve as a model of an exemplary educational program.
The UT-University Charter School District
Composed of 23 campuses across Texas, UT-UCS serves special-needs K-12 students in unique settings, such as foster homes, domestic abuse shelters, and residential treatment centers.
UT Youth Engagement Centers
UT Youth Engagement Centers provide a comprehensive college preparatory program for select underserved high school students. UT Youth Engagement Centers has centers in Austin, Dallas, Houston, Rio Grande Valley, and San Antonio.