Mission
The Neighborhood Longhorns Program (NLP) is an incentive-based learning program, which provides students in Title One schools with the resources to build a strong academic future. The NLP is a partnership between Texas Athletics, the DCCE and Austin Independent School District.
Program Overview
NLP was established in 1991 as an educational incentive program operated in partnership between Texas Athletics, the city of Austin and Austin Independent School District. NLP serves elementary and middle school students who attend Title I schools in the Austin area. The primary objectives of NLP are to encourage self-discipline, promote enthusiasm for learning and increase student success.
UT Austin students and student-athletes serve as tutors at NLP schools, volunteer at NLP events and present eligible students with incentives based upon their academic achievements.
Program Elements
College Experience: Provides college-experience opportunities for students in grades 2-8 via educational programs that encourage academic achievement.
Focus on Classroom Performance: NLP works to increase student retention rates as well as improve overall grade performance with a focus on reading, math, science and language arts skills.
Scholarships: Students can qualify for a savings account scholarship for each year they participate in the program. The scholarship is held in an account until the student graduates from high school and attends college. If the student attends UT Austin, the scholarship is matched by NLP.
Demographic Information
NLP served 5,200 students during the 2022-23 academic year. Thirty elementary schools and four middle schools participated in the program (grades 2 – 8). A total of 1,915 service hours were volunteered by UT Austin students, including 1,728 tutor hours.