Class of 2024's college admissions report
Director of Counseling Heidi Sauer provided an update on the class of 2024's post-graduate activities. According to Sauer, of the 681 students in the graduating class:
- 68 were in the top 10%, and the highest GPA was about 106.8% out of 100%.
- 35 were National Merit semifinalists, with the majority of students attending the University of Texas at Austin.
- 422 took 1,342 Advanced Placement exams. On average, 87.4% of Westlake High School students have scored a 3 or higher on these exams over the past five years.
Additionally, 44 graduates are enrolled at Austin Community College this semester as part of the college’s free tuition pilot program. This number is up from 30 students in fall 2023.
While only 0.15% of the graduating class went on to receive Adult Transition Services, other special services are still available to former students. Special Education Director Matt Zemo said there was an increase from 2022 to 2023 in students reporting that they had contacted the Office of Disability Services after graduating.
“This is always our goal because we want to make sure that they know that there are services that can continue whether you’re at ACC or Harvard and everywhere in between,” Zemo said.
Of 22 EISD students surveyed in 2023, 68% contacted the office, while 14% did not and 18% reported they did not know about the services available.
“We’re continuing to work towards closing that gap as it relates to ‘did not know about’ [the services],” Zemo said.
New identification badges to enhance security
A committee of district and campus administrators, security team members and police officers are working on designing an identification badge for middle and high school students, Assistant Superintendent of Operations & Technology Kirsty Sailors said.
The badge would be used to access transportation services, food services, the library or checking in with nurses or counselors, and is aiming to be implemented by the 2025-26 school year.
Sailors said the badges will be piloted on a group of students next summer.
Bond funds approved for district projects
The board approved the purchase of IBM data storage equipment to replace aging infrastructure in the Eanes ISD Data Center.
The $161.3K purchase will come out of the 2023 bond and reduce maintenance costs, enhance system performance and improve data accessibility and protection, per agenda documents.
The board also approved $4.2 million of bond funds for the interior renovation of 401 Camp Craft Road, which will be converted to the district's new central administration building, moving from 601 Camp Craft Road. The land the building sits on was first purchased in December 2022.
EISD receives 'superior' Financial Integrity Rating System of Texas rating
Executive Director of Finance Maria Rockstead said ratings are assigned to each district based on indicators used to measure its financial management practices and overall financial health and sustainability.
The 2024 FIRST report is based on data from 2022-23, and EISD has received the highest possible rating since the system's inception in 2003. About 85% of districts across the state receive a superior rating, Rockstead said.
Despite EISD's score of 92/100, the board will hold a special budget workshop meeting Nov. 11 to discuss budget challenges addressed at the Oct. 8 board meeting. The district is now facing a $3.3 million shortfall, up from the $1.2 million shortfall projected when the 2024-25 budget was approved in June.
