Nakhira Brown, a junior at St. Philip’s Early College High School, will receive her first college admission letter before starting her senior year in August.
Brown is one of 20 juniors at her high school who qualify for automatic admission to the University of Texas at San Antonio for the fall of 2026.
Thanks to a 3-year-old partnership between UTSA and the San Antonio Independent School District, students ranked in the top 25% of their graduating class receive guaranteed and early admission to the university.
Northside Independent School District joined the direct admission partnership this year, making it the second school district in the San Antonio area to offer this opportunity to high achieving students.
Coordinated by UP Partnership, an education and youth advocacy group, more than 700 students across both school districts have been eligible for early and direct admission to UTSA since the first cohort in 2023.
Joined by two parents and five siblings during a packed celebration in the Bowden Legacy Building, which houses St. Philip’s ECHS, Brown received a certificate of her eligibility into the direct admission program and some Roadrunner swag.
“I’m going to be studying medicine. I want to be a neurosurgeon when I get older,” Brown said.
And it’s a good thing that UTSA has recently merged with renowned medical school UT Health San Antonio.
Out of the first cohort of SAISD high school juniors admitted into the program, 95 enrolled at the university during the 2024 fall semester, and UTSA admitted 255 SAISD students — the program’s second cohort — for the upcoming fall semester.
Currently, 350 NISD students, who are about to finish their junior year and enter their senior year, are eligible for early and direct college admission to the university.
Spokesperson Jeannette Garcia said the direct admission program is one of the latest efforts by UP Partnership to meet the goal set out by the organization’s Future Ready Plan — increasing post secondary enrollment of Bexar County high schoolers by 70% by 2030.
UP Partnership’s role, Garcia said, is to get school district and university officials in the same room. The organization plans to expand the program to all seven school districts that are part of the Future Ready coalition, including East Central ISD, Harlandale ISD, Judson ISD, Southwest ISD and Edgewood ISD.
Micheal Rubbo, an undergraduate admissions counselor for SAISD students at UTSA, said the direct admissions program removes roadblocks for students and cuts the college admission timeline.
“Traditionally, someone who goes to UTSA has to apply starting in August of their senior year, and then they go that whole year, working on their application; working on their college enrollment,” Rubbo told students at Wednesday’s celebration. “We’re going to have you guys taken care of by June 1. So before you leave for summer break, you’re going to have your first college acceptance letter.”
In order to receive early admission, eligible students have to submit their UTSA application by June 1, Rubbo added.
“It doesn’t mean you have to attend UTSA… It just means that we’re going to be your first acceptance letter.”
Dustin Nieto, the director of post secondary initiatives at SAISD, said getting a first letter of acceptance boosts students’ confidence and makes them feel like they’re “college material.” Plus, the quicker it takes a student to apply and get admitted, the more likely they are to enroll in higher education, Nieto added.
“So it’s a mutually beneficial relationship between us and UTSA,” Nieto said.
UTSA is one of the top five institutions that SAISD graduates feed into.
Students who opt into the program and enroll aren’t guaranteed financial assistance or scholarships, however, most are likely eligible for the “UTSA Bold Promise,” a scholarship for Texas residents ranked in the top 25% of their graduating class who enroll in college full-time and have household incomes of $100,000 or less.
Brown, a high school junior about to enter her senior year, said she isn’t sure if she’s ready to commit to enrolling at UTSA but will make sure to submit an application.
“It’s a choice, yeah, because I kind of don’t want to be too far from home,” Brown told the Report. “But I’m also like, I want to go out there and see what other colleges I can get accepted into.”
Bella Gonzalez, another junior at St. Philip’s ECHS eligible for early admission to UTSA, said getting into the program was worthwhile. Gonzalez wants to study biology and pursue a veterinary career.
“When I look at this accomplishment, I know I can do anything I approach in the future,” Gonzalez said.
