Evening classes were also held at several Austin public high schools. In the fall of 1973, the college held its first classes in the former Anderson High School building in east Austin, which ACC named its Ridgeview Campus. the part of the Smithville Independent School District located in Fayette County.ĪCC Rio Grande Campus, ACC's oldest currently operating campus.the part of the Elgin Independent School District located in Lee County and.the part of the San Marcos Consolidated Independent School District located in Guadalupe County.Bastrop County, excepting the territory within the Lexington Independent School District.Williamson County, excepting the territory within the Florence, Granger, Hutto, Lexington, Taylor, and Thrall independent school districts.Travis County, excepting the territory within the Marble Falls Independent School District.As defined by the Texas Legislature, the official service area of ACC currently includes: The ACC District now spans all or most of seven counties in Central Texas and parts of four more. The system's service area has grown steadily across its history as surrounding regions have agreed to be annexed into the tax district in return for in-district tuition for their residents. The initiative was initially rejected at the polls, but a similar measure was enacted in 1986, separating ACC from AISD and establishing its governing board and taxing authority. In 1981 the school administration petitioned voters in Travis County to make ACC a county-wide public college with its own taxing authority and to permit it to issue bonds to fund facility expansions and renovations. As the system's student population grew, it quickly came to need more funding than its operation as a branch of AISD could provide. ĪCC received its accreditation from SACS in 1978.

This plan meant that (at least initially) ACC would not levy any taxes on local residents to fund its operation, relying instead on state bodies such as the Texas College System Coordinating Board and the Texas Education Agency (as well as tuition and fees from students). In 1972, however, an alternative proposal that would allow the new college to be operated (and funded) by Austin Independent School District won a majority of voters' support. The question was put to a vote repeatedly, but voters rejected the proposed taxpayer-supported college system in 1963, 19. In the 1960s, Austin residents and leaders discussed the possibility of establishing a community college for their growing city.

Austin community colol