The Texas Education Agency has approved the conversion of three Austin ISD high schools to early college high schools.

Crockett, Eastside Memorial and Lanier high schools have joined LBJ, Reagan and Travis high schools to offer students classes through Austin Community College.

Through the early college high school program, students at those schools can earn a high school diploma and an associate degree at the same time for free. Students can earn up to 60 hours of college credit before walking across the stage at high school graduation.

Students can enroll as early as 9th or 10th grade. A series of criteria need to be met to participate in the program, including getting a Satisfactory reading and writing scores on the TSI—or college readiness—state test, SAT or ACT exams as well as completion of the ACC enrollment process.

Early college high schools are funded through public-private partnerships, grants and shared-cost agreements, enabling school districts to offer the programs at no charge to students.

"It's something that we feel [has] so much worth to our community," AISD Superintendent Paul Cruz said during a press conference.