Six years ago, Austin ISD brought early college high school programs to the district in hopes of bettering access to colleges and universities for students underrepresented in higher education.

Today, Superintendent of High Schools Craig Shapiro said the program allows students of all backgrounds to experience the rigors of college with the added benefit of support from their high school staff.

“It’s important that kids feel that support as they try to navigate this new world,” he said. “They have the love and care of their high school teachers and counselors while also challenging their minds. This combination proves they belong and can thrive in the college environment.”

On April 26, the district announced that three more high schools—Crockett, Lanier and Eastside Memorial—will introduce an early college high school component beginning this fall.

Students enrolled at one of AISD’s three early college high schools—LBJ, Reagan and Travis—can simultaneously earn an associate degree, or 60 hours of college credits, while attaining their high school diploma.

“Early college high schools change [a high school student’s] attitude of what is possible,” Shapiro said. “That is why we wanted to replicate it to more schools, because we want more kids exposed and to have good experiences in the college setting.”

Shasta Buchanan, executive director of the Office of College and High School Relations at Austin Community College, said the early college high school program presents myriad benefits for high school students, from reducing the cost of college tuition to acquainting students with the college experience while still in high school.

“It’s not just about the milestone, but in that early college high school setting they are mixed with traditional [college] students, so they work together with groups in the classroom and can work with [college] faculty members, and they can utilize the library and computer labs,” she said.

To adopt an early college high school component, a school district must apply through the Texas Education Agency, Shapiro said. The district submits a proposal explaining the program’s design as well as a memorandum of understanding with an area community college to bring the program to fruition.   

For AISD, that partnership was established with ACC in 2011. According to 12th class day enrollment data from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board for fall 2016, 366 students were enrolled in early college high school programs and 789 students participated in a dual-credit program to earn college credits while still in high school.

“It’s not just that the courses will transfer, but we prepare them for how to engage with faculty members so that when they leave high school, should they choose to go to ACC or a four-year college, they are not intimidated,” Buchanan said.

Joining the program

To enroll in an early college high school program, students must pass the Texas Success Initiative. The first opportunity to take the test is in eighth grade; however students may take the test at any point during their high school career.

Once the test has been passed, students begin taking college-level courses at both their high school and at a nearby ACC campus. By senior year, 50 percent or more of an early college high school student’s classes are held at ACC, Shapiro said.

Ty Davidson, principal at Travis Early College High School, said the opportunity to pursue an associate degree while enrolled in a public, tuition-free high school can make all the difference for students who would otherwise not have the ability to pursue higher education.

“[Early college high school programs] are about free tuition, free books and free transportation as needed,” he said. “It really helps some of our underprivileged kids get a taste of success and takes away from that financial barrier many of them have when they leave high school.”

Still, early college high school programs are not exclusive to students of a low socioeconomic status. Any student who wishes to join the program can apply, and all are accepted, Davidson said.

“We are not going to reject anyone,” he said. “Even if every student wanted to become an early college high school student, we would find a way to support them.”

For Shapiro, much of the value of early college high school programs lies in its ability to build a student’s confidence.

“It is amazing over my career the number of kids who have the intellectual ability to do well at the university level, but for social and emotional reasons, not even financial, they have a fear of crossing that boundary,” he said. “Programs like early college high school and dual credit provide the kids the combination of safety and intellectual stimulation. The two together make it an excellent choice for students.”