Earning  several college credits while working toward a high school diploma is intended to give students an academic head start, and the inaugural class of Round Rock ISD’s first early-college high school are expecting to do just that.

The RRISD Early College High School is the first of its kind in the district and the first on-campus early-college high school for Austin Community College, but the concept has been in practice in Texas since 2006.

Early-college high schools’ role

Early-college high schools provide students with a curriculum focused on earning high school as well as college credits, minus much of what makes high school what it is traditionally thought to be.

“Early-college high school is not the best fit for every high school student. Many will thrive and do just fine in a traditional RRISD campus,” ACC Spokesperson Jessica Vess said. “But for those students who want a small-school environment with a tight-knit community and rigorous academic focus without a lot of distraction, this is an excellent fit.”

How RRECHS works

Currently RRECHS has approximately 125 freshmen, and in each of the next three years enrollment will increase by one grade level.

College curriculum will also be progressively introduced. RRECHS students began their first semester with a focus on high school curriculum, but in the spring they will take their first college course, Vess said, with the number of college courses to increase with each subsequent semester.

RRECHS will allow students to earn up to 60 college credit hours toward an associate degree ­— which is different from dual-credit courses offered in traditional high schools in RRISD as more time is dedicated to college coursework and students lack the opportunity to participate in sports, band and other University Interscholastic League activities.

Cost of RRECHS

RRECHS is free for students in the program. Bus service to the Round Rock ACC campus is also free, as are textbooks.

ACC and RRISD split the cost of the program, but the biggest cost savings will be for students.

The RRECHS program essentially works as a two-year scholarship, enabling students to earn a degree and graduate debt-free.

“Early college provides students more choices within our public school system,” RRISD board of trustees President Paul J. Tisch said.

“Our community asked for more access to higher education while in Round Rock ISD through our strategic plan. This partnership allows students a free opportunity to earn college credit, graduate ready for the workforce or a path to a four-year college.”

What’s Next for RRECHS?

Currently, students and RRECHS administration are housed in a six-portable “community” behind the 3000 building at the Round Rock ACC campus.

Plans are in the works for a permanent structure for the school within the next few years, and ACC and RRISD are working to negotiate a plan for RRISD to provide a food truck to provide meals to RRECHS students with the option to sell to ACC students as well, and ACC will renovate space that is currently a vending area into a workout space that RRECHS students will use to satisfy physical education requirements, and for ACC students to use when not being used by RRECHS.