Early College High Schools at HCC earn national, state recognition

Jul 13, 2017


It's always good to receive third-party confirmation of a job well done. This year, each of the Early College High Schools (ECHS) partnered with Houston Community College (HCC) were recognized by several organizations for the quality of their programming and student outcomes.

For many students, the best time to attend college is while they are still in high school. With that as a directive, HCC, in collaboration with Alief ISD and Houston ISD, provides services to seven ECHS campuses. One of the defining characteristics of ECHS programs is the increased rigor of the curriculum balanced with smaller, more personal class sizes to better address student needs. As a result, there are improved student outcomes, including increases in graduation rates and passing rates on state exams, college-readiness, and participation in advanced coursework.

“Offering the opportunity for students in grades 9-12 to earn a college credential while in high school also increases the likelihood of underrepresented students achieving advanced credentials at a young age,” explained Dr. Catherine O’Brien, HCC Associate Vice Chancellor of College Readiness. “The exposure creates a college-going mindset in students and serves to help change the trajectory of a student’s future.”

ECHS programs at HCC received the following recognitions during the most recent school year:

HCC Central College

South Early College High School

Houston Academy for International Studies

HCC Northwest College

Alief Early College High School

HCC Northeast College

North Early College High School

HCC Southeast College

East Early College High School

Raul Yzaguirre Schools for Success Early College High School

HCC Southwest College

Challenge Early College High School

The organizations recognizing the ECHSs are as follows:

To learn more about Houston Community College and its more than 250 programs, visit www.hccs.edu.


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