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Early College High School

December 15th, 2010 announcement
ACC, AISD Partner to Develop Early College High Schools

Effective spring 2012, ECHS students enrolling in an ACC class must show official proof of a meningitis vaccination or a five-year booster dose. This is a state-mandated Texas law that applies to all new college students who are under the age of 30. With the wonderful opportunity afforded to our LBJ and Reagan ECHS students to take ACC courses as early as their 9th grade year, this law will apply. For questions, please contact the Office of Early College High School at 841-9025. More information

ECHS Campuses

LBJ Early College High School
Austin Independent School District
Principal: Sheila Henry
Website: www.lbjhigh.org

Reagan Early College High School
Austin Independent School District
Principal: Anabel Garza
Website: www.reaganraiders.org

The ACC/AISD Office of Early College High School is located at Reagan.
7104 Berkman Dr., Room 330
512-841-9025
Executive Director: Dr. Sharon Frederick, sharon.frederick@austinisd.org.

ECHS Frequently Asked Questions

  1. What is the Early College High School (ECHS)?
  2. Does my child need to take an admission test? Will it be on campus? Is there a cost involved and, if so, will AISD/ACC pick up the cost for low-income students?
  3. What are the benefits of ECHS?
  4. How would my child qualify for ECHS?
  5. Do ECHS students pay college tuition?
  6. Does my child currently have to be in the Academically/Intellectually Gifted Program to participate?
  7. Is ECHS only for students who plan to attend ACC after high school?
  8. What types of students will Early College High Schools serve?
  9. When my child starts taking college courses, will he/she be allowed to take any course they want?
  10. What are the classes offered to each grade?
  11. What types of associate degrees will be available to ECHS students?
  12. Will classes be at the high school? If some classes are on ACC campuses, will AISD/ACC provide transportation? Will there be a cost to parents?
  13. Can students enroll in ECHS and Advanced Placement courses?
  14. What is the difference between ECHS and dual enrollment or Advanced Placement?
  15. Can ECHS students participate in extracurricular activities like athletic teams, music programs, or clubs?
  16. Can Liberal Arts and Science Academy (LASA) students at LBJ High School also participate in ECHS?
  17. While my child is participating in the EHS program, what is the most important thing I should know as a parent or guardian?
  18. Will my child have access to ACC facilities (i.e. libraries, labs, etc) or campus events?
  19. Are there Early College High School programs elsewhere in Texas?
  20. Aren't high school students too young to do college work?
  21. Why is it a goal for students to earn two years of college credit?
  22. How do early college high schools promote student success?

ECHS Answers

1. What is the Early College High School (ECHS)?
ECHS is a program available to students at LBJ and Reagan high schools beginning in fall 2011 that gives them the opportunity to earn free college credits through the associate degree level. back to top

2. Does my child need to take an admission test? Will it be on campus? Is there a cost involved and, if so, will AISD/ACC pick up the cost for low-income students?
There is no admission test for ECHS; however, students will need academic skills test scores that qualify them to take college courses. All testing will be free to students and will be offered on campus. back to top

3. What are the benefits of ECHS?
ECHS allows students to graduate from high school with up to 60 hours of college credit toward an associate degree and/or a bachelor's degree. back to top

4. How would my child qualify for ECHS?
The student must be enrolled at LBJ or Reagan high school and will need TAKS or other academic skills test scores that qualify them to take college courses. back to top

5. Do ECHS students pay college tuition?
No. ECHS students will not pay college tuition while participating in the ECHS program. The program is free to students. back to top

6. Does my child currently have to be in the Academically/Intellectually Gifted Program to participate?
No. The student must qualify with college-level skills test scores to take college courses. back to top

7. Is ECHS only for students who plan to attend ACC after high school?
No. Most ECHS credits will transfer easily to other colleges and universities. High school counselors and college advisors will help students and parents with questions about specific courses and colleges. back to top

8. What types of students will Early College High Schools serve?
ECHS has the potential to serve every student at Reagan and LBJ high schools. The goal of the ECHS program is to include as many students as possible. back to top

9. When my child starts taking college courses, will he/she be allowed to take any course they want?
ECHS students must take PSYC 1300, "Effective Learning-Strategies for College Success," as their first college course. Following that, students will be able to choose from a variety of course offerings that provide dual credit and advance them to completion of their ECHS goal. back to top

10. What are the classes that offered to each grade?
All course offerings for the next school year are not yet set. Students typically will be able to take offerings that satisfy high school graduation requirements and the college core curriculum such as English, history, government, economics, computer science, speech, and psychology. back to top

11. What types of associate degrees will be available to ECHS students?
At first, the Associate of Arts in General Studies will be the degree plan offered to ECHS students. As student demand for other programs increases, ECHS will explore offering additional degree plans. back to top

12. Will classes be at the high school? If some classes are on ACC campuses, will AISD/ACC provide transportation? Will there be a cost to parents?
The great majority of classes will be at the high school. Where the student needs to attend a class taught on an ACC campus during the school day, AISD will provide transportation at no cost. back to top

13. Can students enroll in ECHS and Advanced Placement courses?
Yes. Students may take both ECHS and Advanced Placement courses where it benefits the student to do so. back to top

14. What is the difference between ECHS and dual enrollment or Advanced Placement?
ECHS allows students to participate as early as the ninth grade and complete more college courses in a four-year period than are allowed in a traditional dual enrollment program. The major difference between ECHS and Advanced Placement classes is that ECHS students will have a college transcript and will receive college credit as soon as they successfully complete a college class. back to top

15. Can ECHS students participate in extracurricular activities like athletic teams, music programs, or clubs?
Yes. ECHS students can participate in extracurricular activities. back to top

16. Can Liberal Arts and Science Academy (LASA) students at LBJ High School also participate in ECHS?
ECHS is designed and intended for LBJ High School students; LASA students may attend ECHS classes on a space-available basis. back to top

17. While my child is participating in the EHS program, what is the most important thing I should know as a parent or guardian?
ECHS students need the support of their parents as they take real college courses. They need encouragement as well as time to read and study. Parents also must understand that college professors, by federal law, cannot share educational record information with parents, such as attendance, progress, or grades, even if the student is a minor. back to top

18. Will my child have access to ACC facilities (i.e. libraries, labs, etc) or campus events?
ECHS students will be enrolled ACC students and will have a college student ID card. They may use college libraries and computer labs and receive tutoring, if needed. ECHS students are not eligible to participate in ACC activities and events. back to top

19. Are there Early College High School programs elsewhere in Texas?
Yes. Currently, there are 41 ECHS programs throughout Texas. back to top

20. Aren't high school students too young to do college work?
No. ECHS students generally are successful in college classes. back to top

21. Why is it a goal for students to earn two years of college credit?
Earning a college degree at a young age can help inspire students to continue their college education, and it can enhance their employment prospects. There is also a significant financial benefit to families as all college credits earned through ECHS are free to students. back to top

22. How do early college high schools promote student success?
Early college high schools provide a college-going culture by emphasizing the importance of going to college for every student. College courses taught on the high school campus have the same rigorous curriculum and high standards found on any college campus; completing college courses in high school helps students discover their own potential and advance their college aspirations. back to top

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