Students earn associate degrees before graduating high school
On Friday, Austin ISD held a completion ceremony for John H. Reagan and Lyndon B. Johnson early college high schools at the Allan Facility.
Thirteen students from the first ECHS cohort at Reagan and LBJ are completing their Associate of Arts degree and, last Thursday, participated in the Austin Community College District spring commencement.
ECHS Graduates
- Celia Alvarado (Reagan)
- Natali Arellano (LBJ)
- Jeramika Couch (LBJ)
- Omari Henry (LBJ)
- Brychan Johnson (LBJ)
- Lydia Martinez (Reagan)
- Nora Pineda (LBJ)
- Amairani Ramirez-Tenorio (LBJ)
- Brittany Russell (LBJ)
- Yazmine Sylvain-Hardeman (LBJ)
- Marissa Torres (LBJ)
- Bryson Williams (LBJ)
- Shania Williams (LBJ)
The first ECHS partnerships between ACC and AISD launched in fall 2011 at John H. Reagan and Lyndon B. Johnson high schools, which serve a high percentage of low-income, minority, first-generation and at-risk students.
Through ECHS, ACC tuition is free for students. The program is funded through public-private partnerships, grants and shared-cost agreements, enabling school districts to offer the programs at no charge to students.
Prior to becoming early college high schools, Reagan and LBJ had minimal enrollment in dual-credit college courses. During the first year as an ECHS, dual-credit enrollment increased approximately 84 percent, from 17 to 104 students at LBJ and from 14 to 90 students at Reagan.
The rigorous ECHS program allows students in the ninth and 10th grades to take high school and ACC college courses simultaneously, giving them the opportunity to gain up to 60 college credits and potentially earn an associate degree by the time they graduate high school.
AISD and the Austin Community College District are developing a South Austin Early College High School at Travis. Classes begin fall 2015.
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About ACC
Austin Community College is a nationally recognized two-year college serving Central Texas. ACC is focused on student success and providing affordable, flexible pathways to help students reach their education goals, learn new job skills, or advance their career. The college currently enrolls more than 40,000 credit students and serves an additional 15,000 students each year through noncredit programs. Check out their inspiring stories at austincc.edu/iamacc.
About AISD
AISD is the fifth-largest school district in Texas, serving approximately 85,000 students at 129 schools. Follow AISD on Twitter at @AustinISD or on Facebook atwww.facebook.com/austinisd.