Early College High School

August 13, 2024

Advanced Academics

My Early College High School Experience

-Isabella Hudman, Judson Early College Academy Class of 2023, Texas State University Class of 2025, and We Go Public Intern

What is Early College High School?

Early College High School is like your traditional secondary school. However, it includes simultaneously taking college courses to graduate high school with an associate’s degree.

What is the difference between ECHS and P-TECH?

ECHS programs allow students to earn an associates degree. P-TECH schools focus more on building a career for students through internships and help securing a job after graduation.

Reasons to Attend an Early College High School

There are numerous reasons to attend an ECHS, but my top five personal reasons include saving money on college, getting ahead, becoming college-ready, creating an awesome resume, and saving time.

SAVE MONEY

Saving money in college is a huge benefit of attending an early college high school. For instance, Judson Early College Academy offers its early college program at no cost to students. With 60 free hours of college completed, the average family could save over $60,000 in tuition. Getting most prerequisites out of the way in high school can classify a student as a junior upon entering college. Judson Early College Academy also offers cohorts to help students navigate their coursework, so the program prevents students from having to retake a course and spend more money.

GET AHEAD

Early college high school students can get ahead of most people their age. For example, Galena Park Early College High School states that “students are identified as college students, which allows for maturity levels to increase at a more rapid rate.” In an ECHS, students are treated as college students, and therefore they are expected to do the same amount of work as a college student. Learning these skills at a younger age can make the transition to a university much smoother.

BECOME COLLEGE READY

ECHS students are college-ready when they graduate from high school. For example, Clear Horizons Early College High School in Clear Creek ISD states that “students participate in two years of internships, donate 80 hours of volunteer service, and earn a high school diploma, in addition to earning up to 60 college credit hours or an associate degree at no cost.” High school students participating in internships and community service know more about what to expect in college. Students can use this early experience to learn how to network in college.

EXPAND YOUR RESUME

Students in early college high schools can develop an impressive resume. For example, Sconco ECHS in Humble ISD “offers service-learning and internship opportunities in the community.” Students who earn their associate’s degree while in high school look great on a resume. But adding in community service and internships takes a resume to the next level.

SAVE TIME

Attending an ECHS saves a lot of time. For instance, San Antonio ISD’s Phoenix Middle College states that “the program aims to give students a jumpstart on college and a high-paying, in-demand career.” Students in early college high schools have access to an early career in numerous fields. Students have time in high school to decide what they want to do in their future careers. Jumpstarting college credits and career readiness allows students to feel more prepared for life after high school.

My Journey as an Early College High School Student

I was hesitant to attend Judson Early College Academy because I did not want to separate from the friends I made in middle school. However, when my mom and I sat down to complete the application, she told me, “Bella, in this life you’ll do great things, and to achieve them, you need to explore new things that will lead you there. I believe you can do this.” After hearing her words of encouragement, I submitted my application and received my acceptance letter a month later.

Athletics and Extracurriculars

Attending a school like Judson Early College Academy was definitely not like an average high school. Our school did not have a football team, or any sports, for that matter. The school was small, and we did not have the resources for sports. However, students could participate in sports and JROTC by taking a bus to a neighboring Judson ISD High School.

The students at JECA did create clubs for many interests, such as Flag Football, Key Club, Student Council, Entertainment Committee, Theater Club, and National Honor Society. Without my participation in these clubs, such as the National Honor Society and Student Council, I would not have been as comfortable as I was.

Academics and Support

JECA is an academic-focused school, and therefore, I spent countless nights writing essays, studying with friends, volunteering for extracurriculars, and working toward the mandatory yearly hours. There were times that I questioned if I could handle the workload of balancing high school honors classes with my college courses. However, with teachers like my college prep teacher, Mr. Aguilar, my Algebra teacher Mr. Scott, and my digital media teacher Mr. Martinez, their encouragement and belief in my capabilities as a young high school and college student made me believe that I could push through. Even though it was a lot of hard work, it paid off.

Hard Work Pays Off

By attending Judson Early College Academy, I was able to enter my current university as an 18-year-old junior. By going in as an upperclassman, I saved $60,000 in tuition. The transition between university and high school was so much easier because I was prepared. I knew how to look for syllabuses, use a planner, and properly email my professors.

I am beyond thankful for how much I accomplished at JECA, and I realize that without the journey through my early college program, I would be less confident in this world. Judson Early College Academy did not just give me an associate’s degree; it allowed me to meet my best friends, learn professionalism, and develop the skills I need to succeed in the real world.