On Tuesday morning, Texas Commissioner of Education Michael Williams announced the approval of 44 new Early College High Schools which will open in August 2015, one of which is a collaboration between Ector County ISD and the University of Texas of the Permian Basin.
Known as ECISD Early College High School Academy, the school will be located on the UTPB campus and will have a STEM focus - science, technology, engineering, and math. It will begin with only a freshman class of approximately 100 students and add a new class each year until it is a 9-12 high school.
Now that approval has been received, the first step is to hire a principal and then begin recruiting students. Information for parents interested in their children attending the ECISD Early College High School Academy will be available later in the spring.
Early college high schools are innovative schools that allow students least likely to attend college an opportunity to earn a high school diploma and either an associate degree or at least 60 college credit hours toward a baccalaureate degree.
Under this model, an ECHS provides dual credit at no cost to students; offers rigorous instruction and accelerated courses; provides academic and social support services to help students succeed; increases college readiness; and reduces barriers to college access.
In August, ECISD will open two Early College High Schools, this ECHS Academy with UTPB and OCTECHS, a career and technology-focused campus, at Odessa College.
