The Early College High Schools
The Woodrow Wilson
Early College High School Initiative
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The Woodrow Wilson Early College High Schools
Note: Woodrow Wilson early colleges are developed by invitation and through a pre-affiliation review process. Of the 19 planned sites, 18 have opened and one is in planning stages.
- College Partner: Hunter College (CUNY)
- School Partner: New York City Department of Education
- Location: New York, NY
- Opened: Fall 2003
- Principal: Susan Kreisman
- Student Body: 400 in Grades 9-12
- College Partner: Brooklyn College (CUNY)
- School and Other Partners: New York City Department of Education, CUNY Gateway Institute for Pre-College Education
- Location: Brooklyn, NY
- Opened: Fall 2003
- Principal: Eric Blake
- Student Body: 520 in Grades 6-12
- NYC DOE School Portal
- College Partner: Dillard University
- School Partner: New Orleans Public Schools
- Location: New Orleans, LA
- Opened: Fall 2003
- College Partners: University of the District of Columbia and University of Maryland
- School Partner: Friendship Public Schools (charter)
- Location: Washington, DC
- Opened: added Early College program in Fall 2004
- Principal: Peggy Pendergrass; Early College Dean: Arsallah Shairzay
- Student Body: 1200 in Grades 9-12; 250 in Early College program
- College Partner: University of Hartford
- School Partner: Hartford Public Schools
- Location: Hartford, CT
- Opened: Fall 2004
- Principal: Betti Colli (interim)
- Student Body: 400 in Grades 9-12
- College Partners: University of California, Berkeley; Berkeley City College
- School Partner: Aspire Public Schools (charter)
- Location: Oakland, CA
- Opened: Fall 2005
- Principal: Megan Reed
- Student Body: currently, 200 in Grades 9-12; 420 in Grades 6-12 at full implementation
- College Partners: Stanford University; Cañada College
- School Partner: Stanford Schools Corporation (charter)
- Location: Menlo Park, CA
- Opened: converted to Early College in Fall 2005
- Principal: Yetunde Reeves
- Student Body: 300 in Grades 9-12
- College Partner: San Joaquin Delta College
- School Partner: Aspire Public Schools (charter)
- Location: Stockton, CA
- Opened: Fall 2006
- Principal: Anthony Solina
- Student Body: currently, 400 in Grades 6-10; 500 in Grades 6-12 at full implementation
- College Partner: San Joaquin Delta College
- School Partner: Aspire Public Schools (charter)
- Location: Stockton, CA
- Opened: converted to Early College in Fall 2006
- Principal: Gretchen Salvetti
- Student Body: 600 in Grades 6-12
- College Partners: University of California, Berkeley; Laney College
- School Partner: Aspire Public Schools (charter)
- Location: Oakland, CA
- Opened: converted to Early College in Fall 2007
- Principal: Thomas Kadelbach
- Student Body: 450 in Grades 6-12
- College Partners: University of California, Davis; Sacramento City College
- School Partner: Washington Unified School District; charter held by all 3 partners
- Location: West Sacramento, CA
- Opened: Fall 2007
- Principal: Yolanda Falkenberg
- Student Body: currently, 300 in Grades 6-10; 420 in Grades 6-12 at full implementation
- College Partners: University of Missouri, Kansas City; Donnelly College
- School and Other Partners: Kansas City, Missouri School District; PREP-KC (Partnership for Regional Education Preparation-Kansas City); Kansas City Area Life Sciences Institute
- Location: Kansas City, MO
- Opened: Fall 2008
- Principal: Douglas Bolden
- Student Body: currently, 1500 in Grades 6-12
- College Partner: Eastern University (charter)
- School and Other Partners: School District of Philadelphia; Big Picture Company
- Location: Philadelphia, PA
- Opened: Fall 2009
- Principal: Omar Barlow
- Student Body: currently, 200 students in Grades 7-10; 360 in Grades 7-12 at full implementation
- College Partner: University of Maryland
- School and Other Partners: Friendship Public Schools (charter)
- Location: Washington DC
- Opened: Fall 2009
- Principal: Natalie Gordon
- Student Body: currently, 180 students in Grades 6-8; 400 in Grades 6-12 at full implementation
- College Partners: Rutgers University-Newark, Essex County College
- School and Other Partners: Newark Public Schools
- Location: : Newark, NJ
- Opened: Fall 2009
- Principal: Ann Wilson
- Student Body: currently, 140 in Grade 6-7; 550 in Grades 6-12 at full implementation
- College Partner: California State University, Los Angeles
- School and Other Partners: Alliance for College-Ready Public Schools
- Location: Los Angeles, CA
- Opened: Converted to Early College in Fall 2009
- Principal: Derrick Chau
- Student Body: 540 in Grades 9-12
- College Partner: Syracuse University
- School and Other Partners: Syracuse City School District; Say Yes to Education
- Location: Syracuse, NY
- Opened: Converted to Early College in Fall 2010
- Principal: Debra Mastropaolo
- Student Body: 1300 in Grades 9-12
- College Partner: Jefferson Community and Technical College
- School and Other Partners: Jefferson County Public Schools
- Location: Louisville, KY
- Opened: Converted to Early College in Fall 2010
- Principal: David Mike
- Student Body: 850 in Grades 9-12
- College Partner: Temple University
- School and Other Partners: School District of Philadelphia
- Location: Philadelphia, PA
Manhattan Hunter Science High School
Manhattan Hunter Science High School emphasizes science by integrating the scientific method into each discipline and requiring all students to complete a research project. Within the four phase curriculum design, all students in its racially and socioeconomically diverse student body enroll in dual credit courses in 10th and 11th grades. Seniors spend their days on Hunter College’s campus taking high school humanities courses and college courses in math and science. Student-directed study groups are a cornerstone of the Senior Experience, and students receive a variety of supports as they transition to a college learning environment.
Science, Technology, and Research (STAR) Early College School at Erasmus
STAR Early College Middle and High School is located in the Erasmus campus two subway stops from its partner, Brooklyn College. About half of the students are from low-income families and over 80% are African American. Students are gradually introduced to college level learning through a Transition Plan that begins with a pre-ninth grade orientation and summer bridge held at Brooklyn College. Ninth and tenth graders participate in college faculty-led workshop seminars, six-week theme seminars, and specialized tutorials. Summer bridge courses lead to enrollment in college courses for juniors and seniors. Student supports are provided at every step, and STAR students are introduced to college culture at the same time that they are prepared academically for college.
William L. Gilbert Academy
Gilbert Academy has not been operating since closing after Hurricane Katrina in August, 2005.
The Early College program serves ninth to twelfth graders attending Friendship Collegiate Academy, a comprehensive high school located in northeast Washington, D.C. with a student body that is 99% African American. In addition to completing their required high school curriculum, students in the Early College program complete college-level coursework. Through teacher professional development and a federal AP grant, Friendship has extended rigorous college-level and college-readiness instruction across the school, with the goal of reaching all students in the high school. Friendship has also extended its college-readiness curriculum into its two middle schools.
University High School of Science and Engineering
University High School of Science and Engineering is a magnet school that draws its racially and economically diverse student population from both the city of Hartford and surrounding school districts. The school curriculum emphasizes science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Students gain a solid foundation in the ninth grade with physics, engineering, and two mathematics courses. Students may apply their learning to co-curricular offerings including a robotics team and science-related internship placements. Most seniors take college courses in the high school building, and may enroll in courses at the University of Hartford.
California College Preparatory Academy
In partnership with Aspire Public Schools and University of California—Berkeley, California College Preparatory Academy (Cal Prep) serves traditionally underserved students, the majority of whom are African American and Latino and designated as low income. Cal Prep works with Aspire Public Schools and UC Berkeley to ensure that our motto—"Graduate from College: Yes We Can"—is a reality for each student. In order to ensure college success, Cal Prep students must accumulate 15 college credits, attain all A-G’s and must be accepted to four year colleges in order to graduate. Cal Prep’s students are supported to meet the level of rigor demanded of them through a multi-tiered support system that includes intervention periods, office hours, differentiated instruction and advisory.
East Palo Alto Academy High School
East Palo Alto Academy High School, a neighborhood school, emphasizes preparation for college and work for its Latino, African American and Pacific Islander student body which is almost 80% English language learners. High expectations and personalized support are the cornerstones of the school’s academic program. Most college courses are taken at the high school where a high level of academic support is available, although some students have completed courses at Cañada College. The school incorporates performance-based assessment in its grading, exhibition, and portfolio requirements with emphasis on personal responsibility, social responsibility, application of knowledge, critical and creative thinking, and communication. These five habits are infused into daily life at the school.
Langston Hughes College Preparatory Academy
Langston Hughes Academy embraces a “college for certain” culture with a rigorous college preparation program that begins in sixth grade. Instructional strategies promote learning through questioning, frequent and detailed feedback and assessment, clear standards and learning goals, and a positive, focused environment with high expectations and high support. The school attends to each student as a whole person, addressing her or his physical, social, emotional, and intellectual needs.
Benjamin Holt College Preparatory Academy
The mission of Benjamin Holt Academy is to “empower our students to be responsible, contributing members of society by promoting academic excellence through education and the support of personal aspirations and achievement.” The school is a learning community of students, teachers, parents, staff, and supportive friends and emphasizes creativity, personal development, civic responsibility, literacy, and experiential learning. In its conversion to an Early College, the school shifted from a focus on college preparation to a focus on college success, seamlessly incorporating college courses into the core curriculum.
Lionel Wilson College Preparatory Academy
Lionel Wilson Academy provides personalized learning experiences for its students. The school is committed to high expectations and rigorous standards in a curriculum that addresses higher-order thinking skills, basic skills, and life skills. The goal is to prepare students for college, work, and citizenship.
West Sacramento Early College Preparatory School
The goal of West Sacramento Prep is to “provide an exceptional education that will empower students to excel inside and outside of school. By preparing all students to succeed in college and an increasingly global workplace, the school hopes to create a community of motivated, educated life-long learners.” Personalization, community and neighborhood connections, and an engaging learning environment characterize the school’s instructional program.
Southwest Early College Campus
Southwest Early College Campus is a math and science school where students will have the opportunity to take college-level courses and prepare for the rigors of college through a mix of training and relationships with professors and master teachers from the University of Missouri-Kansas City. Students have the opportunity to use the on-site planetarium and state-of-the-art science laboratories.
Eastern University Academy Charter School
The mission of Eastern University Academy Charter School is to empower students to THINK BIG, LIVE on PURPOSE, and EXCEL at LIFE. The Academy provides a unique blend of the early college and Big Picture school models. Students have the opportunity to earn a high school diploma and up to two years of college credit in an integrated high school/college environment. Each student’s education is grounded in her/his personal interests and has real world applications through learning experiences like internships and interdisciplinary projects.
The project-based curriculum at Friendship Tech Prep focuses on technology in order to prepare the city’s youth for careers in one of the fastest growing economic sectors in metro Washington, D.C. In sixth through tenth grade, students gain the knowledge, skills, and abilities they need to be successful in college. Every eleventh and twelfth grade student is dually enrolled in Tech Prep and college, earning credits towards a high school diploma and an undergraduate degree.
Newark Early College High School
The Newark ECHS program, currently housed in the Louise A. Spencer School, aims to serve students who may not picture college in their future by increasing their academic knowledge, skills, and abilities and raising their awareness of college expectations and college culture – all with the goal of reaching beyond a high school diploma towards a college degree. All students in the school are students of color and students whose prior academic achievement was below grade level. In 2009, incoming 6th graders participated in a summer bridge program at Essex County College that provided academic enrichment in the major subject areas, attention to social-emotional learning, and an introduction to college life through campus tours and meetings with college faculty and college students. During the school year, students from the partner colleges work closely with Newark ECHS students during their Advisory period, and ECHS students take classes on the college campuses on several Fridays throughout the school year.
Marc & Eva Stern Math and Science School (Stern MASS)
Stern MASS is designed to prepare students from East Los Angeles to be successful in four-year colleges and to be able to pursue doctoral degrees in the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields. Stern MASS provides a small, personalized learning environment and uses a mastery learning approach that supports all students to achieve at high levels.
William Nottingham High School
Western Math, Science, Technology Magnet High School
Through its partner institution, Jefferson Community and Technical College, students in the Early College program at Western High School can earn up to 31 transferrable college credits over 4 years. Academic supports are embedded into the college course offerings: traditionally semester-long college courses are taken over 2 trimesters, and students receive additional instructional support from their high school teachers on days when they are not taking courses with their college professor. All students enroll in an Intro to College course for one college credit during their sophomore year at Western.