Early College High School is an interesting topic and one that, in my opinion, needs a little more research.  My husband currently works at an Early College High School and I work at the college campus where the school is located, so I get to see both sides of the picture.  I think Early College is a great opportunity for those students emotionally and academically prepared.  Giving an opportunity to a student that may otherwise not have thought about college as a possibility is great!  They are getting their high school degree and associates for free!  Most of the students my husband works with, are lower income and their parents would not have been able to pay their way through school otherwise.  For students that take advantage of this program, I see the benefits and why it’s so popular.    

Unfortunately, not all of the students being accepted to these programs are emotionally and academically prepared.  The biggest problem I’ve seen while working at the college is how unprepared some of these students are.  I helped enroll a student this semester that had graduated from Early College in the spring.  She received her high school diploma but was short hours for her Associates.  Her GPA was a 1.5 and she had many semesters of D’s and F’s.  In my opinion, the student shouldn’t have been allowed to continue with Early College.  It may sound harsh, but now the student will need to retake most if not all of those courses.  She has two additional years to try and bring up her GPA to even be considered into the program she wants to apply for.  I don’t think students know the importance of a college transcript as freshman.  The responsibility of educating them prior to applying for the program is the administrations responsibility.  I also think having a better vetting system for students applying and while in the program would help this specific issue (at least at our school).