Early College High Schools Show Strong Evidence of Effectiveness

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Early College High Schools, also known as Early Colleges, could help policymakers and educators surmount these critical challenges. Early Colleges are partnerships of school districts, charter management organizations, or high schools and 2- or 4-year colleges or universities, which are jointly accountable for student success. Originally created as part of the Early College High School Initiative spearheaded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Early Colleges are committed to serving students traditionally underrepresented in higher education. As a type of dual enrollment program, Early Colleges offer all their students the opportunity to earn an associate’s degree or up to 2 years of college credits toward a bachelor’s degree in high school—at no or low cost to the students. Early Colleges also provide support to students as they plan for their college education, helping them select college courses, transfer to a 4-year college, and identify sources of financial aid.