Early College High Schools at HCC earn national, state recognition
Jul 13, 2017
It's always good to receive third-party confirmation of a job well done. This year, each of the Early College High Schools (ECHS) partnered with Houston Community College (HCC) were recognized by several organizations for the quality of their programming and student outcomes.
For many students, the best time to attend college is while they are still in high school. With that as a directive, HCC, in collaboration with Alief ISD and Houston ISD, provides services to seven ECHS campuses. One of the defining characteristics of ECHS programs is the increased rigor of the curriculum balanced with smaller, more personal class sizes to better address student needs. As a result, there are improved student outcomes, including increases in graduation rates and passing rates on state exams, college-readiness, and participation in advanced coursework.
“Offering the opportunity for students in grades 9-12 to earn a college credential while in high school also increases the likelihood of underrepresented students achieving advanced credentials at a young age,” explained Dr. Catherine O’Brien, HCC Associate Vice Chancellor of College Readiness. “The exposure creates a college-going mindset in students and serves to help change the trajectory of a student’s future.”
ECHS programs at HCC received the following recognitions during the most recent school year:
HCC Central College
South Early College High School
- 2017 Texas Honor Roll, STAR School
- 2016-2017 TEA Postsecondary, College Readiness, B Rated
- 2017 U.S. News Best High Schools Rankings, Nationally Recognized, Bronze Medal
- 2016-2017 Named by the Texas Education Agency (TEA) as a Texas Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (T-STEM) Academy
Houston Academy for International Studies
- 2017 Texas Honor Roll, STAR School
- 2016-2017 TEA Postsecondary, College Readiness, A Rated
- 2017 U.S. News Best High Schools Rankings, #90 Texas, Silver Medal
- 2017 Children at Risk, A-, #59 Houston, #250 Texas
HCC Northwest College
Alief Early College High School
- 2017 Texas Honor Roll, STAR School, STEM School
- 2016-2017 TEA Postsecondary, College Readiness, A Rated
- 2017 U.S. News Best High Schools Rankings #37 Texas, #210 National, Gold Medal Awarded
- 2017 Children at Risk, A+ Rated, #14 Houston, #46 Texas
HCC Northeast College
North Early College High School
- 2017 Texas Honor Roll, STAR School
- 2016-2017 TEA Postsecondary, College Readiness, A Rated
- 2017 U.S. News Best High Schools Rankings, #93 Texas, Silver Medal
- 2017 Children at Risk, A+ Rated, #18 Houston, #63 Texas
HCC Southeast College
East Early College High School
- 2017 Texas Honor Roll, STAR School, STEM School
- 2016-2017 TEA Postsecondary, College Readiness, A Rated
- 2017 U.S. News Best High Schools Rankings, #105 Texas, Silver Medal
- 2017 Children at Risk, A+, #11 Houston, #28 Texas
Raul Yzaguirre Schools for Success Early College High School
- 2017 Texas Honor Roll, STAR School
- 2016-2017 TEA Postsecondary, College Readiness, B Rated
- 2017 U.S. News Best High Schools Rankings, #238 Texas, Bronze Medal
- 2017 Children at Risk, B, #87 Houston, #520 Texas
HCC Southwest College
Challenge Early College High School
- 2017 Texas Honor Roll, STAR School, STEM School
- 2016-2017 TEA Postsecondary, College Readiness, A Rated
- 2016 U.S. News Best High Schools Rankings, #8 Texas, #69 national, Gold Medal Awarded
- 2017 Children at Risk, A+, #2 Houston, #3 Texas
The organizations recognizing the ECHSs are as follows:
- 2016 Texas Honor Roll by the Educational Results Partnership showcases schools that display academic excellence, continue to improve over time, and show reduction in achievement gaps among ethnic minority and economically disadvantaged students. STAR Schools are considered high-performing and have at least 33 percent of students categorized as economically disadvantaged. STEM Schools earn the designation by scoring among the top 10 percent of Honor Roll schools in the areas of math and science.
- 2016-2017 Texas Education Agency releases an index which comprises one fourth of each school's TEA Report Card and measures student readiness for college or a job following high school. The measurement includes the STAAR post-secondary readiness standard, graduation rates, how schools create graduation plans, and their college and career preparedness offerings.
- The U.S. News Top Ranked Schools list includes data on more than 22,000 public schools in 50 states and the District of Columbia. Schools were awarded gold, silver or bronze medals based on their performance on state assessments and how well they prepare students for college. To be eligible for a state ranking, a school must be awarded a national gold, silver or bronze medal.
- Children at Risk serves as a catalyst for change to improve the quality of life for children through strategic research, public policy analysis, education, collaboration and advocacy. Their annual statewide school rankings include public schools at all grade levels and use indicators measuring achievement, including graduation rates, students passing TAKS exams at commended levels, college-ready testing, and advanced coursework.
To learn more about Houston Community College and its more than 250 programs, visit www.hccs.edu.