At a time when individual success—and our nation’s economic competitiveness—depend on a high-quality education, over 200 early college high schools nationwide are providing pathways to higher education for 42,000 young people who might not otherwise go to college.

From May 4-10, early college high schools and their partners around the country are celebrating Early College High School Week. Students, administrators, parents, community leaders, and legislators are honoring the commitment and success of the Early College High School Initiative, coordinated by JFF. 
Here’s a sampling of Early College High School Week events around the country:

• Ohio: Students at University of Akron/Akron Early College High School are telling legislators and University of Akron college faculty about life at their school. Also, the school’s PTA is hosting a Teacher Appreciation Luncheon. Knowledgeworks Foundation, one of thirteen national partners in the Early College High School Initiative, helped found the Akron school and continues to assist it and seven others.
• New York: The students in the Brooklyn College Academy World Ensemble, playing non-traditional instruments from around the world, are celebrating the week with a performance at Flushing Town Hall. The Middle College National Consortium is the academy’s national partner and also assists 20 other schools across the country.
• Massachusetts: The 17-school Gateway to College network, providing dropouts with a meaningful second chance for academic success, is holding events as well. For example, an open house at Massasoit Community College includes a reception, a presentation about the program, and a viewing of "Opportunity for a Lifetime," a video about the national initiative. 
• California: The Foundation for California Community Colleges kicks off Early College High School week with a statewide convening of the principals of the 61 California early college high schools. To continue the celebration, photos of early college high students by award-winning photographer David Binder will be hosted at the state capitol. Also, California State Assembly member Anthony Portantino introduced a state resolution declaring May 4-10 as National Early College High School Week and May as Early College High School Month.
• Texas: In the Texas Legislature, State Senator Royce West declared May 4-10 as Early College High School Awareness Week. Joining Sen. West on the Senate floor were early college high school principals, teachers, and students.
• Around the Nation: California and Texas are far from alone in officially recognizing the contributions of early college. In Georgia, it’s officially Early College High School Week in Columbia, Savannah, and Willisville. In Ohio, the mayor of Cleveland proclaimed this Early College High School Week.

Since 2002, the initiative’s 13 partner organizations have started or redesigned schools in 24 states and the District of Columbia. The schools are designed so that low-income youth, first-generation college goers, English language learners, students of color, and other young people underrepresented in higher education can simultaneously earn a high school diploma and an Associate’s degree or up to two years of credit toward a Bachelor’s degree.

Over 9 in 10 early college students get a high school diploma. Not only that, 88 percent of students graduate with at least some college credit. In fact, 40 percent of students who enter early college as ninth graders earn a full year—or more—of college credit. This college credit is earned tuition free; as a point of reference: a year of public college costs an average of $6,600.

For more information about Early College High School Week, contact Jeff Landis, JFF Director of Public Relations, jlandis@jff.org