About This Report

Early college high schools are proven, powerful instruments of advancement for young men of color, but the programs must make special efforts to remove barriers to their participation. This report outlines the systemic and institutional causes of low levels of college participation among young men of color—particularly Black and Latinx men—and examines strategies for addressing these obstacles within an early college program.

We focused our research on the relatively new Massachusetts Early College Initiative, though the lessons learned apply to early college programs across the country. Early college programs are laying the groundwork for young people across Massachusetts to successfully transition from high school to college to careers. The goal of Massachusetts’s Early College Initiative is to ensure that every young person earns a postsecondary degree that will provide opportunities to participate fully in the state’s economy.

Early college high school programs are uniquely positioned to facilitate the creation of equitable pathways that truly support all youth in succeeding in college and careers. The key strategies outlined in this report address the challenges young men of color face, with a focus on navigating the challenging academics needed to prepare for, launch, and advance in good careers, and helping students recognize that they have what it takes to succeed at every step. The proof is in the college credits that early college students earn well before they graduate from high school, accelerating their paths to success.

Education Powerhouse Series

This report is part of a series that highlights promising practices from and the early impact of the Massachusetts Early College Initiative.