No fancy campus. Few extracurriculars. No football stadium. This small early college high school defies a lot of the myths about what high school is supposed to be. Instead, they succeed at the very thing so many high schools claim is their primary goal: to help students get into college and succeed once they get there. Their secret to college prep? Start college now.
In the third season of Like a Sponge, we explore how high schools need to change, and the ways some educators are rethinking assumptions and remaking their schools to actually work for students. In this episode, we do a deep dive into early college high schools to see what they are, how they work, and how well they’re serving students who otherwise may not have attempted college — or possibly even thrived in high school.
Learn more about early college high school
- Read: What is an early college high school?
- Watch: What is an early college high school?
Early college high schools featured in this podcast
Thank you to Principal Paul Covey and Valle Verde Early College High School.
Thank you to Principal Claudia M. Perez-Gomez and Jimmy Carter Early College High School.
This episode of Like a Sponge was produced by Carol Lloyd and Jessica Yarmosky for GreatSchools, thanks to the generous support of the Barr Foundation. Sound editing and design by Christopher Ferreira. Editorial support from Jessica Kelmon and Charity Ferreira. Special thanks to Paul Covey, Tamara Castro, Valle Verde Early College High School, Transcend Education, and Springpoint schools.
This season of the podcast is part of our Transforming High School series, a collection of stories, videos, and podcasts exploring the practices that prepare students for success in college and beyond.
