EVERMAN, Texas (Sept. 3, 2014) Tarrant County College’s newest Early College High School (ECHS) opened Wednesday with an official ribbon-cutting ceremony in Everman as part of TCC’s commitment to foster a college-going culture. It is the result of the latest collaboration between TCC South Campus and Everman Independent School District.
TCC and Everman ISD have partnered to provide students, who likely would not otherwise consider attending college, an opportunity to earn a high school diploma and an associate degree at the same time. The Tarrant County College South/Everman ISD Collegian High School is located at the Everman Davis Ninth Grade Center on the Joe C. Bean Campus.
“It is an important day for Tarrant County College and Everman ISD as we open this Early College High School,” said TCC Chancellor Erma Johnson Hadley. “The typical ECHS is located on one of our campuses; however, the Everman ISD asked to locate this one on its campus.
“These students will begin the rigors of college in the ninth grade and will be able to earn an Associate of Applied Science degree or an Associate of Arts in Teaching degree by the end of their senior year in high school. Career and Technical certifications are also available,” Hadley said. “We are pleased to be able to take this opportunity directly to these students.”
Everman ISD Superintendent Jeri Pfeifer applauded the opening. “Everman ISD has enjoyed a strong working relationship with TCC South Campus through the years. The opening of the Collegiate High School gives EISD students entering ninth grade an invaluable opportunity to make the dream of college a reality,” Pfeifer said.
“Parents of enrolling students have been overwhelmingly supportive of the Collegiate High School, as have the communities that make up Everman ISD. It’s a new day of opportunity in EISD and for the students who will begin this rigorous program.”
Classes started last week with 58 students. Ninth and 10th grade students will attend TCC classes in the ECHS on Everman’s campus. Junior and senior students will be transported to TCC South Campus for instruction.
Students have the opportunity to graduate with an associate degree in several areas including Automobile Technology-Engine, Computer-Aided Drafting and Design (CADD), Education, and Heating, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Technologies (HART).
“This Early College High School is another indication of TCC’s commitment to prepare college-ready students in our community,” said TCC South Campus President Peter Jordan. “At TCC, we continue to strengthen partnerships with middle and high schools as well as four-year colleges and universities to improve student learning, college-readiness and success in college.”
TCC graduated its first Early College High School students in May with associate degrees from the Marine Creek Collegiate High School (MCCHS), about a month before they graduated with their high school diplomas. MCCHS opened at TCC Northwest Campus in fall 2010 with a freshman class from Lake Worth Independent School District. The first Fort Worth Independent School District students enrolled in fall 2011.
The Trinity River Campus started its ECHS in 2012 as the Texas Academy of Biomedical Sciences with Fort Worth ISD, where ninth and 10th grade students attend classes at a Fort Worth ISD campus. This fall, junior students are taking classes on the Trinity River Campus. Last week, ECHS classes also began for the first time at the Tarrant County College Southeast Campus/Arlington ISD Collegiate High School and at the Grapevine-Colleyville ISD Collegiate Academy at Tarrant County College Northeast.
