Early College Academy at CHHS

Early College Academy Students

Important Dates

    • November 13, 2023 - January 19, 2024: Application window is open for families new to CHISD Choice Programs.
    • December 1-15, 2023: Families currently enrolled in a CHISD Choice Program must complete the intent to return form.
    • January 10-18, 2024: Parent Meetings and Campus Tours 
    • February 9, 2024: Families placed in the lottery are contacted
    • February 20, 2024: Parent Seat Acceptance Deadline

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Early College Academy at CHHS Interest Meetings

  • Wed. December 20th 6-7pm
    Thurs. January 11th 9:30-10:30am
    Thurs January 18th 6-7pm


About the Program

  • In the fall of 2021, Cedar Hill ISD announced a plan to shift the district’s early college high school designation from Collegiate High School to Cedar Hill High School. Collegiate would then operate under the magnet school model and the Early College Academy at CHHS would be the district's TEA-designated Early College High School. You can learn more about the change here.

    Magnet Model vs. Early College High School Model    eca

    The outcome is the same but the acceptance requirements are where you will find the difference. The Early College High School (ECHS) model acceptance requirements are dictated by the state and the magnet model acceptance criteria are determined locally, by a school district.

    The Cedar Hill High School Early College Academy is designed to offer scholars a personalized and supportive college-preparatory environment as well as a chance to earn an associate degree from Cedar Valley College. Scholars can take advantage of the fine arts, athletics, and other programs available at a comprehensive high school. Students who apply to available career and technical education pathways can receive industry certifications and internships.

    Is this the right fit for your scholar?

    • Your child is interested in being immersed in the college experience through college coursework and naturally strives for excellence and high achievement.
    • Your child is interested in obtaining college credits and working toward an associate degree or higher.
    • Your child is interested in participating in extracurricular activities such as athletics and fine arts.

    Associates Degree Information

    • Associate of Arts Degree AA - Graduate with up to 60+ college credit hours and an associate of arts degree that may be transferable to any public university in the State of Texas

    Admission Requirements

    • The Early College Academy (ECA) is designed to serve incoming ninth-grade scholars who have the determination to attend college, are first-generation college students, and have been historically underrepresented in higher education.
    • Applicants should be part of an underserved minority group, at-risk, and/or economically disadvantaged.   
    • Transfer scholars requirements 
      • The scholar must have passed ALL of their classes from the prior semester/year (Documentation required - Last report card and/or transcript)
      • The scholar must have 5 or fewer unexcused absences in the prior semester (Documentation required - Attendance Record/Letter of Attendance from the prior year)
      • The scholar must have no more than 1 discipline referral and NO out-of-school suspensions or DAEP/LLAEP placements in the prior year. (Documentation required - Discipline letter/Letter of Discipline Assurance from the prior year)
      • The scholar must have passed all required state testing (Documentation Required - state testing results. 

    Important Links


TEA BENCHMARKS

  • The Texas Education Agency (TEA) has developed a designation process for Early College High Schools. The designation process ensures that school districts and colleges operating Early College High School campuses maintain the integrity of the model, which was researched and designed to specifically target and serve students who might not otherwise attend college. The TEA Early College High School Blueprint—which guides the designation process—includes six benchmarks.

    Each benchmark includes a set of design elements, activities and products. More information on the ECHS Blueprint can be found on the relevant pages of the TEA website.

    As a designated Early College High School, Crockett is working towards implementation of the ECHS Blueprint. More information on the benchmarks can be found via the links below.

    • Benchmark 1-- School Design
    • Benchmark 2-- Partnership Agreement
    • Benchmark 3-- Target Population  
    • Benchmark 4-- Academic Infrastructure
    • Benchmark 5-- Student Supports