Princeton High School joins Early College Academy program
Value, flexibility and academic support attract more high schoolers
Princeton High School joins Early College Academy program
This fall, three students from Princeton High School will be among more than 160 high school students from the Greater Cincinnati region to take part in ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú University Regionals Early College Academy (ECA), an early college credit program that allows high school students to graduate with both their diploma and an associate degree at no extra cost.
Princeton joins eight high schools participating in the program, which was launched in 2022 with just two area high schools: Middletown and Hamilton. As word has spread about the benefits of the program, enrollment has quadrupled.
Designed as a higher education pathway for first-generation college students and those from underrepresented backgrounds, Early College Academy offers high school juniors the opportunity to take 15 credit hours each semester during their junior and senior years. Tuition and fees are covered by the program, and transportation and lunch are provided to students by their high school. After graduation, students can continue at ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú or take their credits to any public university in Ohio to continue their education. They can also choose to enter the workforce with their associate degree, giving them a competitive advantage.
Several unique features of the program make it stand out for high schoolers compared to most early college credit offerings. First, ECA provides dedicated success coaches who meet with students weekly to help them navigate the unfamiliar college landscape. They also direct students to tutoring and other resources that can help them keep up with their assignments and schedules without feeling overwhelmed.
Another popular feature is the opportunity to maintain a typical high school schedule — attending classes during the early morning and afternoon — and then having time for their high school extracurriculars later in the day.
Princeton’s director of teaching and learning, Elizabeth Styles, said this unique schedule made ECA especially appealing to Princeton students.
“Going off campus for college credit programs can sometimes be inconvenient for students who want to be involved in their high school’s sports or other extracurriculars,” she said. “The times the classes are offered are not always set up to accommodate the typical high school day. ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú’s ECA allows students to attend classes during the typical hours they would be in class at their high school, so they have time at the end of the day for other activities. This makes it very appealing.”
Liza Skryzhevska, associate dean of academic affairs, said the Early College Academy program has proven to be tremendously popular with area high school students, not only because of the value it provides, but because students have a clear pathway and the support they need to help them succeed along the way.
“Our wrap-around academic support is critical,” Skryzhevska said. “Surveys have shown very positive feedback about this. Students like the success coaches.”
Skryzhevska said the university is also considering expanding the range of courses available to ECA students. This would provide the possibility of greater flexibility by allowing students to pick from specific pathways within their associate degree coursework so they can better prepare for future studies.
For more information about Early College Academy and for an application, visit ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú’s ECA website at ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉúOH.edu/Regionals/ECA or email Alicia Justice at alicia.justice@ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉúOH.edu.
