Pasadena High Principal Joe Saavedra reads over a brochure providing details of his school's Early College Program.
By BRITTA GAMINO
Pasadena ISD Communications
It began as a plan to expand the dual credit program at Pasadena High School. But when the plan becomes reality this fall, dozens of Pasadena High freshmen will find themselves on a path to earn a college degree the same day they graduate from high school.
The Pasadena Early College Program, set to launch in August, will allow incoming freshmen to concurrently enroll in classes through San Jacinto College allowing them the opportunity to earn an associate's degree by the time they earn their high-school diploma.
The college courses would be offered at no cost. That would represent a savings in college tuition costs of about $6,000 per student.
And a time savings of two years in each student's pursuit of a four-year college degree.
"The overall goal is for us to work with our students and create a plan for them to get 60 credit hours that are transferable to a four-year university," says Pasadena High Principal Joe Saavedra.
Initially, four associate's degree programs will be offered: business, psychology, life science and mathematics.
The plan represents a pilot program currently open only to eighth-graders at Jackson, Queens, Southmore and San Jacinto intermediate schools. About 50 to 60 students will be accepted into the program the first years. School officials hope to expand it later to as many as 500 students from around the Pasadena ISD.
"The idea is for us to start the program here and then figure out how to open this program to every school," said Saavedra. "We are looking towards the future, and we are building forward."
Students interested in enrolling in the program must maintain at least an 80 average in all core classes, pass the TAKS test, show a good attendance record and submit two letters of recommendation from current teachers.
An interview process will follow to determine each student's commitment to the program. Finally, students must complete an application for San Jacinto College. Those applications can be accessed at www.sjcd.edu/apply.
The program is a first for the Pasadena ISD. More than 40 early college high school programs have been established in Texas.
Saavedra said that by exposing students to college at an earlier age, most will be motivated to pursue degrees beyond the associate's level. He said during the first two years of the program, students will be taking all their classes - both high school and college - at Pasadena High.
"What is so unique about our campus is that we will actually have a separate building to lend to the program," Saavedra said. "That way our students can be separated but still feel part of a group and part of the student body."
Free transportation to San Jacinto College will be provided to students during their junior and senior years in the program.
Students will still have the opportunity to engage in extracurricular activities and sports at Pasadena High while enrolled in the program. And they'll have access to San Jacinto College resources such as campus libraries, tutoring facilities, writing centers and computer labs.
"Students will have the same access as regular college students," said Jaynie Mitchell, director of Dual Credit and Early Admission at San Jacinto College Central. "They can attend sporting and arts events as well, and become part of the proud Raven tradition at San Jacinto College Central."
"Students will have the same access as regular college students," said Jaynie Mitchell, director of Dual Credit and Early Admission at San Jacinto College Central. "They can attend sporting and arts events as well, and become part of the proud Raven tradition at San Jacinto College Central."
