What students do early college high schools serve? Unpacking social constructions of the target population

To support the nation’s college completion goals, early college high school (ECHS) reform creates opportunities for interested students to earn up to two years of free college credit during high school. ECHSs also have an equity objective: to target and enroll students who are historically underrepresented and/or might not otherwise go to college. Yet the extent to which ECHSs actually serve their target population in practice is unclear, especially in a marketized school environment. Using qualitative methods and the theory of social construction and policy design (Schneider Ingram, 1993), this study explores the recruitment and selection practices at five ECHSs in the borderlands of Texas. Findings suggest that ECHS staff invited applications from the broad target groups. However, the admission process, shaped in part by patterns of self-selection, favored students who were academically inclined and relatively privileged compared to their district peers. ECHS staff socially constructed narrower ideals of the target population than those articulated in the policy design based on their assumptions about who was likely to succeed in—and thus deserving of—an early college opportunity. Findings are discussed with particular attention to the equity implications of ECHS reform.

Examining the Treatment of African American Female Students in Urban Schools

This research project examined whether African American female students are being targeted with unfair treatment, disciplinary actions, and cultural misunderstandings. We explored the social, cultural, and emotional factors associated with being from an African American background and how it impacts their feelings and thoughts about school. The study involved African American female students in grades 9-12 in an urban Early College high school and a Traditional high school. The results indicated that African American female students believed they were treated as older and sexually more mature than Caucasian female students. The suspension and disciplinary rates of the African American female students were abnormally higher than the Caucasian female students in the Traditional High School as compared to students in the Early College.

Examining the Relationships and Differences of Early College High School Models

This study examined the impact of the early college model on first-year academic performance. The researcher surveyed students from a small-sized university who graduated high school between 2015-2018, lived off-campus, and were over the age of 18. The study found a moderate positive relationship, which was significant, between academic performance at the end of the early college program and students' academic performance at the end of the first year in college. However, the study did not find a significant difference in academic performance among the different early college models and did not find a significant difference between the academic performance of students who graduated from an early college program and those who did not. The results led the researcher to recommend further research that explore the difference between the different models of early college.

“That’s the Point of Going”: A Qualitative Inquiry Into the Experiences of Black Males at an Early College High School

Early college high schools are small schools designed to increase college and career readiness for groups underrepresented in higher education. While some research has focused on student experiences in the early college environment, few have specifically examined the perceptions of Black male students. The purpose of this study was to examine the perceptions of Black males in an early college high school. Using a qualitative case study design, data were collected using focus groups and individual interviews. Emergent themes included students’ descriptions of their learning environment and the benefits and challenges they experienced. The results of this study provide further insight into early college high schools and how they serve their targeted population.

Case Study of a New Engineering Early College High School: Advancing Educational Opportunities for Underrepresented Students in an Urban Area

In response to the pervasive problem of making college more accessible to at-risk and underrepresented populations, the early college high school (ECHS) model has gained popularity. However, limited research exists on engineering-focused ECHSs (EECHS). Given the current demand for diverse and highly qualified engineers in the workforce, further research on EECHSs that potentially support the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) pipeline is warranted. We examined the perceptions of six teachers, 10 ninth-grade students, and one principal at a newly formed EECHS. Our qualitative analyses revealed numerous successes and few challenges related to the school’s culture, curriculum, and instructional practices. General findings that might apply to all ECHS programming included the school’s small size, the benefits of developing caring and supportive relationships, and a common focus on preparing students for future academic and career success. We discuss key implications of these findings within the context of replicating an EECHS program or similar school structure.