East Allen County Schools Approves Early College High School Idea

FORT WAYNE, Ind. - Students at East Allen County Schools will be able to earn college credits while earning their high school diploma. At a meeting Tuesday, board members voted to move forward with a plan to partner with Vincennes University.


“East Allen University will be a highly-focus ed high school program where students can earn an Indiana Core 40 high school diploma while also earning college credits toward an Associate Degree from Vincennes University," said Superintendent Dr. Karyle Green. "The program will include internships with business partners, project based learning, and inquiry learning. One of the key concepts of the school will be a personalized school environment promoting the inclusion and belonging of all students leading to high academic achievement through enhanced support structures."


District leaders said they've been working since early summer to design an innovative 9-12 program to go into the closed Paul Harding High School space. The school is scheduled to open in August with approximately 60-100 freshmen and grow to approximately 350-425 students over the next four years.


Students can earn an Indiana Core-40 high school diploma and earn 62 credits towards a degree at Vincennes. Sixty-two credits are enough for an Associate Degree. The early college program will include internships, project-based learning, and 21st-century skills, with curriculum heavily based on math, science and language arts.
“Until a student is sophomore and above, they're just getting their basic "General Studies" as you might say, for their high school opportunities. And to get into the college courses, they have to pass what is called the "Accu-Placer,” said Dr. Karyle Green, Superintendent of East Allen County Schools. “So we anticipate having that full program of studies completed and designed by the end of calendar year 2012.”
According to Vincennes, research shows that 86 percent of high school graduates pursue higher education in early college programs.
“One of the priorities of early college to is address those students who are either first generation, or not highly represented in college because of poverty levels or economic levels. So we really focused on those who would be first generation or would struggle to find a way to get to college,” Dr. Green said.
Dr. Green said EACS University will open at Harding in August. Current 8th grade students, within EACS district, and outside, are invited to attend informational meetings with their parents in January to learn more.