FALL RIVER — The city won big for its high schools’ expansion and design of college preparatory programs, with Argosy Collegiate Charter School, 240 Dover St., set to receive $60,000, and B.M.C. Durfee High School, 460 Elsbree St., awarded $100,000 in support of a pathway linking its graduates to UMass schools via the Commonwealth Collegiate Academy.
The Jan. 7 announcement is the result of Gov. Maura Healey’s administration working to secure $8 million in Early College grant funding. The money is designated for high schools and higher education institutions across Massachusetts, as they design new or expand existing Early College programming.
The administration estimated the funding would help an additional 2,300 students, allowing high school students to take college classes and earn college credit for free.
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All 55 existing Early College programs received between $50,000 and $125,000 in grants to continue their work. New schools were added to the list for Early College Capacity Grants of $60,000, or Early College Planning Grants with a maximum award of $100,000.
Funding will also help to increase staffing, assist with recruitment efforts, and provide professional development opportunities, according to a release shared with The Herald News. Healey has long forwarded the initiative which aims to “reimagine high school,” with Early College programs playing a “key part” to ensure students statewide are prepared for college or careers by the time they graduate.
In a statement, Healey maintained that Early College programs increase the affordability of a college degree as more students can enroll in college courses ahead of their high school graduation. “We’re also strengthening our workforce by helping students graduate with the skills that are in demand by employers today,” she added.
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B.M.C. Durfee High School is located on Elsbree Street in Fall River.
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Rural communities and Gateway City districts that serve large numbers of potential first-generation college students are of special interest when it comes to supplying or bolstering Early College programming and resources.
“We know that high school students are looking for more relevant learning experiences with deeper engagement. They want to see the connection between what they learn during the school day and a career or field they might be interested in pursuing down the line,” said Education Secretary Patrick Tutwiler. In essence, these programs unlock doors for students who may not have originally considered a college an option.
How Early College works at Fall River’s Argosy charter school
Argosy’s Early College program is one of three “wall-to-wall” comprehensive programs the state has to offer, said Kristen Pavao, the founding director of the Fall River public charter school. Brockton and Springfield districts offer comparable programs.
By the ninth grade, all of Argosy’s students are enrolled in or striving towards college classes, and “a couple days a week, our entire senior population is on Bristol Community College campus taking college courses,” Pavao said, amassing a total of 900 college credits and completing college coursework this past fall semester with a 99.7% pass rate.
Course tuition, fees, associated transportation, and student nutrition are covered by funding, and free to students. Pavao said Argosy’s Early College program is “unrestricted,” and “all scholars are expected to meet those expectations,” maintaining that the program is not simply geared towards high academic performers.
A public lottery process governs Argosy’s admission decisions. Those considering applying for next school year are encouraged to fill out and submit the application listed on the school’s website by Feb. 28.
Early College programs are becoming more popular statewide
Statewide early college programs have seen year-to-year expansion, with a projected 115% increase this school year.
Nearly 2,000 new students participated in Early College programs last year, which represents a 31% increase from the 2022-2023 school year.
In the last two years, Early College programs added 16 new partnerships. Over 9,000 students are expected to participate this year, and support is prioritized and extended to student populations who are historically underrepresented in higher education.
For example, the majority of 12th grade participants identify as Black or Latino. Data points to an even split between low-income and non-low-income students. Early College program participation “increases college enrollment for all racial groups,” the release reads, “but makes the biggest difference for Latino students who historically have been the least likely to matriculate.”
Elementary and Secondary Education Acting Commissioner Russell D. Johnston called Early College programming a “proven strategy” that increases college enrollment and “persistence,” to which Commissioner of Higher Education Noe Ortega agreed, reiterating that these programs are structured in ways that prepare students for success while reducing the intensity of time and costs associated with obtaining a degree.
This article originally appeared on The Herald News: Fall River schools receive state grants for college prep programs