A new opportunity to get an early start in college has almost arrived for high school students in the northwest side of town. 
The third Early College High School (ECHS) is planning to open its doors this summer at the NW campus, which will accommodate 100 students per grade.
However there will only be classes available to freshmen until the fall semester, when the sophomore level will be created. The junior and senior levels will be created in subsequent semesters.
“It would give students an associate’s degree at the same time that they graduate with their high school diploma,” said Becky Ortega, academic assistant for the dean of instructional programs at Northwest.
According to the EPCC Office of Marketing and External Affairs website, funding for the NW school came from an $864,000 grant by the Greater Texas Foundation.
“I wish there had been a program like this when I was in high school,” said Jose Huerta, EPCC student. “I would have loved to get a head start and graduate with a degree.”
Each ECHS collaborates with a separate school district throughout the El Paso region. Mission Del Paso’s ECHS works with the Socorro Independent School District and Valle Verde’s ECHS partnered with Ysleta Independent School District. The ECHS at NW will join the Canutillo Independent School District.
According to the Marketing and External Affairs website, a fourth ECHS is slated for the Transmountain campus and will team up with EPISD.
Early college high schools are designed to help students from low-income families to earn college credits and an associate’s degree while attending high school.
Thus, the timeframe of transferring to a four-year college will be quicker.
