Early College High recruiting first class

The Brownsville Independent School District and UTB-TSC have begun recruiting for a new high school for next year - Brownsville Early College High School.

The new school offers students the chance to earn as many as 60 semester hours of college credit and an associate of arts degree in addition to a high school diploma, a savings of as much as $14,000 in tuition, fees and textbook costs.

The class of 2012 will begin classes in August at BISD's Clearwater campus on Palm Boulevard, but eventually the school will be part of the International Technology, Education and Commerce Campus at the University of Texas at Brownsville and Texas Southmost College.

The idea is to recruit students from BISD middle schools who had not considered college as an option but who have the potential to be successful at that level, said Merrill Hammons, BISD administrator of Advanced Academic Services.

"We're looking for middle-of-the-road students, those who may have done something in middle school that shows they have potential and that with a little extra support and encouragement can be successful in college," Hammons said.

"We want to find the students who probably never even thought of college as a possibility for them and give them the skills to be successful," he said.

Enrollment is limited to students who would be the first in their family to complete a college degree.

BISD is recruiting 100 students for the first freshman class, 10 from each of the district's 10 middle schools. It then will add 100 students or one class per year until all four classes are filled.

Informational meetings for students and parents are scheduled at 7 p.m. this week in three middle school cafeterias, Tuesday at Cummings, Wednesday at Besteiro and Thursday at Vela.

"The idea is for students to become college ready by taking dual enrollment courses on campus," said Stephen Rosales, assistant to the dean of the School of Education at UTB-TSC and liaison on the project.

Rosales noted that UTB-TSC professors or adjunct professors will teach the college-level classes that students at the new school will take during their junior and senior year.

Hammons said BISD is recruiting personnel for the new school, including a principal, counselor and teachers.

"We're looking for good teachers who like to teach this type of student and are successful working with this type of student," he said.

Meanwhile, the district is ordering textbooks and supplies and getting what was once Clearwater Elementary ready for college preparatory classes.

"Once we have the students and the faculty, they'll get together and pick the logo and the school colors," Hammons said.

Students will study at Early College High School but participate in University Interscholastic League activities such as sports and band through their home cluster high school - Hanna, Lopez, Pace, Porter or Rivera - from which they also will receive their diploma.

The school will be funded through grants from the Texas High School Project, a $261 million public-private initiative committed to increasing high school graduation and college readiness rates across Texas.

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Informational meetings are scheduled at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Cummings Middle School, Wednesday at Besteiro and Thursday at Vela in the school cafeteria.

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