Friday  |  October 7, 2011  |  00:00 AM

Two Northeast Ohio early college high schools are recently in the news for their unique approach to education.  After receiving the 'excellent' designation on the state report card, Early College High School at the University of Akron was recently profiled in the Plain Dealer.   Additionally, Canton’s Early College High School made news in a report from the Stark Education Partnership for increasing the percentage of Stark County residents pursuing a college degree.  The report can be found here - Reaching for 80%: How Post Secondary Opportunities are Changing the College Going Culture.  

The national initiative (website) of early college high school allow students to earn both a high school diploma AND an Associate’s degree (or two years of credit towards a Bachelor’s degree) in four years.  Early college high school especially targets students who are the first in their family to attend college. 

Early college high schools in Northeast Ohio (Akron Early College High School, Design Lab Early College High School, Early College High School in Canton, Early College High School in Lorain County, and Youngstown Early College High School) are contributing to the Northeast Ohio Talent Dividend goal to increase the level of college readiness and increase the number of degrees attained in the region.