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Early College

Academy

-Seniors-

ATHOL HIGH SCHOOL

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Early College Academy (ECA)

Early College Academy (ECA) provides students the opportunity to take college-level courses for free through Fitchburg State University and Mount Wachusett Community College. This advanced learning opportunity allows high school juniors & seniors to earn a minimum of 12 college credits toward an Associate or Bachelor's Degree. Students receive intensive advising, support, and help developing their college and career plans.

Athol High School College and Career Readiness Coordinator: Heather Berlin hberlin@arrsd.org

MWCC Early College Counselor: Erika Puccio epuccio@mwcc.mass.edu

Athol High School Counselor: Linda Carlise lcarlise@arrsd.org

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Early College Academy (ECA)

What is Early College?

College courses taken while in high school.
Taught by college professors.
Offers a unique, true-to-life academic college experience.
Minimum of 12 college credits earned by high school graduation.
Many students will earn upwards of 30 credits if they begin junior year. Students will earn 18 or more credits through AHS Early College during senior year alone.

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Early College Academy (ECA)

What are the benefits of early college?

FREE college classes and books → $ave money
Complete high school graduation requirements and college degree program requirements at the same time.
College courses in a student’s high school schedule.
Courses completed with an earned grade of “C” (75) or better can be transferred to most 2- and 4-year colleges and universities.
Supports an easier transition from high school to college.

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Early College High School & College Comparisons: Communications

HIGH SCHOOL

It’s no big deal if you choose not to check your email often.
Teachers reach out to families with information about upcoming assignments and grades.
Parents/guardians communicate directly with teachers if there is a question or concern.
Your teacher/school will remind you regularly about upcoming assignments, events, or changes to your class.
Your teachers/counselors/parents will check in with you about your classes.

COLLEGE

You have to check both your MWCC and AHS email regularly (at least daily).
Professors only communicate with students. Parents/guardians are encouraged to reach out to AHS and MWCC counselors/coordinators.
Professors may mention or email about upcoming assignments or class changes only ONCE. If you miss an e-mail or class announcement, that is the student’s responsibility.
Students are expected to initiate communication (face-to-face or via e-mail) about absences, missed deadlines, etc.

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Early College High School & College Comparisons: Responsibilities

HIGH SCHOOL

Your time is usually structured by others.

The high school and/or your parents/guardians are responsible for arranging accommodations (i.e. IEP).

Held to the High School Code of Conduct

COLLEGE

You have more flexible time and more independent work.

You must self-identify to the college’s Office of Disability Services, to arrange to receive accommodations.

Held to the Massachusetts Community College System Student Code of Conduct & Fitchburg State Student Code of Conduct

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Early College High School & College Comparisons: Academics

HIGH SCHOOL

Teachers may provide due date reminders

Teachers typically check your completed homework and remind you of incomplete work.

Teachers may approach you if they believe you need assistance.

More time is spent in class weekly.

COLLEGE

Professors expect you to utilize the syllabus. The syllabus is your contract for the course.

Professors may not check completed assignments regularly.

Professors expect you to communicate your needs.

You may need to study at least 2 to 3 hours outside of class for each hour in class.

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Early College High School & College Comparisons: Grades & Testing

HIGH SCHOOL

Grades are given on all assigned work.
Consistently good homework grades may raise your overall grade when test grades are low.
Late work may be accepted with no penalty, especially if there is a good reason.
Initial test grades may not have an adverse effect on final grade.
Makeup tests are often available.

COLLEGE

Grades may not be given to all assigned work
Grades on tests and major papers usually provide most of the course grade.
Late work typically carries a penalty, or sometimes, is not accepted.
First tests are usually a “wake up call.”
Makeup tests are seldom an option, and if they are, you need to request them.

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MWCC and ARRSD Academic Calendars

There are various periods of “mismatch” that students/families should prepare for. The AHS ECA program coordinator will communicate in advance to support and clarify.

For example…

January: Students have no MWCC classes after the Dec. holiday until the end of Jan.
Snow days: Sometimes, AHS and MWCC do not make the same decisions about cancellations
Spring breaks do not align!.
May: MWCC classes end a few weeks before AHS classes end.

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Early College Advisory for Class of 2025

Students will meet as cohort once per week or every other week with Ms. Berlin and Erika Puccio (day/time to be determined). You will earn 1.0 credit for this course. This is a graduation requirement, and successful completion is required to continue in Early College each semester.

Content covered during ECA Lab:

College and Career Readiness

College search and applications, Scholarships and Financial Aid (Naviance)
Career exploration, workshops, speakers, activities

ECA Success Strategies

Study habits, organization, time management, test prep…
Academic counseling and support services, including tutoring.

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Early College: Maintaining Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)

Passing dual enrollment courses is critical to meet high school graduation requirements.

All final grades for dual enrollment courses are included on your AHS and MWCC transcript.

With the dual enrollment classes that you take through Early College, you are starting to build your college transcript. If you don’t do well, those courses can impact your college academic standing in the future or could negatively impact your ability to receive financial aid in the future.

A grade lower than a “C” won’t transfer, so you are not getting the full benefit of the Early College program if you do not earn at least a “C” in your dual enrollment courses.

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Early College Academy Program Standing

The following policies are in place to support student success and parent/family communication:

At the end of each semester…

If your GPA drops below a 2.5 you will be put on academic probation for the ECA program. This will result in a student and parent/guardian meeting, and the creation of a Student Success Plan.

If your GPA drops below a 2.0, you will be removed from Early College Academy and will continue with high school courses. There will be a meeting with the student, parent/guardian, Ms. Berlin, AHS Guidance Counselor, and MWCC Advisor to discuss this transition.

During the semester…

If you receive an academic alert or warning from your MWCC professor, your parent/guardian will be notified. You will be required to adhere to your professor’s recommendations on tutoring or other strategies to help you bring your grade up in class, such as meeting weekly with your MWCC or AHS advisors.

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Next Steps

Parents/Caregivers - please complete the contract for students and families.

Students

Meet individually with Ms. Berlin and/or Ms. Carlise before the end of this school year to discuss graduation requirements, IEP/504 accommodations, and more.
Accept Google Classroom Invitation from Ms. Berlin
Check your email everyday.

SAVE THE DATES

Thursdays, August 22 & 29th, 9am-3pm: Orientation on MWCC campus

Transportation will be provided from AHS, if needed.

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SURVEY

Give us some information to help us build your class schedule next year:

https://forms.gle/T9BUFV3xaaYhHidd7

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Links/Resources