News

By Reyes Mata III rmata@lcsun-news.com

Posted: 11/09/2011 11:53:23 PM MST

LAS CRUCES - Arrowhead Park Early College High School - an ambitious venture to slash dropout rates - heralded a major accomplishment during its ribbon-cutting ceremony Wednesday at its new campus.

"One hundred percent of the sophomore class progressed from ninth grade to 10th grade on time," Principal Jennifer Amis told the crowd of about 450 people who gathered at the New Mexico State University-based high-school campus.

Some of the parents in the crowd who were cheering that announcement say they support the strong academic curriculum and zealous advancement of students that the new ... Continue Reading

By: Alan Dessoff

For at-risk students who stand little chance of going to college, or even finishing high school, a growing number of districts have found a solution: Give them an early start in college while they still are in high school. An early college high school (ECHS) strategy, which combines high school and college-level instruction, reduces dropout rates and improves academic achievement levels while also boosting students' chances of graduating from school and finding jobs.

About 86 percent of early college high school graduates in 2009 went on to some form of postsecondary education, according to Jobs for the Future, ... Continue Reading