Students Can Gain an EDGE in Broken Arrow, OK
Program helps put college in reach for more students by allowing them to earn course credits early.
A National Student Clearinghouse Research Center study shows that students earning at least 15 college credit hours have a better chance of staying in college, but with the rising cost of higher education, many families worry college might not be an option at all.
Fortunately for high school students in Broken Arrow, a new program called EDGE (Earn a Degree, Graduate Early) can help make the idea of earning a college degree a reality.
The program, which was rebranded from Early College High School, was expanded to allow students in Broken Arrow Public Schools the opportunity to take courses that count as college credit through Tulsa Community College (TCC) at no cost to the student.
Earn a Degree, Graduate Early
Students begin the program as freshmen by taking college-preparatory classes. Then as sophomores, students begin taking college-level courses, with the expectation that they will graduate not only with their high school degree but with enough credits for an associate degree. Those credits can then be transferred to a four-year institution.
“We are very excited to expand our partnership with TCC,” says Kim Garrett, director of high school academics for Broken Arrow Public Schools. “EDGE, which provides a no-cost path for all cohort students to earn an associate degree while in high school, will fit within Broken Arrow’s current Early College High School structure and allow us to support more students achieving their dreams of college graduation.”
Broken Arrow’s Early College High School program partners with Northeastern State University at Broken Arrow to allow freshmen and sophomores to take high school classes on the campus to help prepare them for taking college-level courses as juniors.