Early College students start on own campus

Students at Early College High School start school a full three weeks earlier than their peers at other schools in Newport-Mesa, but at least now they do it on their own campus.

From the back of Back Bay High School, an alternative learning center in Newport-Mesa, Early College last week brought its students to the frontline of higher education — at their permanent location on the Coastline Community’s Mesa Verde Center campus.

“They’ve really done a great deal for the students,” said Early College Principal Kathy Slawson. “They’ve been nothing but helpful.”

Early College High School saw 78 students through its first year, when the school was confined to portables at the rear of Back Bay High School. Through the joint effort of the Newport-Mesa Unified School District and Coastline Community College, Early College now occupies or shares nine classrooms at Mesa Verde.

The school’s semester started Aug. 14 at Mesa Verde. Its venture is a unique one: It is one of only 19 high schools in California offering an associate of arts degree a year after high school. And for free. Funded by a $400,000 Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation grant spread over the school’s first five years of the school, Early College offers college-level curriculum in some of its junior and senior year classes, allowing the students dual credits for high school and college.

Students can earn college credits in classes like U.S. history, health, political science, government and physical education.

The Gates’ foundation helped launch the early college program in 2002. The schools are geared toward disadvantaged students who have the greatest likelihood of dropping out in the last two years of high school.

The school has seven teachers for its 156 students — half freshman and half sophomore. The average class size is about 25 students, and next year the high school plans to add its third class. The class of 2010 will be the first Early College students with associate’s degrees, and some will then enter a four-year university as a junior.

“The students that come here are those that are motivated,” Slawson said.

Students who want to attend have to submit an application, an essay, and be interviewed before they’re accepted.