Opened in 2001, Bard High School Early College has quickly become one of the city's most sought-after schools. Small class size, excellent teaching, and the promise of two years of college credit for free have attracted some of the city's best students.

Bard High School Early College, an unusual collaboration between the city Department of Education and Bard College, is the brainchild of Bard College president Leon Botstein, who has long believed that many 16-year-olds are ready to begin serious college work. Students at the Bard school complete their high school requirements in two years and then embark on college work. After four years, they receive both a Regents diploma and an associate's degree.

Most of the teachers have PhDs, and classes are organized as college seminars, with lots of opportunities for give and take between the teachers and students. The classes we saw in science, math, history, English, and art were all engaging, taught by faculty members who are both experts in their field and passionate about sharing their knowledge with their students. Far more writing is expected of Bard students than of typical high school students, and class discussionson topics ranging from modernism and monopoly capitalism in World War II to lay investiture in the Holy Roman Empireare far more sophisticated and demanding than a typical high school class. Students can expect three hours of homework, and some students say they regularly work for four or five hours daily.

The pace is too much for some, and about 20 students in each class transfer out before graduation. "They discover they don't want to go to college," said Principal Raymond Peterson, who teaches 9th grade English. "They were getting A's in middle school and they want to get A's again." As many as 50 students in the school are on academic probation at any given time because their averages are C- or below, Peterson said.

But for those who can make it, and that's most of the students enrolled, Bard offers an extraordinary opportunity: lots of individual attention, a degree of autonomy and freedom found more often in college than high school, and free tuition for two years of college.

Bard is housed in a pleasant, red brick building constructed as an elementary school in 1915. It has high ceilings, huge windows with views of the East River, and sunny, if spare and basic classrooms equipped with wood-trimmed blackboards and oak cabinets. School begins at the civilized hour of 9 a.m.a good thing, because the building is a long walk east from the nearest subway. Classes meet for 50-minute periods 4 or 5 times a week. Students come from all five boroughs. There is a nice mix of students from different races and income levels. About two-thirds of the students are girls. Bard offers no special education services.

The school year begins with a week-long, school-wide "writing and thinking workshop," modeled after similar projects at Bard College. (Peterson is the former director of Bard College's Writing and Thinking Institute.) Students read their written pieces out loud. Teachers say the workshop builds a feeling of community, helps draw out the shyer students, and breaks down the all-too-frequent pattern of classes turning into a dialogue between the teacher and two or three vocal students.

There is no gym. Students play sports in an adjacent park or at Chelsea Piers. Teams include basketball, tennis, and soccer. Clubs include: current events, philosophy, yearbook, mathematics, and a group called "glamour girls"who give facials and put make-up on elderly women in nursing homes.

College admissions: Bard has five college advisers for a class of 120. "We have the time to write really good letters," said Beth Cheikes director of what is called the college transfer office"transfer" because the students are already in college. Bard graduated its first class in 2003. Students have been admitted to Yale, Brown, Reed, Middlebury, Penn State, Haverford, Wesleyan, and the University of Chicago, as well as SUNY and CUNY schools. CUNY and SUNY accept the full two years of college credit from Bard, allowing students to enter as juniors. Some private colleges accept the full two years, others accept less than one semester.

Admissions: Students who score 3's and 4's on standardized reading and math tests in middle schools may take Bard's entrance exam, which includes 24 math questions and an essay. The school interviews candidates who pass the test. Evening open houses are held in the fall and spring.Between 3,000 and 4,000 students apply for 135 seats. (This school is featured in NYC's Best Public High Schools: A Parent's Guide. Clara Hemphill, February 2006.)

My son is a year one(11th grade)student and has enjoyed he's time at Bard. The student body is diverse, intelligent, and eclectic. The work is challenging but not overwhelming. Small classes means plenty of dialogue between students and teachers. He also plays on the soccer team that has won the Manhattan "B" division three year in a row.

"There is still so much learning that occurs in the last two years of high school. I'm not talking about the reading and writing; I'm talking about high-schoolers learning how to function in different social situations and learning responsibility. Most 16 year-olds wouldn't be able to handle all the scholastic and financial responsibility associated with college. I was barely ready at 18. Kids don't need to grow up any faster."

"BHSEC has been a great match for my son, a well-rounded, well-adjusted student. The work is challenging but he's thriving here. I'd prefer if there was a better boy/girl ratio and a bigger gym but he is not as concerned as I am about that. He loves it at Bard and is having a wonderful experience."

"i just started this school as a freshman in september and i'm here to tell you that this work is no joke. While i enjoy going to school, it is hard work. The standards are very high. This school is only for students who are willing to work very hard. If you dont want to work, dont come to Bard. You have to be totally dedicated to your schoolwork. Be prepared for a lot of reading and a lot of writing if you come to this school."

"This year, the Bard PTA Sports Committee has been working hard to develop sports at Bard, using the nearby East River Park fields," writes Ruth Chasek, a parent. "We now have about 5 active sports clubs, and we hope to have several teams next year. Although sports at Bard is still in its infancy, it has definitely begun!" (April 2004)

"I am a freshman at BHSEC and I find that I have had one of the best experiences of my life," writes a student. "In this past semester, I was challenged with critical thinking, reading, writing etc. and find that I have learnt a lot about humanities in the 5 months I've been here. The faculty here is great; they are experienced educators and most hold Ph.D.'s in their respective subjects. The subject matter is accelerated, so don't expect normal 9th and 10th grade work. Despite the numerous complaints by certain students that the school is socially a clique-oriented place, the students are friendly and are easy to have a conversation with. I believe that this is the only school where I have spoken to upper-gradesmen. Athletics here is poor and the facility is minimum, but BHSEC's main focus is definitely on academics. If you are willing to work hard, be patient, and keep an open mind, this school is the best place for you." (January 2004)

A 10th grader writes: "I have had nothing but a huge bad experience since I have been in this school. I went from being a straight A student and the salutatorian of my middle school to being a C and D student. The students in the school are very nice and helpful. I hate to say it but unless you are a super genius then you have no chance at surviving in this school." While he describes teachers as "helpful" he writes, "Most times you will have to depend on finding a tutor, to help you with work you do not understand. Look to your fellow students to help. Also I suggest that you introduce yourself to even the kids who in the same grade as you, the more people you know the better off you are. I promise that if you are not a super genius then you will be up until the morning working on papers and homework. You can finish early in other schools, without having to do this accelerated program. Bard is not your only option. I am transferring out of this school next year. I wish the best to all who have the energy to deal with Bard." (January 2004)