On October 15, 2026, InsideSchools and NY Alliance for Early College Pathways (NY4ECP) presented a wide-ranging conversation on the benefits of early college high schools and the options available in NYC Public Schools.

Whether you're applying to high school now or are first exploring your options, you'll learn a lot from this presentation.

Watch it in English or Spanish.

Here are five key take-aways from the event:

Students can earn up to two years of college credit for free.

Early college high schools allow students to earn college credits while completing their high school diploma. Depending on the program, some students can graduate with an associate degree or up to 60 college credits, potentially saving families a lot of money in college tuition and expenses.

Early college programs aren’t just for “A” students.

Many early college high schools don’t admit students based on their grades. They welcome a broad range of students including Multi-lingual learners and students with disabilities.

Not all early college high schools follow the same model.

NYC Public Schools has 19 CUNY-partnered early college high schools across all five boroughs. They vary in their academic focus, when students may beging college coursework as well as how long they can remain enrolled.

Some early college programs serve grades 6-12 or 9-12. Others start in start in 9th grade but offer a fifth year (grade 13) or two additional years (grades 13 and 14) to complete an associate degree. NYC P-TECH schools offer and early college model that serve grades 9-14 and incorporate career training and industry partnerships.

Students get a head start on college with extra academic and personal support.

Students take actual college courses, sometimes alongside adult college students, while receiving support from high school counselors, college advisers, and professors. They learn to manage deadlines, advocate for themselves, navigate college campuses, and use academic resources.

Students at all high schools may earn college credit

Students who don't attend an early college high school can still earn credit for taking college-level coursework through CUNY's College Now program, which offers courses across multiple campuses, including some online options.

Some resources shared at the event:

CUNY Early College information

NYC P-Tech Schools

Opinion piece in El Diario by Milagros Moreno. Milagros, who presented at our event, is a NY4ECP Fellow and graduate of International High School at Laguardia Community College, an early college program.

CUNY College Now