Early College

About the Early College Program

The Brockton Public Schools Early College and Dual Enrollment Department leads the district’s C³ (Champions College Connect) initiative, providing equitable and immersive college experiences for students across all BPS high schools. This includes students from Brockton High School, Promise Career and College Academy, Brockton Therapeutic Day School, Champion High School, and the Brockton Virtual Learning Academy. Through strong partnerships with local higher education institutions, including Massasoit Community College, UMass Dartmouth, Quincy College, and Bridgewater State University, the department facilitates student access to rigorous, credit-bearing college coursework that aligns with specific career pathways. Students can earn between 12 and 63 transferable college credits while fulfilling high school graduation requirements.

Pathway options include STEM-Business, Liberal Arts Transfer leading to an Associate Degree, Liberal Arts Education, and Criminal Justice. The C³ program is designed to remove financial and structural barriers for students who have been historically underrepresented in higher education. It offers comprehensive support, including recruitment, enrollment, college readiness, tutoring, transportation, and individualized guidance. The department’s work is grounded in a commitment to equity, academic excellence, and expanding access to postsecondary opportunities for all students in Brockton Public Schools.

Learn More About The Program

Our Vision and Mission

Our Vision

Our vision for the C³ program is broad and ambitious. We aim to provide diverse collegiate opportunities for our students that increase both high school and college attendance and graduation rates. We believe that by equipping students with the knowledge and skills gained from higher education, we can enhance their academic performance and occupational success in whatever field they choose to pursue.

Our Mission

Our mission is to provide students enrolled in the BPS C³ Early College and Dual Enrollment Program with wide-ranging and immersive academic opportunities within both 2-year and 4-year college environments. This exposure is intended to give students a head start, allowing them to earn college credits while still in high school, experience college-level academics, and reduce the time and financial costs of pursuing a college degree.

In all our efforts, we are guided by our commitment to foster an inclusive learning environment that values diversity, encourages intellectual curiosity, and cultivates lifelong learners.

What is the difference between dual enrollment and early college?

Understand the difference between Dual Enrollment and Early College and discover the advantage of pursuing Early College at BPS.

Dual Enrollment vs. Early College

The Brockton Public Schools Champions College Connect (C³) Program provides diverse academic opportunities for our students. Among these are two highly beneficial programs: Dual Enrollment and Early College. While both offer the chance to earn college credits during high school, they operate somewhat differently. This page aims to clarify the distinctions and help you understand why the Early College program might be the right choice for you.

Dual Enrollment

In Dual Enrollment programs, high school students can enroll in college courses that can count for both high school graduation and college credit. This approach gives students a taste of college academics while still in high school, without committing to a full-time college course load. It offers a flexible way to explore different areas of study, gain experience with college-level coursework, and potentially reduce future college costs.

Early College

Early College programs, on the other hand, offer a more structured and immersive college experience for high school students. They are designed to allow students to earn significant college credit—up to two years’ worth or an associate degree—while still in high school. These programs typically involve a more substantial commitment in terms of time and academic rigor.

Early College at Brockton Public Schools (BPS) is carefully curated to provide a seamless transition from high school to college, ensuring students are thoroughly prepared for the demands of higher education. Early College students are guided through an individualized pathway that aligns their high school curriculum with their intended college major. This offers academic advantages and provides significant cost savings for families by reducing the time to achieve a bachelor's degree.

How could the Early College program benefit me?

The Advantage of Pursuing Early College at BPS

At BPS, our Early College program stands out due to our committed partnership with two leading institutions - University of Massachusetts at Dartmouth (UMD) and Massasoit Community College (MCC). This collaboration ensures our students benefit from a broad range of academic opportunities and resources typically accessible only to full-time college students.

Our supportive staff works closely with students and their families throughout the entire program, assisting with course selection, monitoring academic progress, and providing guidance for the college admission process.

Choosing Early College at BPS also means enjoying an enriched high school experience with the opportunity to participate in extracurricular activities and school events while pursuing a college-level academic journey.

Ultimately, the decision between Dual Enrollment and Early College depends on each student's academic goals, preparedness for college-level work, and desire for a more traditional high school experience versus a more intensive college-focused pathway. Whatever your choice, BPS is committed to helping you succeed and prepare for a bright future.

Experience the Benefits of Early College

When it comes to educational paths, every student is unique. That's why at Brockton Public Schools, we believe in providing flexible, advanced opportunities for our students, enabling them to thrive academically and personally. Our Champions College Connect (C³) Early College Program is an embodiment of that belief.

Here are a few key benefits that the BPS C³ Early College Program offers:

Transferable College Credits & Support: As part of the Early College Program, students can earn college credits while still in high school. These credits are typically transferable to most colleges and universities, providing students with a head start on their higher education journey. Along with this, our program offers comprehensive academic support to ensure that students can succeed in their chosen courses.

Increased Postsecondary Opportunities: By providing early exposure to college-level coursework, the

Early College Program not only enhances academic skills but also develops critical thinking, time management, and self-discipline that are essential for postsecondary success. This can open doors to a greater range of opportunities in higher education.

No Cost to Students and Families: We believe that financial constraints should never be a barrier to education. That's why our Early College Program is provided at no cost to students and their families. This includes tuition, textbooks, and other necessary materials, reducing the overall cost of postsecondary education.

What higher education institutions does BPS work with?

Higher Education Partnerships and Pathways

Brockton Public Schools have partnered with the following higher education institutions for Early College programming:

Bridgewater State University (Liberal Arts Pathway)
Massasoit Community College (Liberal Arts Pathway, Path to Associate Degree)
University of Massachusetts at Dartmouth (STEM-Business & Liberal Arts Education Pathway)
Quincy College* (Liberal Arts in Business Pathway) - Available only to Promise College and Career Academy students)

Building Strong Partnerships for Your Success

At Brockton Public Schools, we believe in empowering our students by providing them with diverse and high-quality educational opportunities. That's why we've partnered with leading higher education institutions to offer robust Early College programming. Each of these partnerships has been designed to provide students with a rich and immersive academic experience, guiding them on their path to future success.

Here are the institutions we're currently partnered with and the specialized pathways they offer:

Bridgewater State University (BSU)

Pathway: Humanities, Social Sciences, Criminal Justice, and Education
Credits: Students can earn up to 12-30 college credits through these pathways.
Modality: Classes with BSU may be a combination of the following: In-person at the high school, virtual and synchronous and/or delivered at the BSU campus.
Transportation to and from partner institutions will be at no cost to students and will be coordinated through the BPS Early College office.
Class Schedule: BSU classes occur during periods 2 and 3.

Massasoit Community College (MCC)

Pathway: Liberal Arts, Path to Associates Degree Pathway
Credits: Students can earn 12 to 62 college credits through this pathway.
Modality: Classes with MCC will be a combination of in person at the high school, virtual and synchronous, and/or in-person on the MCC campus.
Transportation to and from partner institutions will be at no cost to students and will be coordinated through BPS Early College office.
Class Schedule: MCC classes occur during periods 5 and 6.

University of Massachusetts at Dartmouth (UMD)

Pathway: STEM-Business & Liberal Arts Education Pathway
Credits: Students can earn 12 to 30 college credits through this pathway
Modality: Classes with UMD will primarily be virtual and synchronous with opportunities to visit the campus throughout the year
Class Schedule: MCC classes occur during periods 3 and 4.

Quincy College (QC) (available at Promise Career and College Academy)

Pathway: Liberal Arts in Business Pathway
Credits: Students can earn credits through this pathway
Modality: Classes with QC will primarily be virtual, asynchronous, and synchronous on Campus at QC
Class Schedule: QC classes occur all periods through the school day.

Recruitment, Enrollment & Advisement Timelines

Spring for Fall Enrollment:

January	Student Orientation with college campuses
February - March	Meet with Guidance Counselor to discuss your options
March	Student Early College Informational Meetings
March	Visits to college campuses, permitting
April	Family Early College Informational Meeting
April	Initial Early College Preference Form due (for upcoming Summer & Fall)
May - June	Early College Enrollment Forms for Summer & Fall courses (all colleges)

Fall for Spring Enrollment

September	Student Orientation with college campuses *Signed Commitment Form for Early College (student and caregiver)
September	Family Early College Informational Webinar
October	Pathways Fair: Early College Informational
October	Visits to college campuses, permitting
October	Initial Preference Forms due (For upcoming Spring)
October- November	Meet with Guidance Counselor to discuss your options
December	Early College Enrollment Forms due for Spring courses (all colleges)

How can I request more information?

BPS Early College Enrollment Process & Timeline
Discover how you can be a part of our BPS Early College Program and learn about our inclusive enrollment process. To learn more about BPS Early College Enrollment Process and Timeline, please email: [email protected] to receive our handbook for these details.

Program Expectations and Policies
Our Early College Program is designed to cultivate responsible and successful students. Find out more about our program expectations and policies. To learn more about BPS Early College Program Expectations and Policies, please email: [email protected].

Brockton Public Schools Early College Program: Setting the Stage for Success
The Brockton Public Schools (BPS) Early College Program is designed to offer students a head-start on their college education while fostering responsibility, resilience, and success. The program is a significant commitment, and we have expectations and policies in place to guide students and ensure they can make the most of this opportunity.