Advising & Counseling

Students typically apply to ECA in the Fall of their 8th grade year and open enroll from nine District 6 middle & K-8 schools, as well as home, charter and out-of district schools.  Any student entering 9th or 10th grade may apply.  All applications are reviewed by the school leadership team and students are selected via a lottery system coordinated at the district level. 

• Free & Reduced Lunch Eligible: 58.7%
• Minority Students: 71.4%
• Multilingual Learners: 7.5%
• Students on IEPs: 4.0%
• Gifted Students: 25.8%

Students at ECA complete their high school  graduation requirements through a combination of high school level courses and dual enrollment college courses taught on-site at ECA by Aims Community College faculty.  During 9th & 10th grades, students typically take five high school level courses and three dual enrollment college courses each semester.   During 11th & 12th grades, students typically take four or five dual enrollment college courses each  semester.   More than 25 college courses are offered at Early College Academy each year.   

Total: 22 credits

*0.5 credits American Government and 1.0 credits U.S. History

**0.5 credits Health

Students enrolled at Early College Academy have the opportunity to earn their Associate of Arts (A.A.) -   Liberal Arts degree.  Specific degree requirements are available in the Aims Community College catalog (catalog.aims.edu).   

Extracurricular activities at ECA are student-initiated and student-led clubs.  Club offerings include, but are not limited to: 

• Art Club
• Chess Club
• Creative Writing Club
• Dance Club
• Earth Club
• Electronics & Programming Club
• Music club
• National Honor Society 
• Performance Club
• Student Council
• Yearbook

In addition, students interested in competing in high school sports or participating in band or orchestra may participate through their neighborhood high school.   

Students enrolled at ECA are simultaneously  establishing both a high school and college academic transcript.  College courses on the high school  transcript are indicated with “AIMS” at the beginning of the course name.  It is recommended that a  student’s college transcript be submitted and  considered along with the high school transcript.   

All courses in grades 9-12 are used in computing GPA.  Early College Academy awards additional weights for college-level courses.  Both the weighted and unweighted GPA and class rank appear on the transcript.  

Need-Based Financial Aid

In order to apply for need-based financial aid (grants, loans, work-study, etc.), students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) each year. The FAFSA opens on October 1 and students are encouraged to complete the FAFSA as soon as possible. 

FAFSA: FSA ID

• Before you fill out the FAFSA, you and your parent must create an FSA ID!
• The FSA ID gives you access to the Federal Student Aid's online system and will serve as your legal signature during the application process. 
• Create an ID with your own personal information and for your own exclusive use. 

Completing the FAFSA

• The FAFSA determines a student's eligibility for need-based federal financial aid for college, which may include grants, scholarships, work-study and loans. 
• Completely free to apply!
• Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) with your parent/guardian. 
• The FAFSA application opens October 1st!
• Go to FAFSA.ED.GOV to apply.
• Will need previous year's federal income tax info (parent and student, if filed).
• Must apply every year. 

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