The Arlington ISD is set to open a second early college high school in partnership with Tarrant County College Southeast Campus. The district was recently notified that its Early College High School Planning Year application for 2018-2019 has been approved by the Texas Education Agency.

After successfully completing the planning year, the district's second early college high school - this one with a focus on workforce development and a link to the AISD Dan Dipert Career and Technical Center - would open for the 2019-2020 school year. This campus would allow AISD students to earn a high school diploma and an associate of applied science or an associate of arts. The AISD opened its first early college high school, Arlington Collegiate High School at Tarrant County College Southeast Campus, in the fall of 2014. ACHS has its first graduating class this year.

"A second collegiate high school creates yet another exceptional opportunity for our students," Superintendent Dr. Marcelo Cavazos said. "Making sure students are prepared for college or a career is a goal of the Arlington ISD, and this collegiate high school's focus on workforce will streamline and accelerate the process of making those goals a reality."

Just like ACHS, the district's second early college high school will provide students who might not otherwise consider attending college a unique opportunity to become part of a college-going culture and earn an associate degree.

"The growing partnership between TCC and the AISD to create a second collegiate high school is another example of the educational entities in Arlington working together to focus on a pathway to career and college readiness to support the local economy," TCC Southeast President Dr. Bill Coppola said.

Information regarding the student application process for the new early college high school will be available from the Arlington ISD later this fall. The location has not yet been announced.