| The Idea | Program | Location | Students | Staff | College Credit | Curriculum | Calendar | El Centro |
| A special choice for Dallas High School Students |
| A program for motivated, mature students who want a college bound program |
| Small classes taught by dedicated, experienced teachers |
| A chance to take college classes for credit with free books and tuition |
| The first high school in Dallas on a college campus |
| A daily schedule that offers studnets more flexibility |
|
What is Middle College? Middle College is a high school where motivated students have the opportunity to take responsibility for their education and get a head start on college in a smaller setting than most traditional high schools. Middle College is a Dallas ISD high school that collaborates with El Centro College as its higher education provider. It is one of the earliest high school – college transition programs in the country to be entirely housed on a college campus and share facilities with the college community. Middle College opened in September 1988 with the goal of providing students with a chance to complete as much as two years of college work through dual and concurrent credit classes before they complete high school. These students are motivated, academically capable young women and men who are willing to work to prepare themselves to start college classes in tenth grade. In 1991 Middle College graduated its first students with college credits. All 2008 Middle College graduates finished high school with an average of 18 college hours. Two students in the class received their Associate’s degrees from El Centro College before they completed high school. Middle College’s school year is organized into four nine-week cycles. Students cover a semester’s material in each cycle and take the same Assessment of Course Performance final exams as students in other Dallas ISD high schools. Middle College students in college classes are expected to meet the same academic performance standards as El Centro College students in the same class. Middle College high school classes meet every day between 12:00 A.M. and 5:00P.M. Students take three or four high school classes each nine-week cycle. Small classes offer opportunities for small-group and individualized instruction. Admissions Students usually enter Middle College at the beginning of their ninth grade year. Space is sometimes available for a few students in tenth or eleventh grade. The application period usually follows the Dallas ISD magnet school application schedule. Middle College applications are available at www.dallasisd.org, at the District’s Magnet Fair, and from the school’s office. There are several steps in the application process:
The Middle College Idea Middle College is a member of the Middle College National Consortium which originated the concept of placing a high school on a college campus and combining high school with the first two years of college as a means to accelerate academic growth and ease the transition between high school and college. The collaboration between the high school and the college creates a seamless continuum that benefits students as they move from one level to the next. The freedom of the college campus provides high school students with the environment to develop a sense of responsibility for their education. The location of the high school on a college campus symbolically signals to students that a college education is both a possibility and a natural next step. The college environment provides an academically enriched setting for high potential students who might be lost in the larger, traditional educational setting. Collaborating between a high school and a college can also result in an effective way of sharing resources. Middle College high schools offer young men and women the opportunity to participate in a learning community which fosters academic achievement and personal growth. Additionally, Middle College encourages students to become global citizens and life long learners. Middle College Program Middle College students take their high school classes on an accelerated schedule that covers a semester’s material every nine weeks. High school classes meet between 12:00 A.M. and 5:00 P.M. every day. This schedule allows students to take tutoring and college classes in the mornings. Students and their families are encouraged to schedule college classes, medical, and dental appointments in the morning to avoid missing afternoon classes. Middle College High School and El Centro College expect that students will:
Location Middle College High School is located on the El Centro College campus at 801 Main Street in downtown Dallas. The main building for the campus is at the intersection of Main and Lamar Streets, and the administrative office is in the A building on the basement level. The campus is two blocks south of the West End Transit Center. Students accepted to the school receive free DART passes for transportation. Middle College Students Middle College students are students in grades 9 through 12 who have the academic potential to successfully begin college classes in tenth grade, but may not realize their full ability in a traditional high school. Past grades are important, but may not be the only indicator of their ability. In some cases Middle College may be an opportunity to make a fresh start. Moving into a new community of students and teachers gives some students a chance to demonstrate that they have re-evaluated their goals and attitudes to reach higher levels of achievement. Because Middle College and El Centro are committed successfully transitioning students into college classes, students who do not show adequate academic progress may not be successful in the program. Middle College students will not exhibit discipline or attendance problems. They will demonstrate that they have the responsibility and maturity to cope with the relative freedom of the Middle College environment. Middle College students will interact with one another and with El Centro staff and students in a cooperative, constructive manner in accordance with the expectations of the Dallas ISD and El Centro College. Students apply for admission to Middle College. Prospective students should complete an application, secure recommendations, obtain copies of school records, take an assessment, and be interviewed. Applications are available in the Middle College offices. Taking College Classes Ninth-grade students take all of their classes with Middle College teachers who are employed by the Dallas ISD. Beginning in the summer after ninth grade or tenth grade, students take an El Centro class for dual credit. Dual credit classes earn college credit and credit toward high school graduation. Each following semester, students may take more college classes, up to three or four a semester, by their senior year. Some of these college classes may be concurrent classes which count only for college credit. Before students can take most El Centro classes, they must make an acceptable score on the Accuplacer test. Accuplacer is an online version of the SAT. Students must schedule the test through the Middle College Counselor. The test is taken in the El Centro Assessment Center. Enrolling in El Centro classes involves both the Middle College and El Centro counseling staffs. Middle College students enrolled in El Centro classes will be assigned a Middle College faculty member as a mentor to monitor their progress and offer academic support. Students are responsible for meeting all expectations of the El Centro classes in which they are enrolled, remaining current on all assignments, and meeting regularly with their mentor. Students are not allowed to withdraw (drop) from an El Centro class without first meeting with the Middle College counselor and their mentor to obtain permission. Students should be aware that grades in all El Centro College classes, including W’s and F’s, become part of their permanent college transcript. Textbooks for El Centro College classes are purchased with the resources of Middle College, Dallas ISD, or El Centro with certain limitations. Students should secure specific information about the required books for their college courses at the first class meeting,*** and bring that information to the Middle College office. Middle College will obtain the textbooks which must be returned to Middle College at the end of the semester. Students who fail to return college books will be required to pay the replacement price for a new book. Students are not allowed to exchange, trade, or resell college books. The Dallas ISD and El Centro College pay for tuition and books for dual credit classes. Students may have to pay tuition for some concurrent credit classes. Curriculum Middle College High School classes follow the Dallas ISD curriculum based on the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills. Students are required to pass all parts of the TAKS for high school graduation. Dual credit classes at El Centro College are approved by Dallas ISD as satisfying curriculum requirements of the Texas Education Agency for high school credit. Middle College classes and dual credit college classes enable students to meet the requirements for the Recommended High School diploma establish by the Texas Education Agency. Dual credit classes enable students to potentially earn over thirty hours (two semesters) of transferable college credit in core curriculum classes. With a combination of dual credit and concurrent credit classes, students may be able to complete two years of college work and earn an associate’s degree. |
El
Centro College
801 Main Street
Dallas TX, 75202
Phone: 214-860-2356
FAX: 214-860-2359
e-mail: vflores@dallasisd.org