Did you know that Mission High School is home to the only career-centered Early College High School program in Western Hidalgo County? A special ribbon cutting ceremony for the Career Tech Early College Academy is planned for Thursday, February 26, at 10:30 a.m. The ceremony will be held in front of the MHS Fine Arts Building.
Operated as a school within a school, the Mission High School Career Tech Early College Academy officially started this school year. The ribbon cutting ceremony not only celebrates the opening of this rare, public school based offering, but it also celebrates its program expansion. The MHS Career Tech Early College Academy started this school year offering three main areas in conjunction with partner, South Texas College: Welding, Precision Manufacturing, and Diesel Technology. As students register for the next school year, incoming freshmen will have the added options of Business Management and HVAC.
Like other early college high school programs, the MHS Career Tech Early College Academy centers around smaller learning communities of about 100 students per grade level. This next school year that will expand to include a freshmen and a sophomore class.
Another one of the main benefits of an official early college high school program like this is students can begin taking college courses earlier in their high school careers, instead of waiting until their junior or senior years. In the case of the MHS Career Tech Early College Academy, this can lead to students earning their Associates Degrees in their chosen career field, plus professional certifications needed to immediately enter the workforce upon graduation if they wished.
“We have taken great pride in the fact that we have been an area leader in School to Career offerings,” said Ricardo López, superintendent. “Working closely with South Texas College and our local communities has helped us continue to develop programs that not only help prepare students for college, but also for future jobs in well-paying fields.”
The MHS Career Tech Early College Academy is one of only five career-centered early college programs in the state approved by the Texas Education Agency. “One of the benefits of incorporating the Career Tech Early College Academy into Mission High School was it makes the most of district resources, while also making it easier for students to also participate in extra-curricular activities within MHS,” said Mary Aleman, MHS Career Tech Early College Academy administrator. “Our students get the best of both educational worlds this way.”
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