Bard High School Early College

In 2001, Bard High School Early College (BHSEC) was born from a partnership between Bard College and the New York City Department of Education. BHSEC offers ambitious and advanced teenagers an alternative to a traditional high school education. Over the course of four years, tuition-free, BHSEC students earn both a high school diploma and a Bard College associate's degree. The school's curriculum encourages students to engage in critical thinking, inquiry, and analytical writing. Students complete structured and rigorous high school coursework during the ninth and 10th grades, and an interdisciplinary college program in the 11th and 12th grades. In addition to completing this advanced academic curriculum, students participate in a wide variety of student-led social and cultural organizations, athletics, and school publications. Ninety-five percent of students who graduate from BHSEC go on to enroll in a four-year college. Because of these impressive results, BHSEC is widely considered an example of successful public education reform.