Blog author: Julia Estelle Cotton
Content Marketing Associate
Beyond Academics: How Collegiate ECHS Fosters Trust and Student Growth
October 2, 2024
The 2024 College and Career Readiness School Model Leadership Summit shined a spotlight on a remarkable educational model where trust, support, and empowerment are the pillars of student achievement.
During the 2024 CCRSM Leadership Summit, Dr. Tracie Rodriguez, Director for Early College Programs & Workforce Education, led a tour of the Collegiate Early College High School campus. The visit included a roundtable discussion with teachers, counselors, and administrators who shared their strategies for blending high school and college systems to create a seamless educational journey. Students offered firsthand insights into what it was like to attend Collegiate ECHS, highlighting how the school’s supportive environment and emphasis on trust have positively impacted their academic and personal growth.
The school’s commitment to personalized support is evident in its approach to acclimating incoming 8th-grade students to the demands of college-level coursework. Teachers spend the first semester helping students adjust to the new schedule, which includes 80-minute periods and alternating days.
“We spent the first semester just training them, getting them used to 80 minutes,” a teacher explained. This gradual introduction allows students to develop the study habits and time management skills they need to succeed.
Collaboration between the high school and Del Mar College is critical to the program’s success. The partnership ensures that students can access college resources and support systems while still receiving guidance typical of a high school setting.
“It’s not our students or your students,” Rodriguez noted. “They are our students collectively.” This seamless integration allows students to navigate both educational landscapes confidently, benefiting from the strengths of each institution.
Firsthand accounts from students during the CCRSM Leadership Summit visit underscored the profound impact that a supportive, trust-based community can have on student outcomes. One high school student reflected, “The teachers really trust us and give us a lot of responsibility. They push us to grow but also let us drive our own decisions.”
This culture extends beyond the classroom, empowering students to take ownership of their education and develop critical life skills such as self-discipline, time management, and decision-making. Teachers allow students to manage their coursework while remaining available for guidance and support when needed.
Through fostering strong relationships, providing personalized support, and empowering students to take control of their educational paths, Collegiate Early College High School serves as a powerful model for how early college programs can successfully prepare students for future academic and professional endeavors.
Educators left the campus inspired by the effective practices observed at Collegiate ECHS and motivated to implement similar strategies within their own institutions. The visit highlighted that when schools invest in building trust and community, and when they empower students to take an active role in their education, the results are transformative—not only academically but also in shaping confident, capable, and resilient individuals ready to take on the challenges of higher education and beyond.
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