What is Early College?
Early College packages college course opportunities for high school students into pathways that begin in the 9th grade, allowing cohorts of students the opportunity to earn associate degrees and/or certificates by the time they walk across the stage at their high school graduation. Students who do not complete associate degrees or certificates will have the opportunity to earn credits towards degrees or certificates and will be on pathway to complete them after high school.
Retired State Senator and Bakersfield City School District Superintendent Dr. Jean Fuller has partnered with BC to lead this initiative. A longtime advocate of education, Fuller, who grew up in rural Kern County and has been at the forefront of state issues, knows firsthand how the Early College program can serve as a game changer for Kern County. For more on Jean Fuller's engagement with Early College, visit Jean Fuller's Press Releases.
BC's Early College Vision:
- Every educational pathway is clear and defined from K-12 to community college and into four-year institutions
- Every high school student has an opportunity to earn at least 9 college credits by the end of graduation
- Every high school student understands what it takes to earn a certificate, associate degree, or complete their chosen college pathway
Find your high school below for courses and pathways available at your school site.
As Bakersfield College connects the Dual and Concurrent Enrollment courses occurring on high school campuses to college pathways, levels of implementation have been created to help students and school sites understand their current level of access to Early College opportunities. Courses and pathways will be updated as high school and college teams work together to plan future opportunities.
Pre-level
Pre-exploration
The high school students currently do not have access to dual or concurrent enrollment courses on the high school campus, but opportunities are available at nearby high school and college campus locations. Search nearby schools in levels 1-3 to see what they're offering.
Level 1
Exploration
The high school students can complete college courses on-site through a combination of dual enrollment and concurrent enrollment offered on the high school campus.
Schools in level 1:
- Bakersfield High School
- Centennial High School
- Cesar Chavez High School
- Delano High School
- Delano Science and Tech Center
- East High School
- Foothill High School
- Frontier High School
- Golden Valley High School
- Highland High School
- Homeschool Students
- Independence High School
- Kern Learn
- Kern Valley High School
- Liberty High School
- Mira Monte High School
- North High School
- Nueva Continuation High School
- Regional Occupation Center
- Ridgeview High School
- RFK High School
- Shafter High School
- South High School
- Stockdale High School
- Valley High School
- Vista Continuation High School
- Vista West
- West High School
- Valley Oaks Charter School
Level 2
Installation
The high school students can complete a college degree or certificate on-site through a combination of dual enrollment and concurrent enrollment courses offered on the high school campus.
Schools in level 2:
Level 3
Implementation
All incoming ninth grade students are on a pathway to earn between 9 and 60 units towards completing a college degree and/or certificate through a combination of dual enrollment and concurrent enrollment courses offered on the high school campus.
Schools in level 3:
Accessibility Center
President’s Blog