Early College High School Pathway (ECHS)

Courses

Upon acceptance into this program, students will be enrolled in the following ECHS courses at their respective high schools. Upon successful completion of each course, students will earn Quincy College credit at no charge to the student. In addition to the ECHS coursework, all ECHS students will participate in academic and non-academic support opportunities focused on post-secondary success. Most ECHS courses will be the length of one college semester to mirror a true college schedule.

ECHS students will be supported by an ECHS School Counselor, ECHS College Transition Coach and an Academic Coach during their time in the program. ECHS Pathway students may earn up to 25 college credits and may have the opportunity to earn additional college credits during the summer months (optional). Students enrolled in these courses will receive honors level credit.

Introduction to Early College High School (ECHS) Pathway – Gr. 9 – 2.5 credits                      (8492)

This introductory course welcomes Grade 9 students to the Early College High School Pathway. A college preparation course covering topics, but not limited to: Study Skills, Time Management, Organizational Skills, and Critical Thinking. Students will take this course in preparation for the rigorous coursework that comes with the ECHS Pathway. This is a semester-long course and will not count toward college credit. Prerequisite: recommendation from middle school counselor.

Introduction to Computers and Microsoft Office – College – Gr. 9 – 5 credits                         (5462)

This course provides an introduction to MS Office.  This course is designed to develop basic operational proficiency, while using Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Access, and PowerPoint). Students learn how to use word processing, spreadsheet, database, and presentation software. Topics include creating business letters, business memos, elementary spreadsheets, elementary database structures, and slide presentations. This course will be taken in Semester 2, 3 college credits. Prerequisite: Introduction to Early College High School Pathway

Introduction to Criminal Justice – College Gr. 10 – 5 Credit (3442)

This Early College High School Pathway course will examine the criminal justice system in America. Beginning with a study of the classifications of criminal behavior, students will trace the process of justice through the court system and end with an examination of our forms of punishment and retribution. This course is restricted to students participating in the Early College High School program. Students will receive three college credits in social science and five points toward high school graduation requirements by completing this course.

Music Across Cultures – College Gr. 10 – 5 Credit (6362)

This Early College High School Pathway course explores music across national boundaries in its cultural context.  At the same time, it enhances the students’ listening, critical, and analytical skills along with their aesthetic ability.  It is an excursion in non-western music with an emphasis on the cultures in which it flourished such as the selected music of China, Japan, India, Middle East, Latin America, Ethnic North America, Africa, and Eastern Europe. This course is restricted to students participating in the Early College High School program. Students will receive three college credits in the arts and five points toward high school graduation requirements by completing this course.

Introduction to Environmental Studies – College Gr. 11 – 5 Credit (2422)

This Early College High School Pathway course utilizes numerous case studies of current environmental health and safety issues. Topics include: Human/ecological exposure to pesticides and hazardous substances, acid rain, ozone depletion, global warming, renewable/non-renewable energy, and biodiversity. Students will gain environmental literacy by learning about the science behind these issues. Students will conduct hands-on experiments covering a broad range of topics including chemistry, biology, ecology, toxicology and earth science. This course is restricted to students participating in the Early College High School program. Students will receive four college credits in natural science and five points toward high school requirements for science by completing this course.

United States History II – College Gr. 11 – 5 Credit (3422)

This Early College High School Pathway course traces developments since the end of the Civil War to the present.  Selective emphasis will be placed on topics such as the Civil War and its aftermath, the Progressive Era, the Great Depression, World War II and its aftermath, civil rights and equal rights movements, the cultural crises of the 1960’s and 1970’s, and the ongoing political and social issues of our time.  This course is restricted to students participating in the Early College High School program. Students will receive three college credits in history and five credits toward high school requirements for social studies by completing this course.

English Composition I – College Gr. 12 – 5.0 Credit (0422)

The focus of this Early College High School Pathway course is learning how to structure and write various types of essays required at the college level. Thesis, evidence, organizational principles, and rhetorical strategies are some of the emphasized concepts. A critical essay based upon an assigned outside reading is required. The course also covers writing based on research and information literacy. Peer-group editing, conferencing and cooperative learning groups are examples of the activities in this course. This course is restricted to students participating in the Early College High School program.  Students will receive three college credits and five credits toward high school requirements for English by completing this course.

English Composition II – College Gr. 12 – 5.0 Credit (0425)

Modern, high-interest literature of various genres and modes will be presented in project-based theme units that incorporate writing, critical thinking skills, vocabulary, inquiry, grammar, and character study. An emphasis will be placed on developing and fostering an analytical approach to literature, focusing on comprehension, and improving critical thinking skills. In addition, students will analyze literature, developing and improving their abilities to examine and evaluate a text in relation to other texts, their own lives, and the world through both expository writing and multimedia presentations. Students will work with short stories, poetry, non-fiction, and film. This course is restricted to students participating in the Early College High School program. Students will receive three college credits and five credits toward high school requirements for English by completing this course.

Statistics – College Gr. 12 – 5.0 Credit (1422)

This Early College High School Pathway course introduces the student to the fundamental methods of mathematical statistics. Topics include frequency distributions, measures of central tendency, measures of dispersion probability, sampling distributions, problems with the normal and t-distributions, confidence intervals, and hypothesis testing. Students will be required to complete homework assignments using a web-based computer program. Students will participate in a series of full-day visitations to the Quincy College Campus. This course is restricted to students participating in the Early College High School program. Students will receive three college credits and five points toward high school requirements for Mathematics by completing this course. Prerequisite: Successful completion of Algebra 2.

Our Team

The ECHS College Transition Coaches and Guidance Counselors look forward to assisting you throughout this process and to being a part of this exciting new chapter.

For more information regarding the ECHS Pathway at NQHS, please contact Dan Gould.

• Dan Gould – ECHS College Transition Coach (NQHS)
  • danielgould@quincypublicschools.com
  • (617) 984-8875
• Keriann Hart – ECHS School Counselor (NQHS)
  • keriannhart@quincypublicschools.com
  • (617) 984-8988

For more information regarding the ECHS Pathway at QHS, please contact Eli Stewart.

• Eli Stewart – ECHS College Transition Coach (QHS)
  • elyjahstewart@quincypublicschools.com
  • (617) 376-3388
•  Tim Liuzzo – ECHS School Counselor (QHS)
  • timothyliuzzo@quincypublicschools.com
  • (617) 376-3399

Apply

All full-time grade 10 or 11 students at Quincy High School and North Quincy High School in good standing can choose to enroll in Quincy’s ECHS Pathway.

Students are encouraged to complete the application form with assistance from a school counselor or an ECHS staff member.

Applications will be reviewed and students accepted into the program will receive an acceptance letter and a commitment form, which will need to be signed by the student and a parent/guardian and returned to an ECHS staff member.

Application for Grades 10-12

Application for Grade 9

ECHS News

Click below to read through semester Newsletters to see what has been happening in our program.

• ECHS Pathway Summer Academy Newsletter 2024
• ECHS Newsletter June 2024
• ECHS Newsletter February 2024
• ECHS Newsletter October 2023
• ECHS Newsletter August 2023
• ECHS Newsletter June 2023
• ECHS Newsletter February 2023
• ECHS Newsletter Back to School 2022
• ECHS Newsletter Fall 2022
• ECHS Newsletter Summer 2022
• ECHS Newsletter Spring 2022
• ECHS Newsletter Fall 2021

Early College High School Pathway Scholarship

ECHS Pathway students receive a one-year, full tuition scholarship to Quincy College

At a symposium celebrating the successful first year of the Early College High School (ECHS) Pathway program – an innovative partnership between Quincy College and Quincy Public Schools – President Dr. Richard DeCristofaro presented each of the 40 high school seniors currently enrolled in the program with a one-year, full-tuition scholarship to Quincy College.

ECHS, a first-of-its-kind program in this region, is designed for the city’s high school students who may not actively be considering college.  It serves about 150 Quincy High and North Quincy High School students in grades 10 through 12 who are first-generation, from low-income families, English language learners, and/or have disabilities.

Those enrolled in the program earn college credit by taking a sequence of college courses taught by Quincy Public Schools instructors as a way to provide students the opportunity to experience post-secondary education while still in high school.  ECHS Pathway courses are aligned with Quincy College courses, and the College faculty collaborates with the high school instructors to ensure that the courses are delivered as a college course would be.

Quincy Public School students celebrate at the Early College High School (ECHS) Pathway Symposium

“Any opportunity to expose our high school students to the benefits of a college education represents a win for our entire community,” said Dr. DeCristofaro. “Thanks to the generous support of the State Street Foundation, ECHS Pathway has brought Quincy College and Quincy Public Schools together to offer participating students a combination of academic and non-academic support, ongoing guidance, and college readiness techniques that are essential to their future success.  We look forward to welcoming many of this year’s ECHS Pathway seniors as first-year Quincy College students in the fall.”

State Street Foundation

Initial ECHS Pathway funding came in the form of a significant grant from the State Street Foundation, support which includes the cost of all student expenses as well as two new high school guidance counselors and two Quincy College “transition coaches” with responsibility for program implementation and oversight.

“The State Street Foundation is thrilled to provide the opportunity for so many students to see themselves as college-ready and college-bound,” said Joe McGrail, President of the State Street Foundation.  “We understand and value the incredible potential of the Early College High School Pathway and the opportunities that it provides to Quincy Public Schools’ students.”

Quincy High School College Transition Coach Eli Stewart shares a round moment with students.

Granite Telecommunications, HarborOne Bank, and the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education have contributed additional financial support to the program.

“I am extremely proud of Quincy’s Early College High School Pathway program, which provides our high school students with the incredible opportunity to expand their academic horizons by earning up to 22 Quincy College credits before graduating high school,” said Kevin Mulvey, JD, Superintendent of Quincy Public Schools.  “Special thanks to Quincy College, a lead partner of the Quincy School-Community Partnership, for providing this educational opportunity.”

As part of the collaborative celebration symposium, held at the Boston Marriott Quincy, current ECHS Pathway students participated in a series of grade-specific breakout sessions featuring interactive discussions between students and professional staff; later, ECHS Pathway teachers attended their own separate breakout session focused on evaluating key elements of the program’s first year.

Scholarships

• This scholarship will cover the tuition, books, and fees (up to 24 credits maximum) for the 2024-2025 academic year at Quincy College.
• Other costs will be the responsibility of the student.
• All students must apply for Pell, SEOG, and Mass grants through the FAFSA process.
• Students must commit to completing their degree at Quincy College.
• This scholarship excludes selective programs (For example, Phlebotomy, Medical Lab Technology, Surgical Tech, Biotechnology, Physical Therapy Assistant, and Nursing).
• This scholarship applies to Quincy residents only.
• This scholarship applies to U.S. citizens and green cardholders only.

Interested? Contact: