Page 39 - New York Statewide Smart Scholars Overview and Profiles

Early College High School at Niagara Falls High School is a program designed for up to 100
students grades 9-12 to earn up to 27 Niagara University credits before high school graduation.
Our students enter ECHS in ninth grade. They begin taking college courses the summer
between tenth and eleventh grade, and continue through their senior year. At the start of the
2014/2015 school year we have 21 incoming seniors, 15 incoming juniors, 17 incoming
sophomores and 25 incoming freshman.

Our 21 seniors are all registered for a hybrid psychology class taught by an adjunct professor
who is also a staff member of the Niagara Falls City School District. We thought this class
would be helpful based on the fact that there are so many online courses offered at the
collegiate level. Our first class of seniors will graduate in June 2015. As of right now, we have
3 students planning on attending NU in the fall, 2 have received academic scholarships.

The ECHS junior class students are enrolled in at least one 3 credit college course taught by
Niagara Falls High School faculty during the regular school year. They will be attending NU this
summer to take 2 classes worth 6 credit hours, while the sophomores will be attending their first
college course worth 3 credit hours. There are 2 Niagara Falls High School teachers that work
with our students, and the Niagara University staff, to assist in tutoring after class to provide
support services.

The 25 freshman going into their sophomore year and the current 8th grade incoming freshman
attend a summer bridge camp held at the NU. This camp is led by 2 Niagara Falls teachers
and the focus is career and college readiness. The students seem to really enjoy the time on
campus and look forward to returning during the school year.

Throughout the school year we plan and organize field trips for all 4 grade levels to the Niagara
University campus. We also attend a basketball game at the University to give our students a
sense of what it is like to be a college student living on campus.

Niagara Falls-Early College
High School Students
participating on campus at
Niagara University in an
Art History/Creative Arts
Course Lecture.