Massachusetts education officials used a visit to Worcester Technical High School last week to announce what they described as the largest expansion of Early College partnerships in state history, adding more than 1,600 seats for students across the Commonwealth.
Education Secretary Stephen Zrike announced June 3 that the state has approved 29 new Early College partnerships that creates 1,629 additional seats beginning this fall. The expansion follows a vote by the Early College Joint Committee of the Boards of Higher Education and Elementary and Secondary Education.
The announcement was made during a roundtable discussion with students at Worcester Technical High School, where state officials highlighted the growth of Worcester’s own Early College program.
Worcester Public Schools has nearly doubled participation in Early College over the past three years, increasing from 714 students in 2023 to 1,362 students in 2026, according to the district.
The Worcester program is a partnership among Worcester Public Schools, Quinsigamond Community College and Worcester State University. Since its launch in 2018, it has allowed high school students to earn college credits at no cost while completing their high school education.
This year, according to the district, 100 Worcester seniors will graduate with at least 12 college credits, giving them the equivalent of a completed college semester before they arrive on campus.
“The Worcester Public Schools is proud to be a district with one of the largest Early College participation rates in the state, increasing from 714 students in 2023 to 1,362 students in 2026,” Superintendent Brian Allen said in the district’s announcement. “Early College Worcester reflects everything we believe about what education should do for our students — open doors, build confidence, and create real pathways to opportunity.”
District officials said students from all seven Worcester public high schools participate in the program.
“Early College Worcester has long served as a model for what is possible when school districts, community colleges, and universities work together in service of students. We are proud of what this community has built — and excited for what comes next,” Early College Worcester Director Dan St. Louis said in the announcement.
The expansion comes as state officials continue investing in programs designed to increase college access and reduce the cost of higher education.
According to state data, 66% of Early College graduates enroll in higher education immediately after high school, with most attending public colleges and universities in Massachusetts. The state also reported that 87% of former Early College students remain enrolled through a second college term and 82% return for a second year.
Early College programs allow students to complete college-level coursework while in high school, often earning credits that can shorten the time needed to complete a degree after graduation.
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