Massachusetts education officials chose Worcester on Wednesday to announce the largest expansion of Early College partnerships in state history, highlighting a city program that has nearly doubled student participation in just three years.
During a roundtable discussion with students at Worcester Technical High School, Education Secretary Stephen Zrike announced the approval of 29 new Early College partnerships that will add 1,629 seats statewide beginning this fall.
The announcement came as Worcester Public Schools continues to see rapid growth in its own Early College program. According to the district, participation has increased from 714 students in 2023 to 1,362 students in 2026.
Worcester Public Schools was among the first districts in the state to embrace the model through Early College Worcester, a partnership with Quinsigamond Community College and Worcester State University that launched in 2018. The program allows high school students to earn college credits at no cost while still completing their secondary education.
This year, 100 Worcester seniors graduate having earned at least 12 college credits, the equivalent of a full semester of college coursework.
“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.”
Students from all seven Worcester public high schools can participate in the program, which has served thousands of students since its creation.
“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,” Dan St. Louis, director of the Worcester Public Schools Early College Program, said in the announcement.
The Healey administration has pointed to Early College as one of its major higher education initiatives. According to a recent state analysis, 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, while 82% return for a second year.
For Worcester students, the program offers an opportunity to leave high school with college credits already completed, potentially reducing both the time and cost required to earn a degree.
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