On Friday, March 27, GCISD Collegiate Academy sophomores invited their parents to campus to update them on their progress toward earning their high school diploma AND their associate degree.
Collegiate Academy is an early college high school located on the campus of Tarrant County College Northeast and, while there, students attend high school and college classes simultaneously, providing students an opportunity to graduate with both degrees at no cost.
During the “Snack & Track” event, students led conversations with their families, walking through career assessment results, a researched college choice, and a personalized four-year plan.
Sophomore Valeria Flores, who aspires to become a child abuse pediatrician, confidently shared her roadmap.
“I really like how the campus has focused on having the students reflect on their future, which, in reality, is not far off,” said her mother Salbania Flores. “In reality, they only have a short amount of time when they enter high school to decide what they want to do with their lives and what career paths they want to choose.”
At the center of each conversation was a detailed tracker students began building at a “Camp Collegiate,” a school welcome event held the summer before freshman year. The tool outlines the courses needed each semester to meet high school diploma and associate degree goals while ensuring credits transfer to a student’s university of choice.
“This is our second year hosting the event,” Principal Lauren Jackson said. “Research shows that when students articulate their progress, it increases achievement. We wanted students to go beyond reporting grades and instead share their progress toward graduation.”
The tracker plays a key role in that progress. Pathway course teachers review it quarterly, counselors use it with students for course planning, and Tarrant County College advisors help guide decisions. But the goal, Jackson said, is bigger than any one tool.
“It’s about students understanding their plan, owning it, and having the confidence to execute it. Once parents have a clear understanding of what their students’ postsecondary plan is, they can offer support. That’s the goal of the day: to have families as partners in helping their children’s future success.”
Want your student to have the unique opportunity to earn a high school and associate degree at the same time? Collegiate Academy is currently accepting applications from students within and outside of the school district for the upcoming 2026-2027 school year.