Oakland Community College and the West Bloomfield School District last week announced the opening of Oakland County's first "early college" high school, Oakland Early College.
OEC is a public school open to all Oakland County students, regardless of district of residency.
Early colleges blend secondary and post-secondary education, adding a year to high school in a college preparatory curriculum.
A key element of OEC is dual enrollment in both high school and OCC. By grade 11, most students are taking a mixed schedule of high school and college courses.
Students graduate with a high school diploma, innovative educational and professional experiences, and up to 60 transferable college credits or an associate degree in the field of their choice -- all provided at no out-of-pocket cost to students and their families.
Students at OEC are encouraged to select specific areas of academic focus, and to work towards associate degrees in areas of study including liberal arts, fine and performing arts and business and entrepreneurship.
OEC opens in September 2008, beginning with students in grades 10 and 11. For more information, please contact OEC Head of School Gary Weisserman at oec@westbloomfield.k12.mi.us, or by phone at (248) 390-7847. Application materials may be downloaded from www.oaklandearlycollege.org.