Lafayette Parish School System Magnet Academies

Early College Academy 

A PROGRESSIVE PARTNERSHIP

The Lafayette Parish School System and South Louisiana Community College have teamed up to create the LPSS-SLCC Early College Academy.

This academy is based on the early college high school model, which assumes that academic rigor, combined with the opportunity to save time and money, is a powerful motivator for students to work hard and meet serious intellectual challenges.
Early college high schools blend high school and college work in a rigorous yet supportive program, compressing the time it usually takes to complete a high school diploma and a college degree.

A FANTASTIC OPPORTUNITY

Students attend high school on the campus of the South Louisiana Community College. Academy students will complete the regular TOPS curriculum, following the state’s regular high school curriculum. The courses taken to complete the curriculum requirements are a combination of high school classes and dual enrollment college classes.  

At the end of their four years of high school, these students will have achieved a high school diploma as well as an associate’s degree in general studies/liberal arts.

ECA was recognized from 2014-2018 by Newsweek magazine as one of America’s Top High Schools and in 2015-2018 by U.S. News & World Report as one of America’s Best High Schools.

Students are accepted at ECA in the 9th and 10th grades only and must be citizens or legal residents of the U.S. in order to be eligible. 9th grade students must have earned scores of at least Mastery on the 7th grade LEAP test in one area, ELA or math, and at least Basic in the other area or at least the 70th percentile on an equivalent nationally normed test in ELA and math. Students applying for 10th grade must meet the same test score requirements during the 8th grade and earn a score Mastery or Advanced on the Algebra I and English I LEAP exam. Because of the rigorous academic program at ECA, students must also have earned no final grades lower than a B in core subjects in the 8th and/or 9th grades. All students who meet these criteria are welcome and encouraged to apply. Applicants will be required to schedule an interview with the ECA administration before they are accepted for admission.

Many high school clubs are available for student involvement, as are student dances and prom.  
Transportation will be provided by the Lafayette Parish School System to and from designated bus stops throughout Lafayette parish.

Students and their families are not responsible for the costs of tuition for any college classes that students take for the first time, but they are responsible for the cost of college textbook rentals.
ECA students are encouraged to use technology in all classes. Students may use their personal laptops or tablets or may borrow a school-provided laptop, when available.

Application Requirements
To enroll at ECA the student must be a Citizen or legal resident of the U.S and Lafayette Parish.

9th grade

• Complete an application online at lafayettechoice.com/apply (or click the Apply Now button on the left)
  
• Score of at least Mastery on the 7th grade PARCC test in either ELA or Math and a score of at least Basic in the other area OR at the 70th percentile on a nationally normed standardized test.
  
• Students should have completed their 8th grade year with grades of "B” or better in their core classes (English, Math, Science, Social Studies)
  
• Before acceptance, students will be required to attend an information session at the ECA campus.

10th grade

• Complete an application online.
  
• ECA students must be on a TOPS University curriculum pathway. Score of  at least Mastery on the 8th grade PARCC test in either ELA or Math and a score of at least basic in the other area OR at the 70th percentile on a nationally normed standardized test.
  
• Students must complete their 9th grade year with a grade of "B" or better in their core classes (English, Math, Science, Social Studies) and score a Good or Excellent on the algebra I End of Course exam.
  
• Before acceptance, students will be required to attend an information session at the ECA campus.