What Is an Early College?

...And Why Jackson Prep is One of Michigan's Best

If you've heard the words "early college" and found yourself wondering what that actually means for your child, you're not alone. Most families discover early college programs while searching for something different, a school that offers more than a diploma. Just imagine your child crossing the graduation stage with a high school diploma and a college degree in hand, no student debt, and starting two years ahead of their peers. That's not a dream. That's what an early college program makes possible. At Jackson Preparatory & Early College (JPEC), it's happening every single year.

Keep reading to find out what’s possible from enrolling your child at an early college...

What Is an Early College Program?

An early college program is a high school model that gives students the opportunity to earn college credits, sometimes even a full associate's degree, while they're still in high school. Instead of treating high school and college as two separate chapters, early college blends them together into one seamless experience. 

Students in early college programs typically take college-level courses alongside their regular high school coursework, often through a partnership with a local community college or university. Through an early college program, students cross the graduation stage with both a high school diploma and an associate's degree or trade school certificate in hand, completely tuition-free.

The benefits are significant. Students save years and tens of thousands of dollars in college tuition, and they are able to enter the workforce or transfer to a four-year university as a junior, right out of high school, already ahead of their peers. 

What Makes Early College Different From Dual Enrollment?

This is a common question, and it's a good one. Dual enrollment allows high school students to take individual college courses for credit, usually a class or two at a time. It's a great option, but it's supplemental; layering onto a traditional high school experience. 

Early College is bigger (way bigger in fact). This school model is built from the ground up, with the idea that high school and college happen simultaneously. Early college schools typically have a formal partnership with a college, a structured pathway to an associate's degree, and academic support systems designed specifically for students navigating both worlds at once.

What Is JPEC?  

Jackson Preparatory and Early College (JPEC) is a public charter school for grades 6-13 located on the campus of Jackson College in Jackson, Michigan. Jackson Prep was born in 2014 from something simple and powerful: 100 local families who believed their kids deserved more. More time. More opportunities. A tuition-free path to a college degree, starting in middle school.

Today, JPEC is Michigan's only whole-school Early College program that includes a full middle school. That means the early college journey at JPEC doesn't start in 9th grade, it starts in 6th, giving students more time, more support, and more opportunity to grow into confident college-ready learners.

At Jackson Prep, students can earn up to 60 or more college credits, completely tuition-free, and graduate with both a high school diploma and an associate's degree. JPEC students have the same four years as their peers, but have completely different outcomes.

How JPEC's Early College Model Works

What sets JPEC apart from other schools? It starts in middle school. JPEC's 6th-8th grade preparatory program is located on Jackson College campus easing students into feeling safe and confident on campus. By the time a JPEC student enters 9th grade, they're not nervous about college, and already feel at home.

• Learning moves at your pace: JPEC uses a competency-based learning model which means students advance when they've truly mastered the material. For students who need a little more time to solidify a concept before moving on, it means no one gets left behind.

• There's a 13th year, and it’s tuition-free: Students who want to use that extra time to complete their associate's degree, explore a second area of study, or pursue additional certifications can do exactly that, with no college tuition or loan repayment.

• Built-in Career Certifications: Through JPEC's partnership with the Jackson Area Career Center, students can pursue industry certifications like automotive technology, culinary arts, healthcare, construction trades, engineering, and more.

• The facilities are world-class: JPEC is located on Jackson College's campus, giving students access to college-level facilities that most high schools can only dream about. College classrooms, a theatre, a pottery studio, robotics and manufacturing spaces, and a tutoring and writing center are all part of a typical JPEC school day. And PE at Jackson Prep? JPEC students know exactly what a college gym and field house look like since they take their PE classes there!

Is JPEC Right for Your Family?

Early college isn't just for students who have always been at the top of their class. It's for curious middle schoolers who need a bigger challenge. It's for athletes who want to pursue their sport without sacrificing their academic future. It's for students who already know what they want to do with their lives and are ready to start building toward it.

Families who find JPEC often say the same thing: they wish they'd discovered it sooner. If you have a 6th-12th grader in the Jackson area who's ready for more opportunities, more support, or more challenges, then take the next step and apply today. At JPEC, every student can succeed here. Your child's future can start right now.  

Want to keep learning but not sure where to begin? Our glossary is a great spot to start – feel free to bookmark it and use as your guide to early college vocabulary.

About Jackson Preparatory & Early College (JPEC)

As a public school academy for middle and high school students Jackson Preparatory & Early College (JPEC), Michigan’s only whole school Early College program with a middle school, offers 6th – 13th graders the opportunity to foster independence safely. Founded more than a decade ago and housed at Jackson College, JPEC offers access to world-class facilities which enables us to provide an excellent tuition-free education that includes credit-earning college courses and career-defining certifications. We value competency-based learning -- what you know how to do, not just what you know. Achieve an associate’s degree and a high school diploma simultaneously. Every student can succeed here. Enroll now. Find us at jacksonpec.org. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram.