According to a randomized trial conducted by Edmunds, J. A., et al. (2020), ECHS students were far more likely to earn postsecondary credentials within six years of 12th grade.
ECHS is one of the most rigorously tested secondary innovations. Schools that blend high school and college coursework create lasting gains in degree attainment, particularly for first-generation and underrepresented students.
This randomized controlled trial followed students across multiple states who enrolled in Early College High Schools. Researchers tracked high school and postsecondary outcomes for six years after expected graduation. Findings showed that ECHS students were significantly more likely to:
- Graduate high school on time.
- Earn college credits while still in high school.
- Attain an associate’s degree or higher within six years of 12th grade.
Importantly, these benefits were strongest for first-generation, low-income, and students of color, underscoring ECHS as an equity strategy. The study provides one of the clearest long-term causal links between ECHS and higher educational attainment.
