Last spring, after years of planning and relentless pursuit on behalf of Sam Hart and former Principal Sara Dingledy, the Department of Early and Secondary Education (DESE) officially designated the Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School (MVRHS) an early college school. This designation now provides students with the opportunity to blend high school and college coursework, earning up to 12 free college credits before they graduate from high school in June 2028.
This fall, 16 students are enrolled in the first cohort to be registered as both MVRHS and Middlesex Community College students.
Last spring, at the end of their sophomore year, students were invited to apply to the program. In May, 16 sophomores and eight seniors traveled to Middlesex College for a two-day seminar, which they earned one college credit for attending, and got to experience being a student on campuses in both Bedford and Lowell.
Guidance counselor Sheila McHugh Hazell helped to organize the trip and worked with students to apply. “I think that this designation breaks down incredible barriers both financially and academically,” she said. “I am so proud of this group of students for trying something new, and I think it will greatly benefit them for the rest of their lives. It is a huge step to take, but well worth it.”
MVRHS has previously offered dual-enrollment courses through Cape Cod Community College and Bristol Community College courses. The difference now is that students are simultaneously enrolled in a comprehensive early college track, with a clear pathway forward to earning a credit in multiple classes — up to a full year’s worth of college credits. Students are now also afforded access to all the resources available to a Middlesex College student: academic support, course planning, and free access to all of the college’s online courses for the next two years.
Mr. Hart, who is the current director of operations and former coordinator of special projects/career pathways, explained by contrast how college credit received from Advanced Placement (AP) courses depends on the score you get and on the college you attend — they may accept the credit fully, they may accept it as an elective, or they could potentially not accept the credit at all.
“Massachusetts transfer credits are beefier,” he said, noting that all Massachusetts public colleges and universities accept credits earned through Early College.
Mr. Hart and Ms. Dingledy worked with the guidance department for years to pursue this agreement — applying for grant money and working with teachers to align their curriculum with DESE’s qualifications in order to become adjunct professors.
English teacher Maria Thibodeau has aligned her curriculum for the past several years to allow students to earn credit in English. This year, history teacher Corinne Kurtz and math teacher Ed Hickey became qualified to offer “Modern Global History” and “Statistics,” respectively.
Junior Reed Cabot, who is enrolled in “Modern Global History,” likes that she will be prepared for the college workload. “There’s also extra support now in high school, so that I feel ready when I’m in college,” she said.
Gaining experience with more rigorous expectations while still having the support of high school teachers can help students learn important skills such as time management, organization, and self-advocacy.
Guidance director John Fiorito chaperoned the trip last spring with Ms. McHugh. “It was amazing to watch these students experience academic life on a college campus while still in high school,” he said. “In all the years of exploring post-secondary education opportunities with students, we’ve never been able to partner with a school like this, where students can authentically experience being in college and consider themselves college students. They have college IDs, access to Middlesex resources — it’s an incredible opportunity.”
