Home  >  Saratoga Springs High School  >  Counseling  >  Academic Program Guide  >  Early College in the High School Programs

Early College in the High School Programs

The Early College High School Program is a partnership between SUNY Adirondack and the Washington-Saratoga-Warren-Hamilton-Essex BOCES.

Students are eligible to earn up to 32 college credits (at no cost to students), acquire national or internationally recognized industry credentials, participate in work-based learning projects and industry challenges, and be mentored by practicing professionals in their field of study.

Two-year programs begin in junior year of high school:

  • Advanced Manufacturing
  • Business and Entrepreneurship
  • Information Technology/Computer Networking and Cybersecurity
  • New Media

ADVANCED MANUFACTURING

This two-year program is based on the Certified Production Technician (CPT) curriculum provided by the Manufacturing Skill Standards Council (MSSC). Skills involve communicating and working in effective teams; identifying and utilizing appropriate safety precautions and protective equipment; conceptualizing, designing, and manufacturing parts; programming various types of advanced manufacturing equipment; performing quality assurance checks and audits; understanding and adhering to quality control charts and procedures; utilizing and maintaining basic mechanisms and electronics; troubleshooting equipment malfunctions and performing preventative and corrective maintenance assessments.

22 Topics covered in the Advanced Manufacturing courses include: Computer Numerical Control (CNC) with G&M programming language, Computer Aided Design (CAD)sensor technologies, plastic forming (e.g., vacuum forming, injection molding, extruding, dip coating), 3D printing, Robotics (pick and place programming, RobotC), Computer Aided Manufacturing (CAM), Pneumatics, mechanisms and electronics, Programmable Logic Controls (PLC). Students will learn how all these topics work together and will achieve the skills and confidence to work in the field of Advanced/Automated Manufacturing.

The Advanced Manufacturing state-of-the-art learning lab will expose students to the following equipment and technology:

  • Computer Aided Manufacturing (CAM)
  • CNC Milling Machine
  • CNC Lathes
  • 3D Printing
  • Rapid Prototyping
  • Laser Engraver
  • Plastic Thermoforming
  • Various Robotic Languages
  • Precision Measurement Tools
  • Voltmeters
  • Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs)
  • Pneumatics
  • Various Types of Sensors
  • Computer Aided Design (CAD)

The program enjoys strong ties with industry partners, resulting in a wide variety of work-based learning activities and projects, in the classroom and with partners, on specialized assignments. Students complete the program with a comprehensive project involving the advanced manufacturing technologies and acquired skills in designing, decision-making, troubleshooting, and teamwork. Upon completion, a student is eligible to earn up to 27 college credits toward an Associate in Applied Science (AAS) degree in Mechatronics, and four industry recognized MSSC certifications.

BUSINESS AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP

This two-year program incorporates the skills and knowledge of business foundations while building the capacity of students to be imaginative and resourceful entrepreneurs. Major course topics include management, marketing, personal finance, accounting, small business finance, introduction to entrepreneurship, and business plan development.

Throughout the duration of the program, students will focus on using creativity, innovation, and collaboration to create a new product or business idea that improves upon an existing problem. By the end of the program, students will produce a business plan outlining their original idea and present this idea to a panel of small business community members.

The program will build strong ties with industry partners, resulting in a wide variety of internships and projects in the classroom and with partners on specialized assignments. Business partners will serve as mentors throughout the product/business creation process to add assistance and insight for student teams.

Upon completion, a student is eligible to earn up to 23 college credits toward an Associate in Applied Science (AAS) in Management, Marketing and Entrepreneurship, an Associate in Science (AS) degree in Business Administration OR a SUNY Adirondack Entrepreneurship and Business Management Certificate.

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY COMPUTER NETWORKING / CYBERSECURITY

This two-year program is based on the IT Essentials and CCNA Routing and Switching curricula provided by the Cisco Networking Academy. Skills involve assembling, disassembling, and repairing computers; troubleshooting hardware and software; designing, installing, and maintaining wired and wireless computer systems; configuring switches and routers; designing network infrastructure; troubleshooting network design and installation and customer service and technical support.

Topics covered in the Networking courses include building, troubleshooting, repairing, and maintaining a personal computer system; diagnosing and resolving problems with computer hardware and software; installing, configuring, maintaining, and troubleshooting Microsoft Windows operating systems; configuring and troubleshooting IOS and Android mobile devices; designing, configuring, and maintaining a local area network and effectively utilizing a customer oriented approach to resolving user problems. Students will learn how to install and configure Cisco switches and routers in local and wide-area networks using various protocols, provide Level 1 troubleshooting service, and improve network performance and security. Additional topics covered in the course emphasize the use of decision-making skill and problems-solving techniques to resolve device and networking issues.

The IT Computer Networking state-of-the-art learning lab will expose students to the following equipment and technology:

  • Desktop and Laptop Computers
  • Servers
  • Security Introduction & Assurance
  • Hand Tools for Assembly/Disassembly, Repairs, and Cable Production
  • Cisco Switches and Routers

The program enjoys strong ties with industry partners, resulting in a wide variety of work-based learning activities and projects, in the classroom and with partners, on specialized assignments. Students complete the program with a comprehensive project involving technology purchase recommendations and network design.  Upon completion, a student is eligible to earn up to 25 college credits toward an Associate in Applied Science (AAS) degree in Information Technology/Computer Networking or Cybersecurity and three industry-recognized CISCO and CompTIA certifications.

NEW MEDIA

This two-year program combines the strengths of the SUNY Adirondack Media Arts program and the WSWHE BOCES Graphic & Visual Communications program. The New Media program exposes students to graphic design, photography, and video editing and production, as well as communications theory and practice. It blends art, technology, and soft skills through a highly integrated, hands-on curriculum. Students will become versed in the industry standard software (Adobe Creative Suite), have opportunities to work with/design for local non-profit agencies, and learn project management skills.

Students in the New Media program will have access to the following state-of-the-art equipment and technology:

  • Laptop Computers
  • Digital Cameras
  • Photography Studio
  • Digital Video Cameras
  • Large Format Printers
  • Mac Lab with Workstations
  • Adobe Design Suite Software

The program enjoys strong ties with industry partners, resulting in a wide variety of work-based learning activities and projects, in the classroom and with partners, on specialized assignments. Students complete the program with a comprehensive portfolio of their work.

Upon completion, a student is eligible to earn 32 college credits toward an Applied Associate in Science (AAS) degree in Media Arts, a SUNY Adirondack Media Arts Certificate, and become an Adobe Certified Professional.

Hudson Valley Community College Clean Technologies and Sustainable Industries Early College High School Program

The mission of the Clean Technologies & Sustainable Industries Early College High School is to develop and support pathways to higher education that lead to careers in STEM fields for students through rigorous academic programming and a collaborative approach to learning. A network of K-12 higher education business and industry partners has been developed to provide students with the highest level of education and support for entering and succeeding in the clean energy fields.

The Clean Technologies & Sustainable Industries Early College High School is an innovative program that provides high school students with transdisciplinary learning and 21st Century skill sets necessary to make informed decisions as they relate to college and career readiness. Students have the advantage of being in a fully connected and collaborative learning environment. Students work at their own pace and leverage 1:1 technology to access individualized academic support, master program expectations, and develop college and career readiness. With support from regional economic leaders, including the Center for Economic Growth (CEG), Saratoga Economic Development Corporation (SEDC) and local Chambers of Commerce, the program connects with hundreds of businesses throughout the region that serve as assets for students and represents a robust fusion of education, business and industry collaborating to train students to become innovators and leaders for the jobs of tomorrow.

This program blends high school and college in a rigorous yet supportive program, compressing the time it takes to complete a high school diploma and the first two years of college. Students in the Clean Technologies & Sustainable Industries Early College High School Program take both high school and college level coursework on a college campus at Hudson Valley Community College’s TEC-SMART campus located in Malta, NY. 

Students will choose one of the following career pathways:

  • Clean Energy
  • Community and Public Health
  • Cybersecurity and Hacking
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Engineering Sciences
  • Polysomnography
  • Surgical Technology

 Program Overview and Format

The program includes the following for 9th Grade:

  • A 4-day Summer Academy for incoming 9th graders to be held on the TEC-SMART Campus alongside the 10th grade program
  • Focus on community building
  • Design project and exploration
  • Introduction to the first project
  • Time management/organization strategies for entering 9th grade
  • Technology integration and virtual field trips / design challenges throughout the school year
  • Spring semester: Online college coursework, The College Forum – HVCC 1 credit

The program includes the following for 10th Grade:

  • A 4-day Summer Academy for incoming 10th graders to be held on the TEC-SMART Campus focusing on program career pathways and workplace skills
  • Yearlong virtual learning program. Each module will focus on a pathway
  • Yearlong mentoring
  • Students are enrolled in high school coursework at their home school
  • College coursework in the fall and spring semesters: Fall: College Forum (1 HVCC credit); Spring: Sociology (3 HVCC credits)

The program includes the following for 11th and 12th grade:

  • Students attend school at TEC-SMART for high school and college classes in the morning and return to home school in the afternoon
  • Internship opportunities

To learn more about the different pathways available in this program, please visit:  www.bscsd.org/Domain/831