In partnership with El Paso Community College, the Ysleta Independent School District offers students in El Paso the opportunity to obtain a high school diploma while simultaneously earning an associate's degree by enrolling in one of our four Early College High Schools.
Valle Verde Early College High School (VVECHS) opened its doors in Fall 2007 as YISD’s first early college high school. This distinctive school was built on the vision that innumerable accomplishments are possible when students are given the environment to succeed. Since its opening, Valle Verde ECHS has earned numerous awards and distinctions from the Texas Education Agency (TEA), as well as recognition as one the best high schools in the nation from Newsweek and US News & World Report. In 2017, Valle Verde ECHS was named a 2017 National Blue Ribbon School.
Parkland Early College High School (PECHS) and Ysleta High School Early College Academy (YHSECA) opened in Fall 2017 with about 100 freshmen at each school. J.M. Hanks High School opened in the Fall of 2020 making it the district's fourth early college. The "school within a school" model at these schools allows students to receive a well-rounded education that focuses on academics and college-readiness while allowing them to explore traditional high school activities, such as athletics, fine arts, and other extra-curricular activities.
Application Process
Applications are now available for download for all current eighth-grade students who are interested in applying to one of YISD's four early college high schools.
To download the application, scroll down to the ECHS Applications section below. Instructions for completing and submitting applications are included. The submission deadline for Early College High School applications is Friday, Jan. 29, 2021.
