P-TECH stands for Pathways in Technology Early College High School. Dallas ISD has 18 designated P-TECH campuses. As part of the program, students can choose a career pathway and take courses that provide the academic, technical, and workplace skills that are attractive to employers. Students have the potential to earn up to 60 credit hours or an associate degree in four to six years, along with industry certificates for their selected career pathway — opportunities that can potentially lead to paid internships and job placement after graduation all while pursuing their high school diploma. Best of all, this opportunity comes tuition-free.
You can find more information on PTECH Programs across the country at their website https://www.ptech.org/
A school is considered a Collegiate Academy until it receives its designation from the Texas Education Agency as an Early College High School, but they both function the same and provide the same services to the students.
An Early College High School/Collegiate Academy is a high school that offers students the opportunity to earn dual credit – credit for both high school courses and college courses. College tuition fees are waived. This gives students the opportunity to earn an associate degree or up to 60 hours of college credit.
Students will attend ninth and tenth grade in the Early College High School/Collegiate Academy wing of their campus where they will complete their basic courses and receive in-depth instruction to prepare them for college success. Starting their junior year, students will receive free transportation to attend classes on the campus of their community college partner where they will continue their studies until graduation.
A school is considered a P-TECH (Pathways in Technology Early College High School) if it is designated from the Texas Education Agency, and they have industry partners that align with the campus pathways. This is the broad/generic term when referring to P-TECH campuses.
A school is considered a B-TECH if it has the same qualifications as a P-TECH, but the pathways are business related. This is a more specific term for the pathways at the specific campus, it is still a P-TECH official campus.
A school is considered an E-TECH if it has the same qualifications as a P-TECH, but the pathways are engineering related. This is a more specific term for the pathways at the specific campus, it is still a P-TECH official campus.
A school is considered an H-TECH if it has the same qualifications as a P-TECH, but the pathways are health related. This is a more specific term for the pathways at the specific campus, it is still a P-TECH official campus.