Vision: The Early College program at FCHS will prepare students through rigorous curriculum for meaningful careers by utilizing their potential to become valuable assets to society.

Mission: Franklin County Early College High School will provide opportunities and supports for students to earn college credentials through focused pathways. 

What is Early College?

The Early College program at FCHS aims to increase the number of students that attend and succeed in college by removing academic, financial, and psychological barriers that may prevent them from attending college or post-secondary education otherwise. Students in the Early College program take a mixture of high school and dual credit courses in order to earn the Indiana College Core (ICC) Certificate. The Indiana College Core is a block of 30 college credit hours that ALL public colleges and universities in Indiana must accept! What does all this mean? In a nutshell, your student can complete their first year of college during their time at FCHS- at little to no cost!!! Students can also go a step further and earn an Associate Degree in General Studies upon graduation from FCHS. There are a few courses that students need to take on their own through Ivy Tech in order to earn the Associate Degree. 

Students in the Early College program will receive extra student supports to ensure their success in the program, including but not limited to:


Who Should Apply? 

ALL 8th graders are invited to apply to Franklin County Early College!


Early College Students...

How Do I Apply? 

To apply for the Early College program, 8th graders must complete the Early College Application and Contract. Students will receive a copy of the application during scheduling meetings for the upcoming school year. You can also find the application on the FCHS Website under “Student Services.” When these forms are complete, you can return them to your Middle School counselor.   You will be notified about acceptance in March or April.

(21st Century Scholars, students on Free/Reduced lunch, and first-generation college students will be given priority when considering program acceptance.)

Cost and Affordability 

Ivy Tech classes taken at FCHS as dual credit courses have NO COST!

IU English courses have a course materials fee of $75 per course (fee waived for students on Free/Reduced lunch)

Chinese courses through Butler have a cost of $65/credit hour

Cost Savings Analysis

Total Cost to earn STGEC (equivalent to 1 year of college) : $150

Average Cost for 1 Year of College in Indiana: $8,176

Indiana University: $235/credit hour, $7,050 total for 30 credit hours    Early College saves $6,900 

Purdue University: $347/credit hour, $10,410 total for 30 credit hours    Early College saves $10,260

Ball State University: $308/credit hour, $9270 total for 30 credit hours     Early College saves $9,090

Dual Credit / AP Course Offerings

AP Courses Only (5):

* Students MUST take and pass the AP Exam to earn college credit for these courses


Dual Credit (32):

Core Principles of Early College

Resources and Contacts

Helpful Web Sites: 


Early College School Leadership Team Contact Information: