2025 High School Appreciation Day

March 2025

On February 26, we held the 2025 High School Appreciation Day. This year we had over 70 participants, including superintendents, high school principals, counselors, Early College faculty, advisors, and NPC staff and administration. As a tradition of celebrating and strengthening our Early College partnerships, the event provided a valuable space for engaging discussions, data-informed insights, and meaningful connections. 

We kicked off the event with some encouraging data that highlights the impact of our Early College programs. According to enrollment numbers, NPC served 1,885 unique high school students from our 23 high school partners through the four Early College programs (Dual, TALON, NAVIT, and ECW) during the 2023-2024 academic year. Just five years ago, that number was 1,481. Our high school students completed a total of 23,614.5 credit hours across all four Early College programs in AY23-24—an impressive 35% increase from AY19-20. Additionally, the number of credit hours successfully completed with passing grades has grown by 28% over the past five years. Research (Helios Decision Center, 2023) shows that Early College students are twice as likely to enroll in college compared to their peers, with the greatest benefits seen among low-income, Latino, and special education students with an IEP. These numbers reflect the growing impact of our programs and the strength of our partnerships.  

While 19% of high school students in Navajo and Apache counties are enrolled in Early College courses, there is still room for expansion to align with broader trends—24% in Arizona and 34% nationally. There is so much more we can accomplish together to increase access and opportunity, for more students! 

We also had six breakout sessions tailored for high school counselors, instructors, and administrators, where we explored strategies and resources on student engagement, AGEC, accessibility, teaching and learning, scholarships and partnership development.  During the administrator session I facilitated, several school leaders expressed gratitude for our partnership and shared valuable insights on removing barriers for students. It was exciting to hear that the DualEnroll software worked well for spring registration, and that many schools expressed interest in participating in our OER (Open Educational Resources) initiatives. 

One of the most powerful moments of the day was our Student Panel. This year, we invited three high school students currently enrolled in Early College programs to share their journey. Thanks to the opportunities provided by Early College, some of these students are just one course away from earning their Associate degree! Their stories were the best testimonials to the transformative power of Early College programs in preparing students for college and career success. Nothing is more rewarding than seeing our students' growth.

I am confident that the feedback from this event will inform our efforts to further enhance Early College programs and strengthen collaboration with our high school partners. We deeply appreciate the commitment of every faculty member, staff member, and administrator who plays a role in supporting student success. A special thank you to our student panelists, presenters, facilitators, and all who participated! Together, we are creating pathways for more students to achieve their college and career goals.

Wei Ma, PhD
Dean of Instructional Innovation
Read previous Messages from the Dean