“We Are Exposed to That College Environment”: Exploring the Socialization of Early College High School Students

Abstract

Objective: Early college high schools (ECHSs) allow high school students to accumulate credit toward an associate degree at little or no cost, often through partnerships with community colleges. The goal is to facilitate students’ socialization into higher education, or the process of learning the skills, knowledge, and dispositions required for college success. However, whether and how this goal translates to practice remains under-studied. Using an organizational socialization framework, this study explores (a) How are ECHS students socialized into higher education? and (b) What do students learn from their ECHS experience? Method: This case study draws a sample of 111 traditionally underrepresented students, 13 teachers, and 1 principal at one ECHS in a U.S.–Mexico border region of Texas. Data were collected via interviews, demographic questionnaires, and documents, and coded using NVivo software. Results: Data analysis revealed three themes pertinent to students’ socialization: (a) receiving academic support, (b) taking college courses, and (c) gaining independence. Across these categories, being able to participate in courses at the community college was especially critical for students’ socialization. Findings also illustrate how tensions between the expectations of the college and those of the school district limited the socialization process. Contributions: This study has implications for research and policy regarding the benefits of ECHS and dual credit coursework, the importance of social experiences on a college campus, and the challenges of secondary–postsecondary misalignment in cross-sector partnerships.