Building a Legacy
Recruiting season begins for ECHS

Legacy Early College High School Principal Norma Marquardt is making the rounds this week, doing presentations to recruit eighth-graders into the four-year accelerated learning program.

Spring is the season for new students to join Legacy, where they can earn up to 60 college credits along with their high school career, saving each student between $20,000 and $60,000 in student fees at accredited colleges in Texas.

Students effectively graduate with a two-year associate’s degree, which is supported by several Texas area colleges, including The University of Texas at Austin, Texas A&M University, Texas Tech University and Baylor University.

The program is intended to help under-served students, first-generation college students and minority groups with low college representation, but registration is open to any student interested, Marquardt said.

“We do target certain groups,” Marquardt said. “But it is open enrollment. As long as they’re willing to work, it is open to any student willing to apply. We’re looking for students who wouldn’t typically see themselves as college-going students, who don’t have the family background of going to college, and we make it affordable for them.”

Marquardt hit Hutto, Farley and Taylor Middle Schools this week to hand out application packets. To become a part of the program, students must fill out the application, write an essay and acquire two letters of recommendation from their teachers in support of their aspirations to join Legacy.

At Hutto Middle School Tuesday morning, HMS Principal Dale Mitchell said getting eighth-graders interested in the program, which means working harder and without the option of extra-curricular activities, is usually a “tough sell.” While the program does offer dual-credit electives, it is entirely academic.

“Students will take more focused electives that will fit into their college and career plans, rather than whatever they want,” Marquardt said. “They will be college classes and electives that also fulfill their plan for high school.”

Legacy students earn a general Associate of Arts degree if they complete all their requirements, but have the option to fine-tune the degree to the sciences or other programs that will easily transfer to the university program of their choice.

“Generally speaking, we want to be able to make sure their chosen college program fits what they’re taking,” Marquardt said.

Some Legacy students from the first cohort joined Marquardt on the stage to help students better understand what the program is like from their perspective. The students answered questions from the audience about the types of classes offered, the amount of homework — which is substantial, and college-level — and why they chose to join the program in the first place.

Marquardt will host a parent information night at Taylor Middle School Jan. 26 and at the Hutto High School Fine Arts Center Jan. 27, both beginning at 6 p.m., and at the East Williamson County Higher Education Center on Main Street Jan. 30 at 10 a.m.

In addition, eighth-graders at area middle schools are encouraged to seek out middle school teachers familiar with Legacy to answer questions about the program.

Applications to Legacy are due Feb. 26.