Delaware State University opens prep high school in Queens

“We are thrilled to announce this innovative partnership with New York City Public Schools, which will not only prepare high school students for a college education, but give them a head start toward a bachelor’s degree while they’re still in high school,” said Tony Allen, president of Delaware State University. “We know this approach can work because we’ve seen it work. Hundreds of students are already enrolled at our Early College School in Dover, completing work toward their college degrees. This dual enrollment model can reduce the cost of college, make higher education more attainable for many families, and prepare our students with the skills they need to succeed in today’s economy. We’re ready to get started.”

“As a proud graduate of Delaware State University, I know firsthand the transformative power of an HBCU education. To see that same legacy take root here in Southeast Queens through HBCU Early College Prep is an honor beyond words,” said Dr. Shawn Rux, senior executive director of the Office of New School Development & Design at New York City Public Schools. “This school is more than a building. It’s a promise to our students and families that their potential has no limits. I am proud to be part of this historic moment.”

The New York City Public Schools partnership is modeled after Delaware State University’s 11-year-old Early College School in Dover, which serves more than 600 students in grades 7-12.

Over the last decade, ECS students have amassed 18,168 college credits, and more than 70 percent of the school’s students ultimately attend Delaware State University.

Last  spring, two ECS students graduated from the ECS with high school diplomas and associate degrees from Delaware State University, a feature  born out of the University’s acquisition of Wesley College in 2021.