Brazosport College outlines rapid growth in BISD dual enrollment, proposes Early College Academy and Momentum Scholars program
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Summary
Brazosport College officials told the Brazosport ISD board that dual enrollment among BISD students rose sharply (spring enrollment up by ~60%), reported a 90% success rate, and proposed an Early College Academy (a lock‑step high‑school‑based pathway to core completion or an associate degree) and a Momentum Scholars first‑dollar scholarship program to cover tuition, fees and books for qualifying students; the Momentum program plans up to 100 students this fall and opens applications March 2.
Representatives of Brazosport College presented to the Board of Trustees on dual enrollment trends, the design of an Early College Academy to be housed within BISD high schools, and the Momentum Scholars program, a first‑dollar scholarship intended to remove financial barriers for degree completion.
Dr. Vincent Solis (Brazosport College) said BISD accounts for roughly 37% of the college's dual‑enrollment population and reported a substantial semester‑to‑semester increase: about a 20% increase in the fall and roughly 60% growth in the spring among BISD students. He noted students in the dual‑enrollment program have about a 90% success rate.
An Early College Academy model was described as a "school‑within‑a‑school" to be embedded at BISD high schools so students retain full high‑school extracurricular participation while following a lock‑step pathway to core completion (42 college credit hours) or an associate degree. College representatives said the model would focus outreach beginning in eighth grade, include an orientation course, and emphasize advising and wraparound services.
College officials also introduced the Momentum Scholars program, a first‑dollar scholarship that would cover 100% of tuition, fees and digital textbooks for eligible students who enroll full time and meet academic requirements (e.g., maintain a 2.5 GPA and complete 30 credit hours per year). Officials said the program aims to prioritize residents of the Brazosport College service area, with a target of at least 75% of participants from the Brazosport ISD taxing district, and that the program will accept up to 100 students in its first cohort; applications open March 2.
Board members asked questions about online vs. in‑person course components, lab classes and how the lock‑step model would affect course choice. College speakers said some classes would remain online and others would be offered in person depending on course requirements, and noted wraparound supports such as online tutoring and a campus food access program.
