Welcome to Challenge Early College High School

Challenge Early College is a high school where students are given the unique opportunity to take college classes along with the regular high school curriculum. Housed on the HCCS West Loop campus, with articulated sharing of space and staff, CECHS allows the high school student to gradually integrate into college course work through his or her traditional high school degree plan.

For more information, explore this website or call (713) 664-9712.

Texas A&M Physics and Engineering Festival

On April 6 a group of Challenge students went to Texas A&M at College Station to participate in the 2013 Physics and Engineering Festival. Activities included riding square-wheeled bicycles, generating electricity and shooting balloons with lasers, as well as many others. Everyone had lots of fun and learned interesting things about the fields of physics and engineering.

CECHS Tech Crew Shines at One Act

The CECHS Players competed in the District 5A Zone Competition One Act Play on Thursday, March 21st at Bellaire High School. They competed against 3 other schools and were awarded as a company the designation of: Alternate Advancing Show. In individual and group honors, Abril Moreno was named “Outstanding Tech”; The technical crew: Abril Moreno, Gabby Estrada, Erin Matheny, Hanan Mohammed and Khaniya Russell received the “Overall Best Crew” Award; Collin Ostroff and Emina Halilovic received “Honorable Mention All Star Cast” recognition; Joshua Graham and Bessie Khan were named “All Star Cast”.

CECHS Senior wins Rotary Scholarship, is Featured on Channel 11 News

Lilliana Guzman is being recognized all around our community. She was nominated for a scholarship by her Career Prep sponsor, and as a result, received a $1,000 award from the West University Rotary Club on Thursday, March 14th. And she was also profiled on the Channel 11 News feature "Our Future." Watch the video below:

Busy Weekend for Future Engineers

On Friday, February 8 the TEAMS competition was held at University of Houston. TEAMS (Tests of Engineering Aptitude, Mathematics and Science) is a one-day competition for students in middle and high school that allows them to apply their knowledge of skills in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) to issues facing our global society. Focused on an annual theme, original academic and innovative concepts are developed for the competition based on the National Academy of Engineering’s Grand Challenges. Engaging in the challenges requires critical job-readiness skills such as teamwork, analytical thinking, and multi-dimensional problem solving. In 2013 students discovered the engineering involved in cyberspace security. Challenge was represented by a team of 12 students. Peter Marks won prizes as a member of the 1st placed team and for the Math test. Caitlin Vu took the prize for the Engineering project.

On Saturday at Pershing MS, the students participated in the competition hosted by SECME. SECME Inc. (Science, Engineering, Communication, Mathematics Enhancement), a premier precollege (K-13) alliance, links engineering universities, school systems and corporate/government investors. Its mission is to increase the pool of historically under-represented and under-served, which will be prepared to enter and complete post-secondary studies in science, mathematics, engineering, and technology. A team of 12 participated. We had victory when Amina Jemal won the prize for the Geometry test, Ian Sasko for Geometry and Moises Tacam for the Chemistry test.

All participants had fun and so too did the sponsors Alex Mironychev, Savitri Ramkissoon and club president Matthew Willcockson, who served as chaperones. This would not have been possible without the support and hard work of all the staff at Challenge. Well done Eagles!

Posse Foundation Recognizes Academic Talent at CECHS

Four Challenge seniors are among a group of HISD students that have been chosen to represent Houston in the Posse Foundation, a national nonprofit organization that identifies students based upon their academic excellence and leadership potential.

Kristel Bohler, Daniel Chavez, Dancie Jones, and Maritza Vazquez-Trejo are among only 23 HISD students that were chosen from more than 500 nominated students.

They underwent a rigorous three-stage interview process involving evaluation of all facets of their character, leadership skills, and academic potential. The Challenge family is thrilled that these students have been rewarded for their hard work, and we proud to have you represent us!
Read the article at the HISD website...

CECHS is One of Four Middle College National Consortium High Schools Recognized for Their Excellence

Middle College National Consortium (MCNC) high schools continue to excel and receive recognition for the work they do with previously under-served students. With a model that includes high schools located on or near a college campus, dual enrollment for high school students, a comprehensive guidance and support system, rigorous, in-depth academic work, professional development, and a network of like minded schools that support each other MCNC schools are succeeding in graduating students, and sending them to two and four year colleges, in record numbers.

Challenge Early College High School is ranked as one of America's Best High Schools by U.S.News & World Report. The magazine, working with the American Institutes for Research, rated schools based on state test scores, analyzing whether students, particularly minorities and those from low-income families, performed better than expected.
Read the full article...

Challenge Debaters Silence the Opposition at the Houston Urban Debate League

On December 7 and 8, the Houston Urban Debate League (HUDL) hosted it’s forth tournament of the 2012-2013 academic school year at Austin High School. The tournament was sponsored by HUDL Board Member Michael George in honor of his late wife Christine George who was a lifelong educator with a passion for inspiring students.

Our Challenge Students rose to the top with their first varsity win of the season. Challenge Students Joseph Collins, Markfirah Krueng and Rachel Marchant posted a perfect 8-0 debate tournament performance.

Challenge students Caitlin Vu, Edmar Bustos and Alejandro Dolores had a semi-final team that finished 5-2. A great weekend for our debate team.

Challenge's Priscilla Ruiz Named Commended Student

Challenge senior Priscilla Ruiz has been named a Commended Student by the 2013 National Merit Scholarship Program.

CECHS Principal Tonya Miller presented Priscilla with a Letter of Commendation from the school and National Merit Scholarship Corporation, which conducts the program.

Commended Students place among the top five percent of more than 1.5 million students who entered the 2013 scholarship competition by taking the 2012 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test.

A statement from NMSC says, “The young people recognized as Commended Students represent some of the best and brightest minds in the country as demonstrated by their outstanding performance in our highly competitive program. Commended Students have demonstrated outstanding potential for academic success. We sincerely hope this recognition will provide them with additional educational outlets and motivate them in their pursuit of academic achievement.”

College and Career Readiness Website

HISD has unveiled its new College and Career Readiness Website to provide students information about the next step after high school. College and career readiness is a key priority for the district as we work closely with our college partners and area businesses to prepare our students for postsecondary success.

24 Hour Online Homework Help from the Public Library

"Hello! Welcome to tutor.com. How can we help you?"

Whether it's four in the afternoon or four in the morning, Houston students can summon this friendly presence - or one very much like it - by typing in their library card numbers on the Houston Public Library's website.

Thanks to this library service, students can get live, online homework help - as well as GED and resume assistance - 24 hours a day, seven days a week, in Spanish and English. For free. The service is a warm light in a grim education landscape, and we encourage families to use it.
Read the full article from The Houston Chronicle...

U.S. Education Secretary Recognizes Challenge as One of Nation's Top Schools at 2011 National Blue Ribbon Schools Awards Ceremony

On November 15, U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan honored 315 schools as the 2011 National Blue Ribbon Schools at an awards luncheon in Washington, D.C. The Blue Ribbon School award honors public and private elementary, middle and high schools that have helped close the achievement gap and whose students attain and maintain high academic goals. This year's winners include your very own Challenge Early College High School. The schools—266 public and 49 private—are among more than 6,000 that have received the coveted award over the past 29 years.

"America's long-term economic prosperity and civic engagement depends on our children receiving a world-class education," said U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan. "National Blue Ribbon Schools are committed to accelerating student achievement and preparing students for success in college and careers. Their success is an example for others to follow."

This is a tribute to Challenge students' hard work and dedication. Congratulations on a job well done, and keep up the good work!