Last week, New York City officials opened the doors of a new historically Black college and university preparatory high school, according to a report from ABC News.
Located in Queens, HBCU Early College Prep was developed in partnership with Delaware State University. Beginning in 11th grade, students at the tuition-free prep school will take online courses taught by DSU professors. They can earn up to 64 college credits towards an associate’s degree in liberal arts and are guaranteed admission to DSU upon graduation.
Currently, the school has just 100 seats available for student enrollment. Ahead of its first semester, the high school received more than 1,000 applicants. Like HBCUs, the school is open to students from all backgrounds.
Asya Johnson, an alumna of Delaware State University, is a founding principal of HBCU Early College Prep. Speaking to the need for institutions like the new high school, Dr. Johnson told ABC News, “It’s important because it doesn’t exist. We often don’t explain to students what exists beyond just our state or our local tri-state area. Why not expose students to that?”
After receiving her bachelor’s degree in English from DSU, Dr. Johnson earned a master’s degree in special education from Holy Family University in Philadelphia, a second master’s degree in leadership for educational change from Bank Street College in New York City, and a doctorate in educational leadership from Drexel University in Philadelphia. She has two decades of experience in education, including prior service as principal of Longwood Preparatory Academy in the South Bronx.
