(ANGOLA) - Angola High School has earned official Early College High School endorsement, joining a select group of Indiana schools recognized for helping students get a head start on college before graduation.
The recognition was awarded April 6 by the Center of Excellence in Leadership of Learning at the University of Indianapolis, placing Angola among 74 high schools statewide with the distinction.
The program allows students to graduate with more than a diploma by earning the Indiana College Core, an associate degree, technical credentials or significant dual credits while still in high school. School leaders say that approach is already producing major local results.
For the Class of 2026, Angola students are on track to earn:
- 57 Indiana College Cores
- 13 associate degrees
- 1,361 dual credits
The district estimates those college credits will save local families more than $242,000 this year alone, pushing the three-year total tuition savings past $650,000.
School officials also highlighted standout student success stories, including Rodrigo Flores, a first-generation college student in the Class of 2025 who earned a full scholarship to Columbia University.
Angola's Early College program is built through partnerships with Ivy Tech Community College and Trine University, giving students local pathways into both four-year and technical education opportunities.
The endorsement follows a rigorous multi-year review process measuring how well schools blend high school and college experiences while building strong student support systems.
For Angola, the designation further strengthens one of the school's fastest-growing academic pathways while continuing to reduce the cost of college for local families.