Welcome to Colorado Early Colleges (CEC)

Where Opportunities For Success Belong To Everyone

From exceptional middle school educations to college degrees and other industry credentials for our high school graduates to unique learning opportunities for homeschooled and non-public school students — the Colorado Early Colleges network of tuition-free public charter schools strives to remove barriers in delivering the highest levels of academic success possible to ALL K-12 Colorado students through multiple enrollment options.

CEC Campus Full-Time Learning | Grades 6-12
College Partner Campus Learning | Grades 9-12
Online Learning | Grades 6-12

Colorado Early Colleges “CEC” is a network of tuition-free public charter schools across the state of Colorado, with three middle school and six high school campuses, two locations for our College Direct option, Colorado Springs homeschool academy, and a fully-online program. CEC is authorized to provide students with the opportunity to take college courses while in high school by Charter School Institute (www.csi.state.co.us), a Colorado statewide charter school organization.

An early college is a state designated high school with a four year curriculum designed to give students the opportunity to concurrently earn, upon graduation, a high school diploma and a postsecondary credential. Postsecondary credentials include associate degrees, industry credentials, and 60 or more college course credits.

All students, regardless of background or skill level, will have the opportunity to pursue a growth mindset that will allow them to achieve mastery and to demonstrate that they can succeed in school, in college, and in their chosen career.

No Exceptions. No Excuses.

At CEC, we understand the search for the right school is a personal experience and that the admissions process can often be intimidating and difficult to follow. Our Admissions staff are dedicated to helping families understand our process and to provide support from your initial decision to apply for enrollment all the way to your first advising session.

At CEC, our advisors strive to understand and respect the uniqueness of each student and their educational goals. They recognize that middle school and high school is a time of exploration and student interests and goals can quickly change. This awareness drives their collaborations with each student to create an Individual Career and Academic Plan (ICAP) that is consistent with their educational goals, career interests, and abilities.

CEC and our accredited college partners are committed to creating a community of lifetime learners and a school culture that fosters academic, career and personal success for every student. Whether academically ahead, right on track, or below grade level — our programs prepare students of all levels for college course work as quickly as possible. We make every effort to offer the highest levels of support in guiding students towards their goals and to achieve those goals through commitment, effort, and accountability.

Our Beliefs

CEC recognizes the responsibility we have been entrusted with to deliver a positive and lifelong impact on our students and their families, both academically and in life — and to deliver it with equity and fairness in the Colorado communities we have the privilege to serve. We have created a belief system to guide us in building strong campus communities filled with passion, driven by excellence, and dedicated to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Career Pathways at Colorado Early Colleges

CAREER PATHWAYS AT CEC SCHOOLS GIVE PURPOSE TO LEARNING BY EMPHASIZING REAL-WORLD SKILLS AND PRACTICAL KNOWLEDGE.

At CEC, we recognize that when young people develop valuable skills, form connections, and build a network through career learning in middle and high school, they gain an inside track to success. Career-focused students have a significantly greater high school graduation rate (90%) than the national average (75%) and also do better in class because hands-on experiences within career courses make academic subjects more engaging and interesting.

News from Our Schools

CEC Castle Rock awarded John Irwin School of Excellence

This award is given to schools that demonstrate exceptional academic achievement over time. These schools received an “exceeds expectations” rating on the Academic Achievement

CEC Online Campus awarded John Irwin School of Excellence

This award is given to schools that demonstrate exceptional academic achievement over time. These schools received an “exceeds expectations” rating on the Academic Achievement

CEC Douglas County North awarded John Irwin School of Excellence

This award is given to schools that demonstrate exceptional academic achievement over time. These schools received an “exceeds expectations” rating on the Academic Achievement

CEC Windsor Celebrates the Class of 2025: A Future-Ready Group of Graduates

At Colorado Early Colleges (CEC) Windsor, we believe in empowering students to forge their own paths—whether that’s college, career, or both.

Celebrating the CEC Fort Collins High School Class of 2025: A Legacy of Achievement

With 213 graduates, this cohort exemplifies the success of CECFC’s early college model, which enables students to earn college credits and industry certifications while

CEC Governing Board Meeting – May 29, 2025

The CEC Governing Board meeting is Thursday, May 29, 2025 at 3:30 p.m. and will be held virtually via Microsoft Teams.

CEC4me!, where we showcase some of our students, share their goals, reveal their challenges, and show how CEC was the right choice for these students and their families.

CEC Network Success Stats

average resident cost to earn an associate degree in Colorado

$ 0 K

students have graduated with an associate degree or higher

other industry credentials earned by our students

total college credits earned by our students

0 K+

saved in tuition, fees, and books for our students and families

$ 0 M+

Title IX & Non-Discrimination

Colorado Early Colleges is dedicated to the principles of equal opportunity and prevention of harassment in all of its practices. As a public entity and an employer, CEC is bound by state and federal laws regarding equal opportunity and nondiscrimination. CEC prohibits unlawful discrimination or harassment against individuals on the basis of disability, race, creed, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, marital status, religion, ancestry, age (when applicable), or need for special education services, or any other class protected by law.

CEC’s Nondiscrimination/Harassment/Equal Opportunity policy, CEC’s Title IX Grievance policy, and CEC’s Network Grievance policy are located in our About section under Policies and Procedures.

For more information, visit our Title IX & Non-Discrimination page.

Student Life Around Our Network