Early College Academy

• GPA: Cumulative GPA of 3.0 or Higher (we may consider students with lower GPA's on a case by case basis if seats remain in the program in late February)
• Attendance: Record of cumulative 90% attendance or better during high school (we may consider students with a slightly lower attendance rate on a case by case basis if seats remain in the program in late February). 
• Test Scores: College Readiness-Students must "test into" college level coursework via the ACT or MCC Accuplacer exam (You can use scores from both exams to meet individual requirements:
  • English Requirement: 18 or better on the ACT or Accuplacer score testing you into "English 101"
  • Reading Requirement: 18 or better on the ACT or Accuplacer score testing you into "No reading required" or "Read 100 Recommended"
  • Math Requirement: 22 or better on the ACT or Accuplacer score testing you into Math 115 or greater (there can be no course number smaller than 115 in your results)
    • Notes:
      • Students can also use Dual Credit Math from UCM to meet this requirement (students must earn C's or better in both semesters of the Dual Credit course and must send official transcripts to MCC to have it count).
      • Students can use an AP score of 3 or higher from AP Precalculus, AP Calculus AB, or AP Calculus BC to meet this requirement.
    • Additionally, during the application process, LPS may invite students who meet all requirements except the Math exam to participate in the program under a "Math Exception" if they agree to take Math at the high school and understand they will not be able to take Math or Science classes at the college.  These limitations remain in effect until the student can earn a qualifying Math score or meet the requirement with a Dual Credit/AP Score.
• Completion of the LPS Early College Application (it is a google form - there is no obligation to participate if you apply)
• Completion of the MCC Application for enrollment (still no obligation to participate if you apply)
  • Students will be accepted to MCC always and receive an MCC ID number (this is needed for the Accuplacer).  This acceptance is not acceptance in the ECA program but is a required step in the application process.
• The Director of Advanced Studies will review each applicant's disciplinary history at LPS and will meet with students as needed to discuss any concerns.
• Students are required to Accept their invitation to take a seat in the program via completion of a Google Form that will be emailed to them.
• Parents/Students should plan to attend a scheduled meeting with the Director of Advanced Studies after initial acceptance into the program (an invite will be emailed) or view the content of the meeting via YouTube (will be emailed to everyone shortly after the in-person meeting).
• Student and Parent/Guardian must sign all required documents to participate in the program (Early College Academy Participation Agreement, TB Form, FERPA form - these will be provided at the parent/guardian meeting or via email).

There are now two types of Early College Academy Students who have different options related to when they can take courses through the ECA program at MCC and how many courses they can take. 

ECA Type 1: Students who are not intending to earn their Associates Degree prior to high school graduation or the summer after high school graduation.  This type of ECA student may take between 8 and 12-college credit hours at no cost to the family in each Fall and Spring semester at MCC they are enrolled in the ECA program.  If a student plans to take less than 8-college credit hours - you must notify Dr. Saluri if you are accepted into the program as this is only allowed if all qualified students are placed into the program by the initial application deadline and seats remain open in the program.  A student taking more than 12-hours will be billed by Dr. Saluri at the MCC hourly credit rate for the number of hours the student is over 12-credit hours. 

ECA Type 2: Students who intend to earn and remain on track to earn their Associate's Degree by either the end of their senior year or the summer immediately after their high school graduation (Summer after high school graduation is at the student's expense).  This type of ECA student may take up to 18-college credit hours at no cost to the family in each Fall and Spring semester at MCC they are enrolled in the ECA program and may also take up to 6-college credit hours at no cost to the family in the summer preceding the 11th grade (should be few students attempting this) and the summer between 11th and 12th grade (students planning summer MCC classes must enroll in the LPS Summer School and no other summer school program in Missouri).  The number of MCC hours taken will impact the number of LPS classes that can be taken.  Detailed information on total hours possible and LPS courses possible in the Fall/Spring Terms can be seen in the following table:

• Students who are not planning or on track to earn an Associates Degree by the summer after their senior year in high school can earn up to 12-college credit hours per semester of enrollment at MCC at NO COST to families.  Students planning to earn their Associate's Degree by the summer after high school and remain on track to do so may earn up to 18-college credit hours at NO COST to families (there is a sliding scale of college hours vs LPS courses that will determine any potential cost).  Note - potential costs in this program include lost textbooks, repayment of tuition for grades of D, F, or W, and charges for hours taken beyond what is approved based on your on track to graduate with an Associate's Degree status. 
• These college courses will count toward high school graduation requirements AND toward a college degree
• These courses may be part of the CORE 42 that are transferable to any publicly-funded 4-year college or university in Missouri (additional CORE 42 information is available on this site)
• Students can make substantial progress toward earning an Associates of Arts degree or earn an Associates of Arts degree by the time they graduate from high school. 
• Transportation is provided for students from their home high school and back to their high school to complete their school day.  This requires students to take classes at MCC that start at or after 11:00 AM and end at or before 2:30 PM.  This allows students to take 1st and 2nd hour at LPS face to face and allows a 3rd hour virtual high school class.

All colleges courses that are listed as part of the CORE 42 course of study are transferable to any other public college/university in the state of Missouri.  This legislation went into effect on January 1, 2018 so your student is assured that any of these courses will count toward a 4-year degree at any other public college/university in MO.  

This information is summarized form the CORE 42 manual produced by the Missouri Department of Higher Education.  The full document including a comprehensive listing of exact course transfers can be found here:  CORE 42

Note-Not all classes at MCC Maple_Woods are CORE 42...LPS ECA students work with MCC academic advisors and are encouraged to discuss their college goals and plan courses accordingly.  CORE 42 classes should be a topic of discussion between the student and the MCC Academic Advisor. 

General Attendance Information:

As with most other Off-Campus programs, the MCC schedule and the LPS schedule do not completely match. 

When MCC is in session but LPS is not, students are required to attend classes at MCC.  The attendance policy at MCC is more strict than at LPS and LPS has no control over the enforcement of the attendance policies at MCC which can include reduction in final grade and/or removal from a course. 

When LPS is in session and MCC is not, students have their MCC time to be where they prefer to be and doing what they prefer to be doing.  There may be times they have to attend an Early College Session with the Director of Advanced Studies during this time (Textbook pickup/return for example)

The first and last day of school for MCC and LPS are not always the same in any given semester.

Attendance Procedures:

Students are expected to attend their MCC classes every day class is in session.  It is critical to understand that missing classes at MCC can result in your involuntary removal from an MCC course.  As this is a program that sends the student to college, no one notifies LPS if a student is not in class (unless it is when they notify us they are removing the student from a class) so it is imperative to attend class!

Any day/time a student does not have class at MCC, they have the following options:

1. Go to MCC Maple Woods to utilize the college facilities/support staff (if the campus is open)
2. Check in with the front office of their high school to work at the high school in a designated location
3. Check out of their high school and leave campus

**Students are counted present for this time as you are meeting the college's expectations.  Students will need to use this time to study and complete work for their college classes.

Transportation Options

Option 1: Driver: Students transport themselves to and from MCC.  Parking passes are free.

Option 2: Bus Rider: Students will be transported directly to MCC from their home high school and returned to their home high school in time to catch the bus home.  There is one bus run daily ... if missed the student will have to work on getting a ride to or from the college.  If there is a chance you will be a bus rider you must sign up for classes at MCC that start at or after 11:00 AM and end at or before 2:30 PM so the bus can get you there and back on time. 

Option 3: Partial Bus Rider: Students will be transported to MCC from their home high school and have arranged for a ride home by someone else.

Consider your After School activities when you make your plans and note that changing schedules at the college is not possible once the semester gets going. 

Inclement Weather Information

If LPS is closed or on a late start and MCC remains open the following process should be followed by Early College Students:

DRIVERS:

1. The first priority is student safety.  As a family, make a determination if the conditions are safe enough for your driver.
2. Check your MCC email to ensure the instructor did not cancel his/her class!
3. If you drive, give yourself plenty of time to get to your MCC class.
4. If it is not safe enough for the student driver, consider having the parent/guardian transport the student.
5. If getting to class is not possible, the student must communicate with the instructor that the roads were not passable for them to make it to class and follow the instructor's process for missing a class.  **This is why it is critical not to miss other classes.

BUS RIDERS:

1. Again, the first priority is student safety.  At this time LPS transportation is not able to transport Early College Students if school has been closed due to inclement weather.
2. If possible, have a parent/guardian transport you to MCC for your classes after checking email to make sure that instructors did not cancel their classes.
3. Follow Step 5 above if you are unable to make it to class. 

Step 1: The following applications must be completed no later than 2/13/2026 (late submissions will be accepted if there are seats remaining in the program).  The LPS application will open on 11/1/2025.

1. Completion of the LPS Early College Application Google Form
2. Completion of the MCC application for enrollment (LPS staff will verify with MCC Staff)

• You are considered an in-district applicant at MCC
• You will receive an email notifying you that you are accepted into MCC.  You are required to acknowledge this acceptance.  You will then be emailed an MCC Student ID.  NOTE - This is not acceptance into the ECA program as MCC accepts all applicants, it is merely part of the process.

Step 2: Students must submit their qualifying ACT and/or Accuplacer scores when available.  It is recommended to be no later than 8:00 AM on 2/20/2026.  This deadline will be extended only if all seats in the program are not filled.  This year, LHS and LNHS will offer the Accuplacer exam in December and February or students can go to MCC to take the Accuplacer themselves. We will be admitting students on a rolling basis this year so it is critical to complete your application (including submission of test scores) as soon as possible.  Test scores should be emailed to kelly.saluri@lps53.org.  

Step 3: Students who are selected for the program will receive an invitation to participate in the Early College Academy and will be expected to accept or decline the invitation. 

1. Each year, all current ECA students in good standing have a spot in the program unless they choose not to continue.  These students get the first seats in the program yearly.
2. If there are seats available after all full qualifiers have been invited, we will start to invite students who meet all requirements except Math.
3. If there are seats available after all students who meet the Math exception are admitted we will start looking at students who are slightly below the Attendance or the GPA (not both) minimum requirements for placement (they must qualify in all other areas). 
4. Any student not placed will be notified via email that they are either on the Wait List (LPS is waiting for qualifying test scores and/or an open seat for them) or that they do not meet the requirements to be in the program. 

Please note - when you complete the MCC application you will be notified you have been accepted as an MCC student.  This notification does not indicate you have been accepted into the LPS Early College Academy Program, just that you have been accepted at MCC as a student.  You will be notified by LPS staff, specifically Dr. Kelly Saluri, via email regarding your application status into the LPS Early College Academy after your application materials have been reviewed.  Students who apply or submit qualifying test scores after all spots are filled will be considered for placement on a first come first served basis if a seat becomes open.

LPS Early College Application

MCC Enrollment Application

Note - both applications above are required.  Applying to the program does not obligate you to participate in the program if you are accepted.  Pay attention to the email you use to fill out the MCC enrollment application as they will email you back an MCC Student ID that is needed for the Accuplacer and to login to any MCC applications if you are accepted into the ECA program. 

LHS/LNHS Accuplacer Dates/Times: LHS and LNHS will offer the Accuplacer for students who have applied to MCC and received an MCC Student ID Number.  Students will need to sign up in their guidance office for the test after receiving their MCC Student ID Number.   Tests will be offered on the following dates/times:

• LHS:
  • December 11th - 8:30 AM - 11:00 AM
  • February 9th - 12:00 PM - 2:30 PM
    • Sign up for December and February Accuplacer Test Dates at LHS here: LHS ACCUPLACER TEST SIGN UP
• LNHS: 
  • December 11th - 12:00 PM - 2:30 PM
  • February 9th - 8:30 AM - 11:00 AM
    • Sign up for December and February Accuplacer Test Dates at LNHS here: LNHS ACCUPLACER TEST SIGN UP

MCC Testing Center: Students can take the Accuplacer at the MCC Maple Woods campus in the testing center once they have an MCC Student ID Number (via applying to MCC).  Tests can be taken any time the test center is open, if a student has a passing score in one area and not another they can retake only the section they need, and they can retake the test several times (there is a limit on how many times it can be taken in a certain window of time - MCC would have those details).  Information on Accuplacer testing at MCC including test center information (hours/days) can be found here: https://mcckc.edu/testing/types.aspx#accuplacer

Students tested at LHS/LNHS will have their scores sent to Dr. Saluri automatically, anyone taking the test at MCC should get a copy of their results and submit them to Dr. Saluri via email at kelly.saluri@lps53.org.

MCC will award college credit for specific courses based on qualifying AP exam scores.  If you participated in or are planning to participate in an AP exam make sure you notify the MCC academic advisor so we can make sure not to repeat a course for which you have earned or may earn credit.  They will need your official AP scores sent to MCC to award you the credit. 

Additionally, if you have taken and paid for Dual Credit or taken any other college level class for which you have been granted credit (C or better), contact the University that awarded the credit and request a transcript be sent to MCC (you can do this now for past courses and once the year ends this year for current courses). 

Transcripts for Dual Credit and AP exam scores of 3 or higher should be sent to:

What courses can a student take?   Students may take any course at Maple Woods that are standard AA-degree courses.  Or students can take online courses via the Internet.  Note - this program does not cover special programs at MCC but focus on courses that work towards an Associates Degree.  A list of courses taken by LPS students thus far can be found here: List of MCC Classes taken so far and how they count for LPS Credit

Courses that require you to have your own Device (other than your LPS Macbook):  Any LEGL department course and any Online MATH course.  LEGL classes require your own device because the LEGL classes require students to access information online that will always be blocked by the LPS filter as they relate to legal issues.  Online Math classes require your own device because the Online Math team uses a "Lockdown Browser" for testing that will not run on an LPS Laptop. 

Courses that may require you to borrow a PC from the MCC Library or have your own PC Computer: Courses in the CSIS (Computer Science) department occassionally require you to have a PC computer due to the software that is used in the course.  The MCC library often has PC laptops that can be checked out but they are limited.