Colorado Early Colleges (CEC) is a comprehensive, four-year public charter college, preparatory high school that offers students the opportunity to earn an associate’s degree while in high school. CEC is a bold approach, based on the principle that academic rigor, combined with the opportunity to save time and money, is a powerful motivator for students to work hard and meet serious intellectual challenges. 

CEC blends high school and college in a rigorous yet supportive program, accelerating the time it takes to complete a high school diploma and the first two years of college. The school currently pays up to $4,200 each year per student, which covers students’ tuition, fees, and required textbooks for roughly 650 students an academic year.

CEC has a unique model to meet the demands of students in the 21st century. Our students graduate with an associate's degree, 60-plus college credits or some form of post-secondary—all free! CEC is an award-winning, public charter school that now has greatly expanded its footprint in Douglas County, with locations in Parker, Castle Rock, Inverness and Highlands Ranch