Grades 10–12
Alsion Early College
Alsion Early College is a dual-credit high school program for grades 10–12 in Fremont, California. Students take college courses at neighboring Ohlone College and graduate with a high school diploma and more than 70 college credits guaranteed to transfer to UC and CSU.
As the Bay Area’s premier independent early college program, Alsion Early College guides students to thoughtfully design their unique high school and college pathways to explore their interests, specialize in academic disciplines, and earn an eclectic liberal arts education.
Students in grade 10 take a blend of on-campus high school courses at Alsion and a handful of college courses at neighboring Ohlone College. In grades 11–12, students take fewer courses on-campus at Alsion and enroll full-time at Ohlone. Students earn dual credit for all college coursework while working toward a high school diploma. Not only do students earn credit, they learn how to navigate the complex course offerings of a college curriculum with confidence.
2026–2027 school year
At a glance
- Middle School & Early College Campus
- 750 Witherly LaneFremont, CA 94539(510) 445-1127Next to Ohlone College
- Grades
- Grades 10–12Grade 10: Alsion courses and a few at OhloneGrades 11–12: full time at Ohlone
- College Credits
- 70+ by graduationTransferable to UC and CSU
- College Placement
- 100% of graduates to 4-year colleges
- Tuition, 2026–2027
- Tuition: $16,000.00Materials fee: $100.00Ohlone College fees are separateTuition, fees and aid
- Accreditation
- WASC, Accrediting Commission for SchoolsCollege Board code (CEEB): 053989About accreditation
- Program Founded
- 2005
- Enrollment
- 8–15 students per grade
Your Pathway to College
100%
College Placement
100% of our graduates have gone on to study at 4-year colleges and universities throughout the United States.
70+
College Credits
Students graduate from the program with more than 70 college credits that are guaranteed to transfer to UCs and CSUs.
Grade by grade
Every student’s journey through the program is unique and self-determined. The courses below are a sample pathway.
Grade 9: the foundation
Grade 9 stays with Alsion Middle School, following its Montessori adolescent program. Students take core subjects, including AP Environmental Science, choose electives, organize clubs, and complete the Biome Project.
Grade 10: AP English and first college courses
Grade 10 revolves around AP English and a small number of college classes, taken together as a group to build a strong support network at Alsion.
At Alsion: AP English Language & Composition, AP English Literature & Composition; Algebra, Geometry, or Algebra II; Physics; and Physical Education.
At Ohlone College, 3–11 units a semester: Courses vary from year to year. Last year, students took math (Precalculus and higher), World History since 1500, General Psychology, Principles of Macroeconomics, and Introduction to American Politics.
Grades 11–12: full time at Ohlone
After completing the California Proficiency Program, students enroll at Ohlone College as full-time students, taking 12–18 units a semester. They take one or two courses at Alsion and design the rest of their college schedule around requirements and their own interests.
At Alsion: Great Books, Film Studies I: History of Film, Film Studies II: Literature in Film.
Required at Ohlone: Introductory Chemistry with lab, Biology with lab, two semesters of a Language other than English, and at least 7 electives.
Recommended electives include General Chemistry, Cell & Molecular Biology, Mechanics, Calculus I and II, Linear Algebra, Statistics, Programming with Python or C++, Web Design, Digital Photography, 2D and 3D Art, Public Speaking, International Relations, Constitutional Law, Philosophy, Human Development, Principles of ASL, and many more.
The diploma
Alsion counts both high school and college credit toward the high school diploma. Graduation requirements meet or exceed those set by UC A–G admissions across all subjects, and all high school courses offered on campus are approved by the University of California. In this unique program, more than just GPA matters. Pursuing depth, breadth, and challenge in course selection sets Alsion Early College graduates apart. The program is accredited by WASC.
AP English in grade 10
Alsion’s Advanced Placement English program is the foundation of the Early College experience. Students are enrolled in both AP® English Language & Composition and AP® English Literature & Composition, and take both exams in May.
Students read at least 8 full-length novels or plays and a wide range of historically and culturally significant speeches, letters, and essays. The courses are a broad survey of the liberal arts and humanities, integrating classic, modern, and contemporary works, so students begin 4-year undergraduate study as prolific readers, articulate writers, and critical thinkers.
College counseling
Students meet regularly with the Early College Director to plan their academic pathways. They learn first-hand how to search and register for courses, prepare for specific college majors, and build positive relationships with faculty: what we call the logistics of college.
Each semester there are planning sessions for every Early College student. Each January, grade 11 takes a College Tour down the California coast, visiting Cal Poly, UCSB, UCLA, USC, UCI and the Claremont Colleges. Incoming seniors take a summer College Seminar.
Students graduate with seasoned skills to navigate the college landscape, a clear vision of their goals for undergraduate work, and effective habits for achieving them.
2019–2025
Where our graduates enrolled
- UC Berkeley13
- UC Davis7
- UCLA6
- UC San Diego4
- UC Santa Cruz3
- Purdue University2
- Reed College2
- UC Merced2
- Santa Clara University2
- UC Irvine1
- UC Santa Barbara1
- Bryn Mawr College1
- Cal Poly San Luis Obispo1
- Cornell University1
- Northeastern University1
- Rhode Island School of Design1
- Rochester Institute of Technology1
- Stanford University1
- University of Southern California1
- University of Michigan1
- University of Pennsylvania1
Numbers are students. A partial list, from the Early College Info Packet.
- 29%
- attended their first-choice school
- 62%
- attended a school in their top three
- 88%
- attended a school in their top ten
Of graduating students who answered the school’s survey, since 2019.
Beyond the classroom
Ex Term
A collaborative project for grades 9–12 that ends in a week-long trip at the close of the school year, to one of four rotating destinations. Students take at least two Ex Term trips in grades 9-12, and fees for these trips are billed separately from tuition.
- All the World’s a Stage. Ashland, Oregon: the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, acting workshops, and a video documentary.
- Urban Planning & Design. New York City: how a city is built, from Central Park to the subway, and a printed guide.
- Earth, Humans & the Biosphere. Honolulu: geology, biodiversity, history and climate change, and a poster for display.
- American Monuments. Washington, D.C.: what deserves memorializing, and a speech delivered near a monument.
Café & Grill
Grade 10 runs the Café & Grill, serving hot lunch, snacks and drinks at lunchtime. Students track costs, revenue and profit to decide what to offer, and decide together how to spend the profits at the end of the year.
Service learning
Students complete 40 documented hours of service learning or volunteer work in grades 10–12 to graduate. Volunteer Hours Form (PDF)
Witherly Heights
Our school community’s online journal, witherlyheights.org (opens in a new tab), is entirely student run, from editing and writing to web design and social media. Leadership roles are earned through years of service.
What Early College costs
Early College tuition for 2026–2027 is $16,000.00, plus a $100.00 materials fee. Fees owed to Ohlone College, and Ohlone textbooks, are separate.
Our tuition is less than half the average tuition of Bay Area private schools, and students complete college courses now, which can mean lower costs for college tuition after high school.
Admission
We welcome students of all backgrounds beginning in grade 10, although students who attended Alsion Middle School receive first priority.
Alsion Early College is a program for motivated learners. Success requires dedication to academic work, a strong foundation in English, social and intellectual maturity, and the will to act on one’s own behalf in a small, unique program. Students are admitted on the basis of previous academic work, recommendations, interviews, and a reading and writing readiness assessment.
Questions families ask
What is an early college high school?
A high school where students take real college courses and earn dual credit toward both a high school diploma and a college transcript. At Alsion, grade 10 blends on-campus courses with a few Ohlone College courses, and in grades 11–12 students enroll full time at Ohlone.
Do Ohlone credits transfer to UC and CSU?
Yes. UC and CSU campuses accept all credit earned at Ohlone College. Private and out-of-state public universities each have their own policies for transferring college credit.
Do students still earn a high school diploma?
Yes. Alsion counts both high school and college credit toward the diploma, and graduation requirements meet or exceed UC A–G admission requirements in every subject.
How many college credits can a student earn?
Students graduate with more than 70 college credits. Because Ohlone runs on semesters, students typically take between 8-12 college courses a year.
Who teaches the college courses?
Ohlone College professors teach the college courses to Alsion and Ohlone students. Alsion teachers teach the on-campus courses, including both AP English courses in grade 10.
Are high school students ready for a college environment?
Ohlone College enrolls many high school students, not just from Alsion. Alsion coaches students on how to conduct themselves in a college classroom and on effective work habits, and the small Alsion community gives them a support network.
Who looks after students between college classes?
Between classes, students use the Early College Study Center, next to Alsion Middle School and Ohlone College. It is supervised by the Program Director and is generally open 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Why doesn’t Alsion offer more AP courses?
AP is designed to be college-level, and Alsion students take actual college courses. Alsion teaches three AP courses: English Literature, English Language, and Environmental Science.
Learn more
See our info packet with detailed information to learn more:
