Early College Programs at Wentworth
Beacon Pathways (Beacon), Wentworth's Early College Pathways Program, is an innovative educational partnership between the City of Boston and Wentworth to introduce the college experience to high school students. The goal is to increase attendance, retention, and graduation rates of Boston youth by showing them that they can succeed in college and beyond.
As an evolution of our Dual Enrollment program, Beacon is intended to close the opportunity gap—in education and work—for Boston public high school students, encouraging them to pursue STEM degrees and careers. Beacon Pathways is also meant to provide local computer science and construction management corporations with the trained workers they seek to match up with employment demands around Boston.
Beacon is free for participants, with Wentworth, foundations and corporate sponsors funding the initiative. Participating students take classes on Wentworth’s campus, simultaneously meeting some high school graduation requirements and earning college credits through hands-on coursework.
Benefits for participating students in Beacon:
- Authentic College Experience: College coursework on Wentworth's Boston campus
- Prepared for College: Students who participate in Beacon are more prepared for college and more likely to retain through college, and graduate from college
- Transferable College Credit: Earn up to 32 college credits in Construction, Design, Engineering, Management, and Technology
- Access to Campus Resources: All Beacon students have access to all Wentworth resources including tutoring, student clubs, organizations and activities, counseling services, and access to our state-of-the-art library, to name a few.
Our partner high schools for the 2022-2023 Academic Year include:
Interested in learning more about Dual Credit? Please contact Rebecca (Becky) Drossman, Associate Director of College Access & Success.
For Participating Students
For Prospective Students
Early College Supporters
State-Designated Early College Partners
Wentworth is committed to collaborating with our local high schools and Boston Public Schools to revolutionize education delivery and provide equitable opportunities for underserved youth. Below are our current state-designated Early College partners who are essential to our work.
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Dearborn STEM Academy
Dearborn STEM Academy (Dearborn) students graduate with the 21st century skills required for college and career success, prepared to serve as thoughtful, engaged citizens, who contribute to the health, vibrancy and development of their community. In collaboration with Dearborn, Wentworth is building an Early College and Innovation Pathway models in Computer Science and Engineering.
The partnership received Early College Designation from the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education in 2021. The partnership is currently completing its first year of designation.
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Fenway High School
Fenway High School (Fenway) aims to create a socially committed and morally responsible community of learners that values its students as individuals. Fenway’s goal is to encourage academic excellence and to develop intellectual habits of mind, self-esteem, and leadership skills among all students. In collaboration with Fenway, Wentworth is building an Early College and Innovation Pathway model called Entrepreneurship for Good with a focus on socially responsible creativity.
The partnership received Early College Designation from the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education in 2022. The partnership is currently planning the implementation of designation for Year 1.
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New Mission High School
New Mission High School (NMHS) students graduate with the 21st century skills required for college and career success, prepared to serve as thoughtful, engaged citizens, who contribute to the health, vibrancy and development of their community. In collaboration with NMHS, Wentworth is building an Early College model in Computer Science and Engineering.
The partnership received Early College Designation from the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education in 2022. The partnership is currently planning the implementation of designation for Year 1.
Partnering with Beacon Pathways
Interested in speaking with Wentworth's Beacon Pathways team? Click below to access contact information for our Beacon Pathways team members.
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Local Public School?
Beacon Pathways aims to build partnerships with local high schools that value educational opportunities for students that lead to career success. If your school is interested in learning more about our Early College opportunities through Beacon, please contact Erik Miller, Assistant Vice President of Community Engagement & Educational Access.
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Community-Based Organization?
Community-based organizations (CBOs) are critical to the success of Boston neighborhoods, specifically local youth. If you are interested in exploring opportunities to collaborate, please contact Erik Miller, Assistant Vice President of Community Engagement & Educational Access to schedule an initial conversation.
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Corporate Leader?
The success of Beacon depends on our partnerships with local industry leaders. If you are interested in learning more about Beacon Pathways, Wentworth's work in Early College, and/or partnering on Beacon, please reach out to Erik Miller, Assistant Vice President of Community Engagement & Educational Access to schedule an initial conversation.
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Foundations and/or Research-Based Nonprofits?
Wentworth's team is happy to share our experiences and participate in opportunities that evaluate and/or assess our ongoing work in the Early College space. Please reach out to Erik Miller, Assistant Vice President of Community Engagement & Educational Access to schedule an initial conversation.
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Federal, State, or Local Government?
Interested in learning more about the program? Please reach out to Erik Miller, Assistant Vice President of Community Engagement and Educational Access, to schedule an initial conversation.