PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire Community College (BCC) and Pittsfield High School (PHS) have been officially designated an Early College program by the Massachusetts Board of Higher Education and Board of Elementary & Secondary Education, part of the statewide initiative to create high-quality early college partnerships.

 

Early College programs empower high school students—particularly first-generation and underrepresented learners—to begin college-level coursework, earn academic credit, and accelerate toward degree completion at no cost to families. 

 

As a designated Early College partnership, eligible PHS students can enroll in BCC courses—either at PHS or on the BCC campus, online, or in hybrid format—earning dual credit that both satisfies high school graduation requirements and counts toward an associate degree starting their sophomore year. 

 

"Early College programs provide students with a meaningful bridge between high school and higher education," said Adam Klepetar, Vice President of Student Affairs and Enrollment Management at BCC. "This designation reflects our commitment to educational equity—and to ensuring that Pittsfield students can earn college credit, build confidence, and reduce the cost and time to degree. We look forward to supporting them every step of the way." 

 

BCC's local Bridge to College initiative has already helped students complete college courses and credited dual-enrollment offerings; this new designation strengthens that pathway in close collaboration with Pittsfield High School. 

 

"We are delighted to formalize our partnership with BCC," said Maggie Harrington-Esko, Principal of Pittsfield High School. "This designation means our students can access real college-level learning on campus or in our classrooms, gain academic confidence, and get a jumpstart on their future—without adding cost. It's a gamechanger for young people in Pittsfield." 

 

The Early College initiative, launched in 2017, supports pathways that merge rigorous academic coursework with career exposure, student support, and strong college–K12 partnerships—prioritizing equitable access, especially for low-income, first-generation, Black, and Hispanic students. Statewide, these programs have been shown to increase college enrollment and completion rates significantly for historically marginalized student populations. 

 

In 2025, Massachusetts state funding appropriated millions to expand these programs, enabling partnerships like BCC and PHS to enhance staffing, professional development, and student recruitment. This designation marks the first approved Early College partnership in Pittsfield and for BCC.