Spring Branch ISD Featured News

From the moment Tram Nguyen stepped onto the campus at Northbrook High School (NHS), she knew she wanted a future full of possibilities. Watching the first group of students take part in the school’s RISE Early College Academy, she saw what was possible and knew she wanted to follow that same path.

Now, as a member of the program’s second cohort, Nguyen is already taking meaningful steps toward turning those possibilities into reality.

RISE, launched during the 2025-2026 school year, provides students the opportunity to earn up to 60 college credit hours while still in high school through an associate degree pathway. The program is offered at no cost to students through district partnerships with Houston Community College (HCC) and the University of Texas and supports SBISD’s T-2-4 vision.

RISE allows students to earn their high school diploma while completing college coursework. Admission requires students to meet rigorous academic criteria. Applicants must pass required state assessments, meet 11th-grade promotion requirements and be enrolled in an SBISD school during the spring of their 10th-grade year. Students must also complete a formal application process.

As part of the second cohort, Nguyen spends part of her school day taking college courses taught by college professors and the remainder of her day at NHS enrolled in advanced high school classes.

“The program has given me insight into what college life is really like,” Nguyen said. “It’s helping me learn how to manage my time and energy, which I know will be important as I continue working toward my higher education goals.”

At the same time, Nguyen remains deeply involved in campus life. She participates in the National Honor Society, SAT Club and UIL Math, serves as a Class of 2027 ambassador and takes part in two college readiness programs.

By completing college coursework while still in high school, Nguyen is able to accelerate her academic pathway and significantly reduce the overall cost of earning a college degree. The opportunity allows her to get ahead academically while easing the financial pressures that often come with pursuing higher education.

Nguyen plans to transfer to Rice University or the University of Texas to pursue a degree in pre-med or engineering.

“I’ve been an SBISD student since kindergarten, and the district has always focused on helping students prepare for what comes next,” Nguyen said. “Seeing students ahead of me succeed in RISE made me realize this was the right path for me.”

This May, the first cohort of NHS’s RISE Early College Academy will graduate with 44 students, marking an important milestone for the program.

Building on the program’s early success, Spring Woods High School (SWHS) launched its own early college program this school year. The district looks forward to seeing Tigers follow the same pathway and celebrating their first early college graduates in the coming years.

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