Danbury Early College Opportunity in Summer Program at DHS

Anders Drew giving advice on business practices to new students in DECO

DANBURY, CT — A new cohort of 55 Danbury High School freshman students is beginning its journey toward an Associate Degree by attending a three-day summer program at Danbury High School.

This week, the fourth cohort of students learned about team-building through activities, led by industry liaison Anders Drew of Oak Branch in Danbury and about business through visits from other area business leaders. The students will take their first DECO course “Workplace Learning” beginning at the start of school, Aug. 31.

DECO, under the direction of coordinator Dr. Sarah Roy, gives students an opportunity to earn an Associate Degree simultaneously with their high school diploma. The degree program is offered by Naugatuck Valley Community College (NVCC) at the high school as part of the program’s curriculum. Students begin accelerating their high school requirements so that by sophomore or junior year they can begin incorporating college-level courses. They can expect to complete the Associate Degree in four, five or six years. Some courses may take place at NVCC’s Danbury campus. DHS is the second high school in Connecticut to offer such a program.

The first two cohorts – now in their junior and senior years at DHS – will be taking three courses for college credit: systems for security management, systems for project management and accounting. Many of these students completed internships with area businesses in the spring as part of the program requirements.