ABILENE, Texas -

Holland Medical High school is now taking steps to expand their early college program for underclassmen.

The program is currently only available to juniors and seniors attending Abilene High, Cooper High or ATEMS (Academy of Technology Engineering Math & Science).

Abilene ISD has agreed to let them expand their program if the campus is approved by the Texas Education Agency.

In the 2015-16 year, we would be a junior, senior full-day offering and we could slowly move outward to encompass sophomores and freshmen as well, said Michael Trook, dean of health sciences at Holland Medical High.

Currently, high school students interested in taking medical and dental classes at the school can earn up to 30 credit hours before graduation. The expansion would allow them to earn up to 60 college credit hours.

Clare Nickel, a teacher and registered nurse at Holland, said it will let students decide what they want to do earlier so they will not have to waste time or money when they get to college.

It will give an even greater opportunity for students to be able to decide to go into the medical field earlier to get their prerequisites out of the way earlier to get started on their career, Nickel said.

To do that as a freshman or sophomore, just gives them more opportunities, Nickel said.

Just seeing the future students be able to have a better opportunity is awesome, said Mariah Mayo, a Cooper senior who also attends Holland High. Im very thankful and excited I was able to help make this happen.

Follow this link:

Holland Medical High School to expand early college program