Thursday was the first day of class for students in the Socorro Independent School District. Mission Early College High School is one of the newest schools within the district, but it's unlike any other high school in the region.

Students will graduate with a high school diploma and an associate's degree. A total of 125 freshmen are enrolled in the program. During next four years, the students will be juggling state-required high school classes along a with rigorous college curriculum. They'll be required to use the same syllabus and textbooks as any regular El Paso Community College student.

For the first two years, the students will not be integrated with the rest of the community college students. It's a way for them to adjust to the college environment.

"I am nervous, but I'm up to the challenge," said Joseph Saucedo on his first day of school.

But how ready are these 14-and 15-year olds for college?

"They've already taken college placement tests, and a significant number of them have already shown that they are college ready academically in reading and writing," said Richard Rhodes, president of EPPC.

Getting a jump start on a college education is free for these students, but it comes with some sacrifices.

"These are students that are willing to give up certain things. They're not going to be involved in athletics because we're not going to have an athletic team or a have band," said Armando Aguirre, Mission Early College High School principal.

"I was planning on playing basketball in high school, but I figured basketball is only going to get me through high school, not through college or a profession," said Elizabeth Gonzalez, freshman.

This year, the program was open to all qualifying eighth-graders in the Socorro Independent School District.

There are only two other schools like this in the state. The program is funded through a $400,000 grant from the Texas High School Project, which is funded by the Michael and Susan Dell Foundation, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and the Communities Foundation of Texas.

The goals of the Texas High School Project are to lower dropout rates and to improve the college readiness of graduating high school students.For more information you can call 937-1205, or visit the district's website.