New student orientation and scheduling

Newly admitted OEC students should be arranging Compass placement testing and scheduling as soon as possible for the Fall term. If you have not yet set up your appointments, please contact Ms. Lane right away at (248) 522-3540.

New student orientation will be all day on September 2 and 3, 2010. Parent orientation is scheduled for the evening of September 2, 2010.

Summer 2010 school report

You can download the Summer 2010 school report and institutional overview here.

Spring 2010 Graduation and Honors Convocation

Thanks to everyone who attended our Spring 2010 Graduation and Honors Convocation! In case you weren't able to attend, here's a brief clip from the very end of the ceremony:

You can also watch the Oakland Early College Year in Review: 2010 slideshow here:

Guest speakers in Focus

Last week's guest speakers were Paul Gross, meteorologist and TV personality at WDIV-4, and Richard Bernstein, attorney, recent candidate for Attorney General, and nationally renowned rights advocate.

This week's speakers include Terry Foster, sportswriter for the Detroit News and media personality on 97.1 FM (The Ticket), and Karen Gagnon, Director of the State of Michigan's Cool Cities Initiative.

We will be meeting in J-294 at 11:25 AM for these special presentations.

Admission for Fall 2010

Admissions for Fall 2010 for students not living in, or attending schools in, West Bloomfield School District, have closed. If you live in West Bloomfield School District, or presently attend a school within West Bloomfield School District, you may still be considered for admission for the limited seats that may become available. Be sure to contact our offices right away at (248) 522-3540.

You can find our "About OEC" informational packet here.

Winter 2010 college grade report

In addition to a rigorous college preparatory high school curriculum, OEC students took 219 college courses during Winter 2010, for an average of 3.06 credits per course (this is quite high and represents a predominantly core academic curriculum). College courses ranged from Mandarin Chinese to Calculus III to Composition II, from Yoga to Digital Photography to History of Rock. In these courses, they carried between a 2.8 and 2.9 average course grade, or between a B and a B- average. In the aggregate, students achieved about a 94% pass rate, which is consistent with previous semesters (every semester to date has been within a percentage point or so, from 92-95%) and substantially higher than "traditional" college students.

Upcoming field trips

On Friday, June 4, Ms. Patawaran's Focus class will head to Gleaner's Food Bank in Pontiac to assist in their efforts to end hunger in Oakland County. That same day, Ms. Chan and Ms. Bordoley's classes will visit the Holocaust Memorial Museum in Farmington Hills, Michigan. On Friday, June 11, Ms. Maddalena's class will be engaging in Zoology in the Park at the Detroit Zoo.

Prom 2010

Prom will be held on May 28th at the Carriage House at Pine Knob in Clarkston, Michigan. For further details, please contact Josh Finney, Emma Green, Ms. Maddalena or Ms. Chan! Come join us!

PTSA School Directory

The OEC Parent Teacher Student Association is preparing a 2010 Winter School Directory, and is selling business advertisements. You can download the form here. For every $25 business card sized ad a student sells, $5 will be donated by the PTSA to that student's prom account.

Upcoming PTSA meetings:

June 10

All meetings will be held at 6:30 PM, location TBA.

If you aren't a member of our PTSA, please join ASAP! Contact PTSA President Jackie Randel at jaclynilene@yahoo.com.

Mind and Body Club

The OEC Mind and Body Club is sponsoring yoga sessions on Monday and Wednesday afternoons! Please see Ms. Chan for details. You can download the participation form and information here.

Join us on Facebook!

Why not become a fan of OEC on Facebook? Join us and get announcements about news, upcoming events and opportunities.

College portfolios

OEC students: If you are enrolled in college coursework, you can login to your college portfolio here. Login information and passwords are available from your Focus teachers.

Mathematics tutoring

In addition to OEC's tutoring opportunities, OCC's mathematics lab, in room A-202, is open Monday-Thursday, usually from 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM. The lab is available for drop-in tutoring. Please see the schedule in the A building for specific tutoring details.

Daily and weekly announcements

Daily and weekly announcements will be sent out regularly via Edline. Urgent announcements may also be posted on this site as applicable.

Featured OEC student artwork (via Flickr)

As part of our ongoing efforts to showcase student artwork, here are this month's featured pieces. Links to our student artists' biographical information are made available only at their request.

OEC Cougar newspaper

The Oakland Early College Cougar newspaper has begun publication! The paper, which will be published entirely online, will be advised by Ms. Rebecca Chan, who will also teach OEC's journalism class.

The OEC Cougar covers stories at the school, college, local, and world levels. To find out more, visit the OEC Cougar site.

2008-2009 academic calendar

The 2009-2010 academic calendar for Oakland Early College is now available for download. Please remember that college courses begin on September 3rd; students who are dually enrolling this year will be expected to be in attendance at that time.

New student orientation

New student orientation took place on Tuesday, September 1 and Wednesday, September 2, 2009. Here is a copy of the new student orientation powerpoint presentation. A schedule from the orientation session may be downloaded here.

Quick Start Guide to OEC: This guide, which is intended to serve as an informal FAQ, was given to all students at new student orientation. You may download it here.

OEC Student Handbook: Here is a copy of the OEC Student Handbook. (You may also download a copy here, if you'd prefer.) Graduation requirements are included in this handbook. This is intended as a supplement to the West Bloomfield School District Student Handbook, as well as the Oakland Community College student code of conduct. Each student will receive a copy of this handbook, either at new student orientation or in their Focus classes:

The guide to our Focus class can be found here.

Attendance hotline

In the event of a student absence from a high school class, please call Jenny Lane at (248) 522-3541.

High school course hours

High school course hours for Fall 2009:

Block Hour Time
1 1 8:10-9:10
2 2 9:15-10:15
3 3 10:20-11:20
4a 4 11:25-11:55
4b 5 12:00-1:00
4c 6 1:05-1:35
5 7 1:40-2:40
6 8 2:45-3:40
7+ 9+ Dual enrollment blocks (actual times vary)

Contact information

The main office phone number is (248) 522-3540.

Our mailing address is:

Oakland Early College
27055 Orchard Lake Road
Farmington Hills, MI 48334

Our fax number is (248) 471-9543.

Alternatively, you can contact us via email using the following addresses:

OEC photostream (via Flickr)

About college scheduling

OEC students wishing to look through the course catalog for available OCC classes for Fall 2009 may want to use this link, then click on "Search for Sections."

Third-year, fourth-year, and fifth-year OEC students should have already set up their fall counseling appointments, including an appointment with an OCC academic counselor. Second-year students who are taking non-CNS courses must also set up counseling appointments. You may not schedule for college courses without meeting with your counselor!

Sample student schedules

One of the most common questions we are asked is, "What does a typical student schedule look like?" The answer is, there really isn't such a thing. By second year (tenth grade) for some students, and by third year (eleventh grade) for all students, schedules are highly individualized to allow for extensive college coursework. As a result, it's rare that two student schedules look alike. Many students opt to take coursework at non-traditional times, including evening and weekend courses. In creating their academic schedules, each student is counselled by high school and college counselors on an ongoing basis.

With that in mind, here are a few sample student schedules (courses in gray are college courses). With the exception of the ninth grade schedule, all schedules are actual student schedules from Fall 2008:

Oakland Early College in the news

College coursework

As our students work towards their Associate Degree at Oakland Community College (and/or up to 60 transferable credits), they take a wide variety of courses. For the Fall 2008 and Winter 2009 semesters, these courses included (scroll to see full list):

About Oakland Early College

Oakland Early College (OEC) is an innovative partnership between the West Bloomfield School District and Oakland Community College's Orchard Ridge campus. OEC students (grades 9-13) attend high school on OCC's campus, and engage in an exciting college-preparatory curriculum taught by teachers from award-winning West Bloomfield Public Schools. A core element of OEC is dual enrollment in coursework at OCC. Students graduate with a high school diploma, innovative educational and professional experiences, and up to 60 transferable college credits or an Associate Degree in the field of their choice--all provided at no out-of-pocket cost to students and their families.

Students at OEC are encouraged to select specific areas of academic focus, and to work towards Associate Degrees in areas of study including (but not limited to):

  • Liberal Arts;
  • Fine and Performing Arts; and
  • Business and Entrepreneurship.

Our students come from all over Oakland County--from Milford to Royal Oak, from Southfield to Oxford. They join us from public schools, private schools, parochial schools, and homeschools. What they share in common is a desire for a rich educational experience that bridges the gap between K-12 and higher education.

OEC is committed to helping increase post-secondary access and opportunities for Oakland County students, and to improving the quality of education available to young people who may not have found their niche in larger, more traditional high schools.

Is OEC for me?

We believe a student's academic success is based, in part, on the "fit" between student and school. Traditional, comprehensive high schools are not for everyone. OEC is a small, innovative school that focuses on accelerating learning--for all students--in a close-knit, supportive environment.

The best way to know if OEC is for you is to visit with us, and attend one of our upcoming information sessions. However, a few questions to consider include:

  • Are you generally happy with your high school experience? Do you feel like you've found your "niche" there?
  • Do you generally feel like you've found your educational pathway, rather than floating through your course of studies?
  • Are you generally interested in what you're learning in school? Do you usually see a point to your studies?
  • For the most part, do you feel like you're ready for college academically? Do you feel as though you'll be ready to "navigate" college?
  • Are you generally reaching your potential as a student and learner?

If the answer to any of these questions is "no," it might be worth investigating OEC further. Come visit us, and spend a day with one of our students!

OEC isn't a traditional high school. It's also not an "alternative high school," at least not how people usually talk about alternative education. OEC's goal is to reinvent school to meet the needs of Oakland County high school students as part of their K-16 pathway, while giving students a head start on college. Small class sizes, dual enrollment opportunities, and innovative educational experiences are what we're about. (We're especially interested in helping to increase post-secondary access and opportunities, and in improving the quality of education available to students who are being underserved by traditional, comprehensive high schools.) We believe all students can learn, and we expect success--for all students.

Oakland Early College shirt

Spirit wear: Our new Cougar shirts are available (and easily customizable) for purchase online!

You can even customize the back of the shirt to add your name or graduating year, or choose a different shirt and/or item!

Valentine's Day Dance planning committee, February 13, 2009

Physics lab, February 7, 2009

Fifth-year student Mallory Schram talks about her experience at OEC.

Fourth-year student Simone Cameron talks about her experience at OEC.

Fourth-year student Brianna Adkins talks about his experience at OEC.

Fourth-year student Josh Finney talks about his experience at OEC.

Fourth-year student Taylor Beakley talks about her experience at OEC.

Second-year student Taylor Rose talks about her experience at OEC.

Third-year student Kabrina King talks about his experience at OEC.

Third-year student Anthoney Charaman talks about his experience at OEC.

Third-year student Bradley Sobie talks about her experience at OEC.

Fourth-year student Jasmine Moore talks about her experience at OEC.

OEC Chemistry students in Ms. Maddalena's class doing their first lab experiment of the year.

Brad Sobie performs a drum solo at a Friday Jam Session at the OCC Studio Cafe.

Jessica Lee works on a composition at a Friday Jam Session at the OCC Studio Cafe.

Question: How does OEC work?

OEC is a five-year Early College High School for Oakland County students grades 9-13. Students attend high school on the campus of Oakland Community College's Orchard Ridge Campus, with a college preparatory high school curriculum taught by teachers from award winning West Bloomfield Public Schools. Once students achieve mastery within a specific domain, usually by 10th or 11th grade, students begin dually enrolling in OCC courses for high school and college credit. The goal is for students to graduate with their high school diploma, awarded by West Bloomfield Public Schools, and up to 60 transferable college credits and/or their Associate Degree from Oakland Community College.

Question: Who is OEC for? Is this just for kids who are already being well served by traditional high schools?

No. In fact, the history and research regarding Early College High Schools clearly show that these innovative schools are especially effective in meeting the needs of underserved students. A major purpose of Oakland Early College is to increase post-secondary access and opportunities. Our position is that a student may be underserved in many ways. Some students are underserved by virtue of socioeconomic status or geography, or by being the first generation of college students in their families. Others have career interests and educational development plans that are simply not addressed by the courses of study offered at their home schools. Still others are being served adequately academically, but have been marginalized in their home communities, or have been impacted by family and/or life circumstances. Similarly, students may be underserved vocationally if their career pathway leads towards jobs or academic tracks which have not traditionally been open to them. Some students simply come from backgrounds where continuing educational opportunities are not readily available, especially in high-poverty areas. Oakland Early College has a special commitment in meeting these students' affective, support, and academic needs.

Question: Is this a private school? How much does it cost?

No--OEC is a public school, open to students from throughout Oakland County, Michigan. There is no special out-of-pocket cost to students and their families--even for college coursework.

Question: How do I apply?

The OEC is open to all Oakland County residents. It is a selective program--not for prior success, but for appropriateness of placement. Applicants should:

  • be capable of doing college-level work;
  • be motivated to radically accelerate their learning;
  • genuinely and passionately want to attend OEC;
  • have no history of serious disciplinary infractions; and
  • be reading at grade-level (as demonstrated on standardized test scores).

Also, prospective students must submit an application with an essay and recommendations from two teachers and a counselor, and be interviewed by staff at the OEC to demonstrate that they:

  • have the desire to attend a small high school;
  • have the potential and capability to successfully complete rigorous high school work and college courses;
  • are willing to become motivated learners in a new and exciting environment; and
  • have a genuine interest in the career pathways of focus at the OEC.

Students must also take appropriate placement tests, as determined by the college and OEC.

Question: Can I play sports at OEC?

OEC students may be eligible to try out for sports teams at West Bloomfield High School. However, academic schedules take priority, and for many students, it is possible that conflicts could exist.

Question: What about other co-curricular activities?

Each year, OEC designs high school-level activities that meet the specific interests of its students. Students also, however, have extensive student life opportunities through Oakland Community College, as appropriate.

Question: Is transportation provided?

Students are required to provide their own transportation to and from OEC. SMART has a stop right at the OCC campus, which makes it an attractive option for many students.