The Raritan High School Early College Academy Class of 2023 students are entering their freshman year of high school and embarking on their college journey at the same time. This group of highly motivated and high achieving students got their first look at college life when they toured the Lincroft campus of Brookdale as well as the college’s Hazlet Higher Education Center on August 26.

These 24 students will earn credits towards their associate degree while also working towards their high school diplomas. During their first two years in the program, all college-level classes will be offered at Raritan High School. During their junior year of high school, students will take Brookdale classes at the Hazlet Higher Education Center. In their senior year, students will take classes on the Lincroft campus. This is the fourth cohort of Raritan students to enter this special partnership between Brookdale Community College and the Hazlet Township Public School System.

“This is going to be rigorous, but don’t forget that you have a giant network that is here to help you,” said Dr. David Stout, president of Brookdale Community College, to the students. “I look forward to handing you your college diploma when you cross the stage at commencement in May of 2023, which will be just about a month before you get your high school diploma.”

“We wouldn’t have accepted you into this program if we didn’t thing you were ready for the challenge,” said Dr. Andrew Piotrowski, principal of Raritan High School.

Brookdale has similar early college high school agreements with: Asbury Park, Keyport, Manasquan, Matawan-Aberdeen Regional, Middletown, Neptune, St. John Vianney, and Wall.