PRESS RELEASE:
DRURY HIGH SCHOOL EARLY COLLEGE PROGRAM PASSES $1 MILLION MARK IN COLLEGE TUITION SAVINGS FOR STUDENTS AND FAMILIES
NORTH ADAMS – North Adams Public Schools is pleased to announce that following the completion of the 2025-2026 school year the cumulative savings in college tuition costs for students participating in the Drury-MCLA Early College Program has crossed the $1 million mark, with the actual college tuition savings of Drury students and families since the program began now $1,023,392.63.
Since 2022, the Drury-MCLA Early College Program has provided Drury High School students with access to rigorous, credit-bearing college coursework at no cost to students while still enrolled in high school, providing students and families huge financial savings. "This milestone demonstrates the incredible potential of our students when given access to rigorous academic opportunities,” Drury principal Stephanie Kopala said. “Through Early College, students are not only accelerating their postsecondary education but also developing the critical thinking, communication, and problem-solving skills needed to succeed in college, careers, and as engaged members of society."
In the 2025-2026 school year, 69 students participated during the fall semester and 63 students participated in the spring, collectively earning an impressive 575 college credits, an increase from the previous year’s 476 credits earned. Beyond the financial benefit, students developed the independence, perseverance, and academic confidence necessary to successfully navigate college-level expectations before graduation.
“I am incredibly proud of our students and the commitment and courage they have shown in taking on this level of coursework while still in high school,” said Katie Cyr, Early College & Workforce Development Coordinator. “Their achievements represent more than credits earned, they reflect growing confidence, perseverance, new possibilities, and recognizing just how much they are capable of.”
The Drury-MCLA Early College Program, the largest program of its kind in Berkshire County, will enter its fourth year at the beginning of the 2026-2027 school year. Combined with workforce development and career readiness opportunities like internships, and Drury’s state-designated Innovation Career Pathway (ICP) in Healthcare and Social Assistance, Drury students will continue to benefit from the school's unwavering commitment to preparing students for success beyond graduation.