Vol.:(0123456789) The Urban Review https://doi.org/10.1007/s11256-018-0481-x 1 3 Educational Resilience at Risk? The Challenges of Attending an Early College High School Yolanda Calhoun 1,2  · Virginia Snodgrass Rangel 1,3  · Hilary L. Coulson 1,4 © Springer Nature B.V. 2018 Abstract This study sought to explain student success at an Early College High School. Guided by previous research on Early College High Schools as well as by the construct of educational resiliency, 28 students were interviewed in focus groups. Through the analysis, we uncovered the key role that educational resilience played in their success as the students leveraged their own individual and social assets to adapt to the challenges they faced. The school setting itself also served to cultivate their resilience. We also heard from students about their ongoing struggles with sleep and anxiety. The study has implications for research on Early College High Schools and similar school settings, as well as for research on educational resilience. Keywords Educational resilience · Early college high school · Student success Introduction The Early College High School Initiative was created in 2002 by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to address the lack of college preparedness amongst high school graduates. The program targeted frst generation college students, students from low-income households, and students of color in an attempt to aid historically underserved populations. The program was designed based on the principle that combining rigorous academic study with the opportunity to save time and money both serve as strong motivators for students to strive and overcome challenges (Jobs for the Future 2004). The initiative provides students with an opportunity to earn * Virginia Snodgrass Rangel vrangel3@uh.edu 1 Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies, University of Houston, 3657 Cullen Blvd, Room 112G, Houston, TX 77204, USA 2 Spring Independent School District, Spring, TX, USA 3 The University of Texas, Austin, TX, USA 4 University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA