In the Spring of 2005, Hidalgo ISD was awarded two grants from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to establish two Early College High Schools.

Early College High Schools are schools designed so that students can earn both a high school diploma and an associate's degree or up to two years of credit toward a bachelor's degree.

The first class to start the program will be the future graduating class of 2010, which start ninth grade in the Fall of 2006. In 2010, all graduating seniors will have between 30 to 60 hours of college credit.

Students will receive college level credit from South Texas College and The University of Texas-Pan American.

Hidalgo High School will be the only non-magnet school in the nation to have all of its student population enrolled in the Early College High School Program.