07:22 PM CDT on Sunday, August 14, 2005

From 11 News Staff Reports

It may be the first day of school Monday, but many students are already thinking of college.

Some will be attending HISD's newest college preparatory school.

Called The Empowerment Institute, the school will give students up to 18 hours of credit that can be transferred to the college of their choice.

Marcus Cooper is one of the few who made the cut.

"I hope to get a better education so that when I get to college Its a lot easier, I don't have to relearn what should have been taught when I was in high school," he said.

Another benefit to earning college credit in public high schools is that it's free.