The Excelsior Program at the Academy of Hospitality and Tourism @ Erasmus is a highly selective academic pathway designed for motivated students who are ready to challenge themselves, accelerate their learning, and graduate with a significant number of college credits already completed. Rooted in academic excellence and college readiness, the program blends rigorous coursework, Advanced Placement opportunities, and partnerships with the City University of New York (CUNY) to provide students with a true early-college experience while still in high school.

The journey begins the summer before 9th grade, when accepted students participate in mandatory Foundational Bridge Courses. These courses are designed to strengthen core academic skills, establish strong study habits, and begin the process of college credit acceleration. This early start ensures that students enter high school prepared for the fast pace and high expectations of the Excelsior Program.

During 9th grade, students follow an accelerated academic schedule designed to quickly move them toward college-level coursework. In January, students take the ELA Regents Exam with the expectation of earning a college-ready score. Students who meet this benchmark are placed in Pre-Advanced Placement coursework to prepare for the AP English Literature Exam in 10th grade. In June, students sit for Regents Exams in Global Studies, Algebra I, and Biology, with a program expectation of earning a minimum score of 80 on each exam. The year concludes with a powerful opportunity: during the summer entering 10th grade, students enroll in College Now through partnerships with CUNY City Tech and Brooklyn College, earning their first 3 college credits (CC) while still in high school.

The program intensifies during 10th grade, when students fully enter the world of college-level learning. Scholars take AP World History (+3 CC), AP English Literature (+3 CC), and AP Environmental Science (+3 CC), while also participating in College Now courses during the Fall (+3 CC), Spring (+3 CC), and Summer (+3 CC) semesters. By the end of sophomore year, students will have accumulated a substantial number of transferable college credits while building the analytical reading, writing, and research skills expected in university classrooms.

In 11th grade, Excelsior students continue their rigorous academic progression through some of the most challenging and rewarding courses available. Students enroll in AP U.S. History (+3 CC), AP Seminar (+3 CC), AP English Language (+3 CC), and AP Spanish (+3 CC), alongside additional College Now coursework in the Fall (+3 CC), Spring (+3 CC), and Summer (+3 CC). These experiences deepen students’ research, argumentation, and presentation skills while expanding their academic portfolio in preparation for highly selective colleges.

By 12th grade, students are functioning at a level comparable to first-year college students. Seniors take College ELA in the Fall (+3 CC) and Spring (+3 CC) terms, AP Research (+3 CC) as the capstone to the AP Seminar course, AP Calculus (+3 CC), and AP Psychology (+3 CC). Students continue their College Now coursework in the Fall (+3 CC) and Spring (+3 CC), ensuring that they maximize their college credit accumulation before graduation.

Through this carefully designed four-year pathway, Excelsior scholars graduate with dozens of college credits, a transcript filled with Advanced Placement and college-level coursework, and the academic confidence needed to thrive at competitive universities. The program represents AOHT Erasmus’s commitment to preparing students not only for college admission, but for college success and long-term career readiness.

The Excelsior Program is more than an accelerated academic track, it is a launchpad for ambitious students ready to push themselves, earn college credit early, and graduate truly ahead of the curve.