In 2015 - 2016 Riviera ISD became a designated Texas Education Agency Early College High School (ECHS). Riviera ISD has a long history of successfully offering dual credit courses to Juniors and Seniors.

The ECHS designation provides students the ability to earn an Associate's Degree or up to sixty hours of college credit while in high school. Students may choose to earn a Certificate in the Fundamentals of Patient Care through Coastal Bend College.

Kaufer High School-Early College offers classes through both Texas A&M University-Kingsville and Coastal Bend College. These classes may be offered on either campus, on our campus, or as an online class with a face-to-face facilitator.

Beginning in 2018 - 2019 school year, all ninth graders will be enrolled in our Early College High School.

The Early College High School is part of a national initiative supported by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. A multi-year study finds that students in early college high schools are more likely to enroll in and complete college than students from traditional high schools.