NATCHEZ — Next year, students enrolling in the Natchez Early College Academy might only have to go next door to attend college classes.

The Natchez-Adams School District is currently in talks with Alcorn State University and Copiah-Lincoln Community College to move NECA to their campuses.

“Everyone’s in place and really working to make this happen,” NECA Principal Kesha Broady-Campbell said.

Moving to a college campus would give students a different experience and learning environment, Broady-Campbell said.

“The opportunity to take classes on a college campus as young as they are, that makes it reality,” Broady-Campbell said. “That makes it tangible for the student.”

NECA is currently located on the grounds of Natchez High School, teaching AP and college courses to 145 students in grades nine through 11, with the hope of increasing to 172 soon.

The campus is currently in its second year.

“The goal of that school is to increase rigor for the same grades as the high school,” said Steven Richardson, spokesman for the school district.

While students at NHS can also take AP classes and dual enroll, NECA students are expected to produce at a higher level, Richardson said. The goal is to have an associate’s degree when they graduate.

The plan for next year is for students to be taught solely on the ASU and Co-Lin campuses. Richardson said the colleges have already identified some potential classrooms and labs they can use.

Broady-Campbell said the move would give students access to college resources such as libraries and writing centers.

And while students are already taking classes at Co-Lin, Broady-Campbell said they are only taking them in the morning. Once the move is made, 11th and 12th grade students will take them throughout the day.

In terms of transportation to the new campus, the plan currently being considered is for students to drive themselves or be bussed from the high school.

But before the final plan can go into action, it needs to be approved by ASU, Co-Lin and the NASD Board of Trustees. It’s expected the proposal should be completed and considered in late winter.

If approved, NECA would move to its new location for the 2016-2017 school year.

“We’re just very excited as a district about this great opportunity for our students to experience the college life at an early age,” Richardson said.

NECA enrollment begins early this week. The application packet will be available on NECA’s page on the NASD website.

Current eighth graders are evaluated on criteria including their grades, attendance and discipline record from the eighth grade. Students will also be evaluated through a writing sample and an interview process.

“The earlier you apply the better, because there are only 50 slots for ninth grade,” Richardson said.

If more than 50 applicants achieve the school’s standards, they will be entered into a random electronic selection process.

For more information, contact the school at 601-445-2865.