They have "Spring Fling" dances, student elections and field trips, but what separates the students of Harbor Teacher Prep Academy from other high school pupils is that in four years, they will graduate with a high school diploma and an associate of arts degree.

September marks the start of the academy's second year. The class of 2006, last year's freshmen guinea pigs, will ascend to sophomore status and welcome a new freshman class. The student population will more than double, reaching around 150 students.

The academy, the first of its kind for LAUSD's District K, is an early college program, where students attend high school and college classes at Wilmington's Harbor College campus.

Through a partnership with California State University, Dominguez Hills, after graduation, the students can enter the university as juniors. With their general education requirements met, the students can focus on earning teaching credentials. The ultimate goal is that the students return to District K as teachers.

And while the 2002-03 school year was something of an experiment, most of those involved, including Principal Mattie Adams, said the year went well.

"I think we had an exceptional year," she said. "We were very pleased with the student success rate."

The academy reported a 90 percent student success rate in college courses and a 97 percent average monthly attendance rate. Two students will not continue as sophomores: one wanted to attend a larger school and the other wanted to attend a school that employed a guidance counselor, Adams said.

For students who attend a school with no bell system and have daily-changing schedules, responsibility is a requirement for success. Gary Newman, a biology teacher and 20-year LAUSD veteran, said he was pleasantly surprised by his students' maturity.

"It turned out better than any of us expected it to," he said. "At first, we weren't sure what kind of kids we'd have. It turned out that we had really good kids, motivated kids."

Harbor College President Linda Spink agreed. "They've been extremely responsible," she said. "Our faculty has been pleased and thought they were very mature."

Some of the students enjoyed themselves enough to spend their summer vacations not at the beach, but in class at Harbor College.

Elizabeth Adame, currently enrolled in a psychology course on campus, was student body president last fall. Around this time last year, Adame, now 15, made a decision to leave her middle school friends and attend the newly formed academy. The decision turned out to be a good one, she said.

"I was amazed at how much we got accomplished for the amount of students we had," she said. "I thought the first year would be boring, like we had no money and not that many students, but we got to go on field trips."

Somuadina Ikebudu, 14, hopes to follow in her father's footsteps and teach special education to elementary children. "The first year was good. There were a lot of activities for a new school," she said.

And while students, teachers and administrators agree the semester was successful, the coming semesters will not be without some modifications, including the implementation of an advisory responsibility for teachers.

"Each teacher will be responsible for 15 students - getting to know them, calling home for absences, getting to know the families," Adams said.

Also on the agenda for next semester are extracurricular activities, including a drama and music program, more field trips and the capacity for after-school detention, Adams said.

"Their parents would know right away that they're not doing what they need to be doing," she said. "We want a 100 percent success rate. If we're losing one or two students, that's too many."

While freshman orientation classes are held during the next two weeks, Adams said the school will accept applications until Sept. 5. Although almost at capacity, the academy can take 110 students.

"We're like a big family," Newman said, "and it's getting bigger and bigger."

Now a seasoned sophomore, Adame had advice for incoming family members.

"Just study," she said, "Don't slack off, because it's hard to catch up."