HUMBLE, Texas – It may be eight years away, but fifth-grade students at Humble ISD's Pine Forest Elementary School know a thing or two about college.
"I would like to go to Harvard for my bachelor's, master's and doctorate," said student Preston Ellis.
"Since I have been to Rice University before, I would like to go there," said student Jayden Conrey.
"That's your first step in being an adult and getting the responsibility you've always wanted as a kid," said student Dana Kim.
"I think of it as part of life to get a better degree and a better job," said student Parker Matthews.
Thinking about college is actually part of the Humble ISD curriculum for all elementary school students.
Jennifer Vandenbrook is a school counselor and runs the program at Pine Forest Elementary.
"Within the classroom there are either counselor-led guidance lessons, lessons led by the teachers in the classroom helping to establish goals," said Vandenbrook.
She created a "College Corner" in the school, filled with school pendants and college books.
Each Wednesday it's college T-shirt day.
Fifth-grade students also go on field trips to tour campuses, like Rice University.
"I loved looking into the library, because there are so many books and I love to read," said student Sidney Cotto.
Pine Forest Elementary is not the only grade school trading in the classroom for a college campus. Last year Rice University hosted 34 tours for elementary school groups and 63 for middle school groups.
Parents at Pine Forest are on board with getting their children ready earlier.
"We've just always talked about college from the time he's little," said Jennifer Ellis, Preston's mother. "That's just what you do in life and that's the next thing."
Ellis believes in exposing Preston to a variety of college activities while he is young.
"We occasionally visit where my husband and I went to school, and we do sporting events at colleges," said Ellis.
But, when is the right age to start getting your children thinking about college? Is elementary school too early?
Houston educational expert Shelby Joe said the earlier the better.
"It's very important we start inculcating them at a very young age, elementary school or middle school, that college is attainable, and affordable and that it's possible," Joe said.
Starting in elementary school and through middle school Joe suggests getting your child involved in sports, hobbies or community service, not for resume building, but to teach them the real value of those opportunities, like physical fitness, personal happiness and making the world a better place.
"Colleges couldn't really care about what the parents forced their kids to do in elementary and middle school," said Joe.
Joe said ninth grade is the magic time to start getting laser-focused on a resume and grades.
"They do want to see in high school that you've been able to do tennis for all four years, that maybe freshman year you were most improved and by senior year you were captain of the team," Joe said.
The program at Pine Forest Elementary is paying off. In one example, graduate Cody Diaz was valedictorian at Atascocita High School and currently attends MIT.