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College-Based High Schools Fill Growing Need

Authors :
Manzo, Kathleen Kennedy
Source :
Education Week. May 2005 24(38):1-1.
Publication Year :
2005

Abstract

College-based programs that motivate underachieving teenagers to graduate and pursue further education is part of a menu of initiatives Guilford County, North Carolina, has introduced to meet the academic, social, and emotional needs of students in its middle and high schools, where racial and ethnic diversity and poverty have been on the rise. As a result of such efforts, officials say, the high school dropout rate has fallen from nearly 6 percent of students in grades 9-12 during the 1999-2000 school year to just over 3 percent for 2003-04. Educators point out that such students generally would not succeed without a lot of help getting back on the academic track. At the Early/Middle College, for example, teachers conduct home visits, meet regularly with students, and keep close watch on their progress. Students can take advantage of daily tutorials, make up school time on selected Saturdays and over the summer, or opt to attend a fifth year of high school. As a result, nearly all the high-risk students graduate with a college-prep or technical diploma, a majority earn grade-level marks on the state's end-of-course exams, and some leave with credit toward a college degree. Guilford County's high school options aren't limited to struggling students. Students across the district--which includes Greensboro and the surrounding suburbs--can earn a special Advanced Placement diploma for completing five AP courses and passing the exams. They can also choose from a handful of magnet schools, take courses at selected colleges, often with the district paying the tuition, or apply for the early- and middle-college programs. For many students, the programs have been life-altering.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
0277-4232
Volume :
24
Issue :
38
Database :
ERIC
Journal :
Education Week
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
EJ759513
Document Type :
Journal Articles<br />Reports - Descriptive