High school students get a head start on college
Staff writer
Hillsboro High School seniors have the option of taking four college courses this semester.
The courses are taught at the high school during the regular class schedule and count as dual credit for the students. The seniors get college credit as well as a high school elective.
"It's a good thing to get into as a senior," said Stephanie Loewen, HHS senior. "I really recommend it to any underclassmen or junior. It really helps you get a head start and feel more prepared for college."
Last semester the high school offered four college classes: American History I, psychology, college algebra, Composition I, and speech. This semester the college courses offered are American History II, speech, human growth and development, and Composition II.
Of the 50 seniors this year at HHS, 39 were enrolled last semester and 33 are enrolled in this semester in college courses.
"It seems the college classes get more and more popular each year," said Diana Holub, counselor at HHS.
The program that offers the classes is Technology Excellence in Education Network (TEEN). TEEN started offering college courses in 1992 and is a coalition of five school districts: Hillsboro, Herington, Peabody, Marion, and Centre.
According to Dr. Sharon Tatge, executive director of TEEN, more than 500 students in the five districts have participated in the program this year.
The classes take place at the high school and can be taught through Instructional Television (ITV), as digital video courses, through a cart class, or as an in-house on-site class, and some of the schools can offer up to three classes at one time.
The instructors are employed through Butler County Community College or Cloud County Community College where the courses are accredited. The instructors are qualified people from high schools or other colleges, and come from as far away as Manhattan to teach. Classes are broadcast from one of the interconnected schools to all the district participants.
Seniors enrolled in college classes pay tuition to the community college and buy books, but with no travel or room and board, there is a substantial savings.
In order to enroll in the classes, the seniors must take the ACT, and score an 18 or above in English to take comp classes, and a 21 or above in mathematics to enroll in algebra.
The college credits are all transferable to state schools, but may only count as electives at private or out-of-state schools. Holub says that the counselors will check with the colleges to see how the credits will transfer.
Sara Hill began teaching college Comp I and II courses approximately 10 years ago and only teaches in-house and on-site. According to Hill, the courses are comparable to college courses taught elsewhere.
"I think students who come out of our college courses are just as prepared as if they've taken it on a college campus," said Hill.
She says instructors have to follow course objectives the college provides and students are required to do the same work.
According to Holub, previous graduates who have taken the college courses suggest other seniors get the credit in high school if they can.
Loewen, who will have 32 college credit hours after she completes the courses she is taking this semester and this summer, says she started taking the courses to get ahead.
"I plan to go into nurse practitioning, and the major takes six years," said Loewen.
She feels a lot more prepared for college now that she has taken these courses.
"I know a lot more about what I need to do," said Loewen.
She says her parents are proud of her accomplishment, and glad that college is going to cost a lot less.
Not only will the classes help prepare her for college and reduce college costs, but they have also helped her win scholarships.
Loewen was a semi-finalist in the District Scholarship Invitational and has another scholarship at WSU where she plans to attend in the fall.
The classes can be a big help academically, to the learning process, and financially, according to Hill.
"Anytime a student can graduate from high school and already have earned college credit, it's to their benefit," said Hill. "Once students have their general education requirements out of the way, they can concentrate on the core curriculum of their major."
Holub says next year three of the schools won't have block schedules in the morning, and it may affect college courses, but according the Dr. Tatge that won't be a problem.
She says that the schools will offer some blocked and some non-blocked classes.
"I think if we didn't have the college classes any more, the seniors would be very unhappy," said Holub. "They give kids opportunities."
