Area eighth grade students who will be part of the new Michigan City High School “Early College” next fall received an official welcome to the program on Tuesday, May 20, from MCHS and MCAS administrators, counselors, teachers, and area higher education partners.
The students and their families gathered for an induction and dinner in the high school cafeteria, which gave them an opportunity to meet other students and faculty and to learn more about how Early College will be structured. The program will be based at Michigan City High School and will function as a “school within a school” for up to 125 ninth-grade students.
MCHS Early College, offered in partnership with Purdue University North Central and Ivy Tech, will enable high school students to earn both high school and college credits. Upon graduation, they will earn both a high school diploma and an Associate’s Degree (60 credit hours). Dual college credits earned through the program are free for any student eligible for free/reduced lunch, and are either free or very low cost for all others.
“You are the ‘Legacy Class’ for Early College in Michigan City,” Principal Wendel McCollum told students. “You will be the first to experience this unique opportunity, and you are setting an example of what is possible for all those who follow you.”
McCollum stressed that Early College will give students a solid foundation for success beyond high school. It builds on the already successful dual-credit program at MCHS, which enabled last year’s graduating class to earn 1,897 dual college credits through PNC, the most in the Duneland Conference.
Early College High Schools exist in communities across the U.S. They are designed to serve middle-tier students, including those who may be among the first in their families to attend college. Students in the program are given specialized guidance services and other extra support to keep them on track with rigorous course work.
Around 30 slots are still available in the Early College program for Fall 2014. Families of eighth graders interested in applying should contact Rhonda LaMarr, MCHS Guidance Counselor, at (219) 873-2044 or rlamarr@mcas.k12.in.us.