2008 Woodie Awards
Hello, Middle College
APSU welcomes high school, college leap
Tinea Payne
Issue date: 8/25/08 Section: News
Zserilyn Finney, a 17-year-old high school senior, will not complete her final year at Kenwood High School. Instead, Finney is among 120 high school juniors and seniors who will complete their final years at Middle College High School, newly located at APSU.
"Middle College is a unique collaborative program between Clarksville-Montgomery County School System and Austin Peay State University," said Melissa Champion, principal of Middle College. This unique program "enables junior and senior high school students throughout the district to obtain a high quality high school education while concurrently receiving direct and invaluable access to college courses," Champion said.
"The Middle College concept is not novel," Champion said. "However, our district's approach of incorporating a choice of seeking a bachelor's degree or associate's degree is unlike any other in the nation."
"I'm totally excited," Finney said. "As soon as I was accepted I wanted the summer to be over so I can start. Now that school has started, I can't wait for my college classes to start."
Students eligible to attend Middle College must have completed the tenth grade and live within the Clarksville-Montgomery County school district. Students must hold either a 2.85 GPA or an ACT composite score of 20 or higher, according to the district's Web site (www.cmcss.net).
Is it like college?
Students who enroll in Middle College are considered college freshmen and "will be in college classes with traditional college freshmen," said Champion. Like traditional college freshmen, Middle College students can enroll in 1000 and 2000 level courses and are held to the same grading standards as APSU students.
Champion said Middle College students can take college courses such as American literature, chemistry and second-level Spanish for high school graduation requirements if taught by district teachers, or receive dual credit applied towards a high school diploma and college degree, if the classes are taught by an APSU instructor. "I'm actually learning what I want to learn where I want to learn it, which isn't an option for most students," said Finney.
"Middle College is a unique collaborative program between Clarksville-Montgomery County School System and Austin Peay State University," said Melissa Champion, principal of Middle College. This unique program "enables junior and senior high school students throughout the district to obtain a high quality high school education while concurrently receiving direct and invaluable access to college courses," Champion said.
"The Middle College concept is not novel," Champion said. "However, our district's approach of incorporating a choice of seeking a bachelor's degree or associate's degree is unlike any other in the nation."
"I'm totally excited," Finney said. "As soon as I was accepted I wanted the summer to be over so I can start. Now that school has started, I can't wait for my college classes to start."
Students eligible to attend Middle College must have completed the tenth grade and live within the Clarksville-Montgomery County school district. Students must hold either a 2.85 GPA or an ACT composite score of 20 or higher, according to the district's Web site (www.cmcss.net).
Is it like college?
Students who enroll in Middle College are considered college freshmen and "will be in college classes with traditional college freshmen," said Champion. Like traditional college freshmen, Middle College students can enroll in 1000 and 2000 level courses and are held to the same grading standards as APSU students.
Champion said Middle College students can take college courses such as American literature, chemistry and second-level Spanish for high school graduation requirements if taught by district teachers, or receive dual credit applied towards a high school diploma and college degree, if the classes are taught by an APSU instructor. "I'm actually learning what I want to learn where I want to learn it, which isn't an option for most students," said Finney.
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Amber
posted 9/11/08 @ 7:46 PM CST
I recently met with Melissa Champion, and she was very knowledgable about APSU middle college. She got me very excited, and I can't wait to attend (if I get accepted!). (Continued…)
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