In three years the number of students at Crothersville High School getting college credits at IVY Tech while in high school classes has doubled.
That information was explained to the board of trustees of Crothersville Community Schools by Tom Judd, Director of High School Initiatives at IVY Tech. Judd is a former high school principal at Crothersville.
In the first year (2007-08) we offered college credit for taking classes in high school there were 31 students enrolled, Judd told the board. “This past school year 65 students were taking courses for college credit.
“As a result, their parents saved over $23,000 on college tuition costs,” Judd said. “You have parents saving money and students easing into school.”
Crothersville, along with several other area schools, participate in the program that allows high school juniors and seniors to take classes in various subjects that will transfer to whichever college or university they choose to attend. This past year, 65 Crothersville students earned 205 credits.
Credits, Judd said, are at no cost to students, which saves them thousands of dollars in the long run. Using Ivy Tech’s average credit hour price of $99.65, the 65 students saved $23,678.25. Judd said to triple that number for other state schools or private colleges.
Three new classes have been added for this year, including an agriculture class, a speech class and an introduction to teaching course.
“We’ll continue to look for classes,” Judd said of new courses. “We will increase these numbers.”
School board President Dale Schmelzle wondered if students could potentially leave high school with an associate degree, and Judd said it’s a possibility in the near future.
Dual-credit classes must be taught by a certified teacher, and a student must earn a grade of a C or better for the class to count as credit. Juniors and seniors are eligible to take the classes, but qualified sophomores may also sign up with approval.
In other business the board accepted the extra-curricular coaching resignations of Savannah Mains, Daniel Hodge, Kara Hunt, Bryan Hougland, and Kourtney Howard Scifres.
The board approved hiring Alissa Sweazy as the co-class sponsor for the Class of 2013.
