The School Board received a briefing on the high school data during its Dec. 19 meeting.
Curriculum Coordinator, Kim Lindley-Soucy, explained that one of the things the district has is a Dual Enrollment program with Southern New Hampshire University, where some staff at the high school are adjunct professors allowing students to “kickstart their college journey while still in high school through SNHU in the high school courses.”
She explained that the program is $100 for a three credit course and an additional $25 is added for labs. It was also noted that the credits earned as part of the program are generally able to be applied to the college the student attends.
Curriculum Coordinator, Sean Flynn, said like the SNHU program, they also have a Manchester Community College Early College program, which allows students to earn credits while in high school, and can either be used when attending MCC, or can generally be applied to a different school.
Unlike the SNHU program, a state grant allows students to enroll in up to two courses per year free of charge.
Lindley-Soucy said they have seen an increase each year in the number of students opting to be part of either of the programs, and expect that to be the case again this year. She added that currently 277 students are enrolled in one of the courses, 211 are taking at least two, 43 are taking at least three, and three students are taking four courses this year.
“Dual enrollment classes offer several benefits to students, making them a valuable option for many,” the presentation to the School Board read. “We have seen a steady increase in the number of students accessing this opportunity to earn college credit while in HS.”
Another program pointed to is the “Apply NH”, a state program, which helps high school seniors navigate the college admission process and encourages students to apply to at least one school by Nov. 1.
“This initiative is provided to our students through the hard work of our director of school counseling and the counseling department,” Flynn said.
A total of 121 students participated this year, up from 95 last year, and 53 the year before that.
It was also noted during the meeting that the district continues to encourage students, when appropriate, to take advancement placement courses, and this year, through a grant, are able to allow all students taking the courses to take the AP exam for free this May.
The next School Board meeting is slated for Jan. 30 at 7 p.m.