Centerpoint programs provide new opportunities
ROSBORO — The Centerpoint School District crafted two new programs to better suit students’ needs and prepare them for postsecondary education.
Project 2020 was developed in partnership with Cossatot Community College of the University of Arkansas to enable students to graduate high school with both a high school diploma and an Associate of General Studies degree. The degrees will be transferable to any four-year public university in the state.
“This is a great opportunity for our students,” said Centerpoint High School Principal Nic Mounts. “Our students and their parents are excited about Project 2020, and they are excited about the possibilities.
“With the rising costs of tuition across the state and nation, completing an associate degree, the first two years of a bachelor’s degree, in high school will also decrease education costs for these families. Our hope is that this encourages more students to realize that a college degree is very much attainable.”
Sophomores in the 2017-18 school year will be able to take online classes through UA Cossatot while in high school. Costs of the program are covered by the school district. Parents are not responsible for the costs of tuition, fees or books.
“We are excited to partner with Centerpoint High School,” said Ashley Aylett, vice chancellor of academics for UA Cossatot. “Project 2020 will assist youth to further their education with less barriers. It will also familiarize them with college processes and expectations. We are very pleased to have this opportunity.”
Project 2020 was designed to involve high school students in a college experience before they leave high school and increase the district’s rate of students who pursue postsecondary education. Students will be required to maintain a qualifying gradepoint average and meet entrance requirements established by UA Cossatot.
The three avenues for entrance are the ACT, ACT Aspire and the Accuplacer. Required scores on the ACT are 19 on the reading, math and English portions. The cut scores on the Aspire are 428 on both reading and math, as well as 432 on writing. The cut scores on the Accuplacer are 88 for reading, 77 for math and 94 for writing.
UA Cossatot is located about an hour west of Rosboro in De Queen. Centerpoint is the first school district to develop this type of partnership with UA Cossatot and Project 2020 is the only partnership of its kind in southwest Arkansas.
“Centerpoint reaching out to us is encouraging,” said UA Cossatot Chancellor Steve Cole. “Our community will benefit from this type of initiative greatly. The higher skilled our students, the better our local jobs and local economy.”
Students can enroll in other electives, but must enroll in a specific class schedule with the rest of their cohort. They must score a grade of “B” or better to earn college credit.
A student will be able to leave the program at a semester break, re-enroll in traditional high school classes and remain on track to graduate. A family will not be asked to reimburse the district if the student participated in the courses in good faith.
Centerpoint High School students in grades 7-12 will also have the option to attend the Centerpoint Virtual Academy with digital instruction adapted for their individual needs. Participants will still be eligible for all extracurricular activities, including all sports.
“Our new virtual academy is going to give students the opportunity to take classes from the convenience of their homes,” Mounts said. “This isn’t something that we anticipate dozens of our kids taking advantage of. Instead, it’s for students in unique circumstances.”
The district developed the program with clearance from the Arkansas Department of Education to keep students in extenuating circumstances in school. They will have two options for course delivery.
Students in the blended learning option will attend school on campus and take a combination of traditional and online courses. They will be able to take regular and Advanced Placement courses with the possibility of earning college credit.
Virtual learning will allow all classes to be taken virtually at home after developing a personalized learning plan and being assigned a mentor. Parents must agree to provide internet access at their own expense. Participants will be required to apply and be approved through an entrance interview.
“We are 1:1 in grades 6-12,” Mounts said. “Every student has a laptop, so the only thing that a parent must provide is reliable internet access.
“When these students go to college, they’re going to take online classes out of necessity. That’s just the way things are, and I think there are only going to be more and more digital classes.”