Many Unclear on Options for Cedar Hill's Early College High School
Posted on: Friday, 28 March 2008, 03:00 CDT
By Kathy A. Goolsby, The Dallas Morning News
Mar. 28--Today is the last official day to apply for the Cedar Hill school district's early college high school, yet many eighth-graders and their parents said they are still unclear about their choices.
Though the deadline is today, officials said they would continue to accept applications and consider them on a first-come, first-served basis.
The four-year high school, a collaboration with Cedar Valley College, opens this fall with 100 freshmen on the Ninth Grade Center campus. Students there will take high school and college courses, earning a high school diploma and 60 hours college credit by graduation.
Parents can choose whether to enroll their children in the new program, described as quite vigorous, or have their children attend a regular high school.
Early college high school is for self-motivated students, but not necessarily those in the top of their class, said Dr. Homer Carter, the district's chief academic officer.
Parents must attend monthly meetings at the school.
"That's an essential ingredient," Dr. Carter said. "If a parent cannot find that time, then we're going to ask they not be part of this."
The district has received more than 70 student applications, along with inquiries from dozens of parents of students outside the district, Dr. Carter said.
Despite parent and public meetings, some parents said they don't have a solid picture of what the new school would offer.
"We've been to meetings about it, and we've been told different things every time," said parent Bruce Musgrove. "What we're finding is the more we learn, the more confused we are."
District officials said they have held meetings to explain the option and answered many of the questions parents brought up.
For instance, several students attending a Ninth Grade Center open house on Monday said they don't plan to apply because the new option does not allow for extracurricular activities.
But Dr. Carter said students at the early college high school will be able to participate in band, sports and other activities if it doesn't interfere with class work.
"And they'll have a bigger array to select from," Dr. Carter said. "They'll have things at the high school level, or they can participate in activities at Cedar Valley College."
Susan Mendenhall said she worries about what would happen if her child didn't do well in the program.
"It's really a hard choice," Ms. Mendenhall said. "I want the best for my daughter, but I want her to do well in school."
Dr. Carter said that at the end of each school year, students can choose to return to regular high school if the program is not a good fit. Counselors will work with and monitor students, he said, and the students will attend classes that teach study skills and help acclimate them to college.
Grace Mendenhall, 13, said she sees the program's pros and cons.
"I'd be a junior in college when I graduate, but the only bad thing is, I may want to do swimming and softball," said Grace. "With this, you have to study, study, study."
Brooke Courtney, whose mother teaches at Cedar Hill High School, turned in her application Wednesday. Brooke is confident she can handle the workload without giving up volleyball, her church activities and her place on a competitive cheerleader team.
"It's kind of scary, but I'm hoping that I'll do okay," said Brooke. "I'm pretty good with making my schedule more flexible."
About early college high school
Early college high school is a rigorous four-year program in which ninth- through 12th-graders take high school and college courses, earning a high school diploma and 60 hours college credit. College tuition and textbook fees are waived. Freshmen and sophomores will attend classes at the Ninth Grade Center four days a week and at Cedar Valley College on Fridays. Juniors and seniors will attend most classes at the college. For information, call 469-272-2021 or visit www.chisd.com.
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Source: The Dallas Morning News
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