(Danville) — More Danville Public School Students will get a head-start on college.
Dr. Carllnisha Bullard, Coordinator of Advanced Learning and Choice Program with the Danville Public School System, told the School Board Thursday that 90 High School students will go to Danville Community College Campus this fall via the ‘Early College’ program. That’s a nearly 50% enrollment increase over this year.
“We have high school seniors and juniors who attended classes at DCC and earn an associates degree while still attending high school,” Bullard said. “They satisfy both high school and college course requirements.”
The program began in 2022 with just a couple-dozen students. There are 62 enrolled in the current school year.
To qualify for Early College, students have to have at least a 3.0 grade point average, and to have completed Algebra 2 with at least a C. They also have to have good attendence and a satisfactory discipline record. They also need a teacher recommendation.
And Bullard says the program will expand in other ways. “This year we implemented a study hall monitor, someone to help them and to keep them on task,” Bullard said. “We also have tutoring scheduled. On Tuesdays they have math, on Thursdays they have history and we also have biology tutoring in place.”
Danville Community College has also made efforts on their end to boost the program. “DCC has hired an Early College Coordinator who started a few weeks ago,” Bullard added. “They’ve also hired a Student Success Coach.”
The program’s first graduates will get their degrees from DCC on Saturday.
Bullard also reports their Dual Enrollment partnership with DCC is growing. Right there are 185 students participating. They have 260 signed up for this fall. That’s being paid for with a half-million dollar funding boost from Danville City Council.