Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2012

Teens can get college credit

Johnston County school leaders say they expect more high school students to sign up to earn college credit through classes at Johnston Community College.

This semester, nearly 100 students are enrolled in community-college courses through a credit-transfer program and through a career and technical education program, the school system reported.

High school students in North Carolina have been able to earn college credit for free through community colleges for years. In Johnston, hundreds of students each year enrolled in so-called Huskins courses, in which community-college instructors taught college classes in local high schools.

But state funding for the program was cut, and only about 80 Johnston students took the classes last year, said Joy Woodard, director of career and technical education.

Last year, Gov. Bev Perdue announced plans to consolidate five existing high school-to-college programs, including Huskins and dual enrollment.

Now, high school juniors and seniors can take college courses if they have at least a 3.0 grade point average and pass a placement test, said Cary Lane Cockrell, director of the high school curriculum in Johnston.

This semester, 28 students are enrolled in that program, and they must maintain at least a 2.0 grade point average in their college classes, Cockrell said.

Students can choose from four curriculum paths: business and economics, English and math, humanities and social sciences and health sciences.

Unlike the Huskins classes, students must now find their own transportation to Johnston Community College for the courses.

But the school system is working on an agreement with JCC to bring some classes back to Johnston high schools next semester, Cockrell said.

"We're very excited for that opportunity for our students," she said.

This semester, about 66 students are enrolled in career and technical classes at JCC, Woodard said. Students with a grade point average of 3.0 or higher are automatically eligible for the program, but JCC has lowered the requirement to a 2.0 GPA if students get a letter from their principal.

They can choose from 11 career areas, including welding, biprocessing and criminal justice.

"Those are set up from what our community's job market is," said school board member Mike Wooten. "That's smart."