Eleven students at Hillsboro High School are celebrating a significant academic achievement: the successful completion of college courses while still in high school. Through the school's Early College Credit Program, these students earned a combined total of 42 college credits.
The program offers a range of courses including Introduction to Public Speaking, General Psychology, Women & Gender Studies, Introduction to Business, and Survey of Astronomy. This experience provides students with a head start on their higher education journey, allowing them to explore diverse academic interests, gain college-level experience, and save on tuition costs.
"I believe students gain so much more than college credits and academic content when they choose to take college classes through the Early College Credit Program (ECCP) and Start College Now," said Mrs. Sheri Holthe, Co-Advisor of the program. "They gain confidence and the knowledge that they can achieve something bigger than they thought they could. When they start taking these classes while in high school they have a built-in support system surrounding them that is not there when they go off to college. During their first course, students in these programs often require help navigating the college platforms, registering for their classes, and making sure they understand how to submit assignments and read their professors' rubrics. As they take more classes, they require less and less assistance and gain so much independence and confidence in navigating these systems. Our goal is to send these students off to college with the skills they need to be successful wherever they are."
The school district is proud of these students' dedication and hard work. This accomplishment demonstrates the value of rigorous academic programs and the commitment to providing students with opportunities to excel.