Avondale High School offering free Early College Program

Avondale School District announces a new initiative, the Early College Program, for students interested in earning an Associate Degree from Baker College while earning their high school diploma from Avondale High School. The program will be in place beginning with the 2016-17 school year for students entering the 11th and 12th grades and is free to Avondale School District students.

“This is a great opportunity for our students,” said Avondale High School principal Sharon Hyde. “Imagine graduating from high school with an Associate Degree – ready to enter the workforce or continue post-high school education with a two-year springboard,” she added.

Currently the Early College Program offers two courses of study with plans to add additional opportunities for the 2017-18 school year. For the next school year, students choose to pursue either an Associate of Business Degree or an Associate of Applied Science Degree in Digital Media Design – two fields that the Bureau of Labor and Statistics predicts will see consistent growth in employment opportunities into the next decade. “We will be considering additional offerings for our students in the near future,” said Hyde talking about expanding the program into other areas of study. “We’ll want to look at employment trends, reports of shortages of qualified employees, and most importantly, student interests.”

In order to meet the requirements of earning both a high school diploma and an Associate Degree, students will attend an additional year of high school. They will participate with their class during Commencement and all graduation-related activities include Prom but will not receive their diploma until they complete the additional year. Upon completion of that “13th” year of high school and receipt of their high school diploma, they will also receive their Associate Degree from Baker College.

“Students will spend that thirteenth year attending classes at Baker College. Prior to that, the college courses will be offered primarily here at Avondale High School and will be scheduled in concurrence with classes required to meet the State of Michigan high school graduation requirements,” Hyde explained to a group of parents who attended an information session about the Early College Program. “Students will be able to participate in all Avondale High School athletic, fine arts, and after-school club and enrichment activities until the end of their twelfth year. In addition, students will receive support from Avondale High School staff well into the onset of their thirteenth year taken at Baker College.”

Hyde listed the supports that will be in place to ensure the students are successful in the program, highlighting the collaboration between the college and the high school and explaining that the Early College Program is a solid career pathway for students anxious to embark on a productive professional life. “Baker College has an unmatched reputation for providing resources, supports and guidance for their students as they graduate and take that next step toward finding employment and beginning their professional lives,” she said.

The Early College Program is open to Avondale students as well as non-Avondale students enrolled in the District under the Avondale School District Schools of Choice Early College Program. Applications for Avondale Schools of Choice students will be accepted between April 15th and May 15th, 2016. Anyone interested in obtaining an enrollment packet should contact Annette McAvoy at 248.537.6025 or by email at Annette.mcavoy@avondale.k12.mi.us. An Early College Program Schools of Choice packet will be sent once the enrollment period begins on April 15, 2016.

r