New Classes at the Middle School Designed for College Preparation

from the Tigerhawk Talk May Newsletter

Colfax-Mingo Middle School’s Extended Learning Program (ELP) is going to begin offering online classes next year to prepare students for Advanced Process (AP) and Concurrent Enrollment (CE) classes at the high school. These are challenging high school classes taught at a college level. AP and CE classes allow students to earn high school and college credit simultaneously. The goal of the new online ELP options is to create a multi-level district college preparatory path beginning in sixth grade. Qualified sixth through eighth grade students will be eligible to enroll in the AP/CE preparatory classes as a supplement to their regular core curriculum.

Students enrolling in C-MMS AP/CE preparatory classes require a mentor. The ELP teacher is assigned to mentor these students. Students wishing to enroll in a preparatory course must replace one semester of exploratory courses with the preparatory course of choice. Some exploratory courses are required and cannot be replaced. Sixth: Skills for Healthy Living and Computers. Seventh: Family and Consumer Sciences and Art. Eighth: Shop and Careers. The AP/CE preparatory courses are designed to extend learning for students, not replace courses and curriculum already offered at C-MMS. Enrollment in comparable courses does not count as core curriculum credit. In example, a student enrolled in Introduction to Biology during his/her seventh grade year does not earn credit for seventh grade Science. It counts as an exploratory credit.

The AP/CE preparatory classes are designed to help students develop the study skills and knowledge base necessary for success in high school dual-credit classes and, eventually, college courses. In addition to gaining extended learning opportunities, students will work on technology literacy, organization, time management, and developing academic reading and writing skills.

These courses are especially valuable to self-motivated, intelligent students who are preparing themselves for a college or university career. Because of this, these classes are challenging, demanding, and exceptionally rigorous. It is likely these courses will be some of the most difficult, time-consuming courses students will experience while in middle school.

C-MMS will be sending out letters to qualifying student regarding enrollment in the new program in the 2nd week of May. The letter will include enrollment information and provide details on a meeting in the end of May.