Colleges Boost Partnerships With County High Schools

In their junior year, eligible students can take up to 15 credits of tuition-free college courses and, provided they do well, are guaranteed enrollment at Montgomery College or the University of Maryland, Baltimore County.

"For many of the students, it's getting them thinking about college and showing them it's really a reality for them and getting them to learn the application and the financial aid process," said Joan Strasnick, a college and career coordinator at Wheaton.

In another collaboration, Northwood High School students work with University of Maryland, College Park graduate students using the Geographic Information Systems software for a project involving Wheaton redevelopment.

At Wootton High School, eligible seniors who have completed high school graduation requirements can take "Morality and Contemporary Law" or "Introduction to Business" -- two of several classes taught by Montgomery College professors. Students in the institute pay tuition, earn college credit and operate independently from the rest of the school, sometimes traveling to Gaithersburg high school, which also offers such classes.

The program matures students, exposing them to different expectations and higher-level discussions, said Wootton Principal Michael Doran.

These "are not Advanced Placement classes that get you ready for college," he said. "This is the real thing."

Seneca Valley and John F. Kennedy high schools recently launched college institute programs at their campuses.

Mary Kay Shartle-Galotto, executive vice-president for academic and student services at Montgomery College, said the idea is to also encourage dual-enrollment opportunities -- at Montgomery College and University System institutions.

"It's not just an administrative agreement," she said. "We want this partnership to generate good ideas and help different high schools come up with programs that will be good for them."