Metro students can attend Nashville State while still in high school for free

Metro Nashville Public Schools (MNPS) and Nashville State Community College (NSCC) will offer Metro Public Schools’ students an Early College High School Program beginning in the 2018-2019 school year. The program will be housed at MNPS’ Middle College High School located on NSCC’s main campus and will offer a rigorous curriculum emphasizing Information Technology (IT) leading to a college associate degree.

“Our goal is to better prepare students for life by giving them early access to opportunities like college and the ability to make a decent living after high school. The best part of this educational opportunity is that it will be offered at a no cost,” said Dr. Shawn Joseph, MNPS director of schools. “While other school districts have adopted early college concepts, this will be a first effort for Metro Schools.”

“Nashville State is delighted to partner with MNPS to create this opportunity for high school students,” said interim NSCC President, Dr. Kim McCormick.

Within a four-year period, admitted students will not only earn a high school diploma, but graduate with an Associate of Science in Information Technology. The degree is part of the Tennessee Transfer Pathways program which guarantees that college credits earned will also transfer to some public and private universities in Tennessee for completion toward a bachelor’s degree.

Incoming NSCC President, Dr. Shanna Jackson said, “Postsecondary education is a necessity in today’s workforce, and attending an early college program while still in high school is a proactive way to ensure students are on a clear path toward obtaining a college degree. I look forward to building on this effort with MNPS to best serve students in the region.”

Students will receive personalized support to help them balance the rigor of taking both high school and college courses at the same time. Eighth grade students who meet the district’s academic magnet entrance requirements, including a grade point average of 85 or greater and acceptable test scores, may apply. In its inaugural year, only 100 seats will be opened to qualified students entering 9th grade. The school will add a grade each year with the first graduating class in the 2021-2022 school year. The Early College program will gradually replace the current Middle College Program, which provides students the opportunity to earn college credits and an associate’s degree but is not set up to ensure students earn the college degree.

Early College High Schools are relatively new, yet boast a 90 percent graduation rate, according to Jobs for the Future, a national nonprofit organization that develops and promotes education and workforce strategies. MNPS’ graduation rate is 81 percent compared to a national average of 80 percent.

For more information on the Early College High School Program, call (615) 259-INFO (4636), e-mail earlycollege@mnps.org or visit online at mnps.org/earlycollege. Interested families may apply online: https://www.mnps.org/early-college-application-process

NASHVILLE STATE COMMUNITY COLLEGE

Nashville State Community College is a two-year institution, serving Davidson, Cheatham, Dickson, Houston, Humphreys, Montgomery, and Stewart Counties. Our mission is to provide comprehensive educational programs and partnerships, exemplary services, an accessible, progressive learning environment, and responsible leadership to improve the quality of life for the community it serves. Nashville State Community College is a Tennessee Board of Regents institution and complies with nondiscrimination laws: Title VI, Title IX-Section 504 and the ADA. For more information, please visit www.nscc.edu.

METRO NASHVILLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Metro Nashville Public Schools is one of the nation’s top 50 largest school districts, preparing 88,000 students for higher education, work and life. With the goal of being the first choice for Nashville families, Metro Schools is committed to #ExceedingGreatExpectations with the mission of delivering a great public education to every student, every day. The district is earning a national reputation for urban school reform, social and emotional learning and rising academic achievement. The governing body for Metro Schools is the Metropolitan Nashville Board of Public Education, a nine-member elected body. For more information, visit MNPS.org, or follow us on Twitter @MetroSchools or Facebook /MetroSchools.