Home

. . . . .

Schenectady
High School

. . . .

Guidance
Department

. . . . .

Exciting, New  Opportunity for Incoming 9th Graders

Students entering ninth grade in September 2012 have an opportunity to apply for this exciting program that not only prepares them for college, but also enables them to earn credit hours while in high school - all at no cost to the student or family.

The Schenectady Smart Scholars Early College High School program is a partnership between the State University of New York (SUNY), Schenectady County Community College (SCCC) and Schenectady High School (SHS) to establish a collaborative learning and teaching environment for 9th graders.  The program is part of the School of Business and International Studies at Schenectady High School.

Students enrolled in the program will receive additional academic support from school/college partnerships to ensure they are at grade level and ready to participate in rigorous collegiate courses. 

The program will give students a jump start as well as help reduce  college tuition costs by compressing the time needed to complete a college degree.

Is the Smart Scholars Early College
High School Program for You?

Criteria

• Student must be currently enrolled in the 8th grade in the Schenectady City School District and considered eligible for 9th grade for the 2012-2013 academic year;
   
• Student must be identified as belonging to a population that has historically not had success to or success in higher education (i.e., minority, potential first generation college students, from single parent household, in foster care, etc.)
   
• Student must demonstrate academic performance for 7th and 8th grade that is higher than 65%
   
• Student experiences financial constraints or burdens (ie., receives free and/or reduced lunches, low family income, recent family incomes changes, considered economically disadvantaged, etc.)
   
• Students must have successfully completed:
  • the application for admission
  • submitted two (2) letters of recommendation completed by employees of the Schenectady City School District
  • participated in an intake interview

The purpose of the Smart Scholars program is :

• to increase high school graduation rates;
• to increase the number of students who complete postsecondary credential/degrees;
• to address the needs of students from populations traditionally underrepresented in college;
• to help close our nation's student achievement gap
• to do all this at no additional cost to the student or family.

The partners in this program are committed to facilitating positive, transformational changes which provide a successful and wide reaching program for a target student population which is traditionally underrepresented in college.

Back