Wyoming PS looks to offer 2-year degree

WYOMING, Mich. (WOOD) - By the time Wyoming Public Schools middle-schooler Sanzhar Scoby gets to high school, some college credit could be among his graduation requirements.

It's an idea district leaders are looking at, along with offering a tuition-free two-year college degree for students who stay in high school for a fifth year.

"That part would be great, especially in this economy," said Sanzhar's mother, Kathy Scoby.

"For the student that wants to take advantage, that says, 'Hey, I left high school with two whole years [of college] done and that saved me anywhere from $10,000 to $50,000. That's a huge shot in the arm," Associate Superintendent Tom Reeder told 24 Hour News 8.

It's also about convincing students college is attainable, Reeder said.

But Scoby wonders if every high schooler will be ready to take college classes.

"Will some kids struggle? Yes," Reeder said. "But we also have some things in place to help them that maybe a college doesn't traditionally have.

"The misnomer is people think, 'Well, the college classes are so much harder than the high school classes -- not always true. Sometimes the high school class is as hard if not, harder depending on the content area, or the same," he said.

Reeder said students could get their college credits in a number of ways: Advanced Placement classes, non-AP classes that meet college requirements and dual-enrollment classes at college campuses. Many Wyoming Public Schools students, and students across the state, already use dual-enrollment classes, which K-12 districts pay for.

There are two similar programs, dubbed "early" or "middle" colleges, in Michigan. One is in Flint; the other in Dearborn Heights. Neither is run by a K-12 districts.

Administrators in Wyoming expect the fifth year of high school in their program to be free because students would still be part of the state and locally funded Wyoming Public Schools system.

In a way, it would remove the barrier between K-12 and higher education.

"Now with that barrier in place, we're not sure how the state would allow us or not allow us [to proceed]," Reeder said, which is why the district is looking at a three-year window to implement the program.

"It gives us some time to explore it," the associate superintendent said.