LUTCHER – As the 2007-08 school year turns into the final stretch, St. James Parish Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Alonzo Luce and Science and Math Academy Director Shelia Guidry are making notes on how to improve on the many positives that have come from the district’s Dual Enrollment program and partnership with Nicholls State University.

According to Guidry, SJPPS students enrolled in the new program, including 23 juniors and 15 seniors from Lutcher and St. James High Schools, have had the opportunity to earn college credits in Math, English and Government.  Students are transported to the NSU campus three days out of the school week and are in college preparatory courses at the SMA on two days of the week.

Currently 19 juniors are enrolled in Math 102 and seven seniors are enrolled in English 102 and Government 101. Those students completed English 101, Math 101 during the fall semester, having a 90 percent success rate during the term. “Initially, the students were apprehensive about how difficult college coursework would be,” Guidry said “Their success (in the first semester) proves they have learned how to efficiently manage their course loads to make the grade in college.”

Students were required to have a composite ACT score of 18, an English score of 18 and or a Math score of 20, to be admitted to the program.

Guidry added that parents of the students enrolled in the program are excited about the opportunity and challenges presented to their children by the dual enrollment program this school year, even requesting additional opportunities from the initiative for next year. Another benefit parents have been ecstatic about is there are no tuition costs or fees for students to participate in the program.

“Our parents appreciate that our students get to experience college in a manner that helps them gain the tools needed to enter college while continuing to provide stable support at the high school level,” Guidry stated. They especially like that there is no cost to the students to participate in the program. “

Dr. Luce is aggressively looking at ways to improve upon the success the program has experienced in just its first semester.

“Initially, I’ve been extremely pleased with our students’ preliminary results, especially in the Math courses and I am expecting our students to continue improving in their English and Government courses,” Dr. Luce stated. “As we move forward, I am expecting more of our students will take advantage of the program’s many opportunities and benefits by enrolling for next year’s courses.”

“We want our students to be able to compete in classrooms across the state as well as abroad and I look forward to the day when all of the juniors and seniors of our system are taking college level courses,” Dr. Luce said.

Parents interested in enrolling their students may contact Shelia Guidry at the Science and Math Academy at (225) 265-3042. For more information visit the SJPPS website at www. Stjames.k12.la.us.