DANIEL TYLER GOODEN / L’Observateur / May 27, 2000

LUTCHER – St. James Parish high school students will now be able tograduate with 12 credit hours toward a college degree already under their belt.

Approved by the St. James School Board Tuesday, the high schools willteam up in a concurrent enrollment program with the new River Parishes Community College in Sorrento.

Recently, 87 students from St. James and Lutcher High schoolsvolunteered to be tested by the RPCC to determine if St. James studentswould be accomplished enough in math and English to enroll in college level courses. Both RPCC and St. James School System officials werepleased with what they found.

A total of 47 students, just over half of those tested, placed into college English composition I. A total of 37 students placed into developmentalEnglish II, or current high school English, which is right where they should be, said Tommy Powell, RPCC student counselor.

Only three of the students tested at developmental English I, which is high school junior English.

Six students tested above college algebra and into college trigonometry on the math test. Those students will receive credit for college algebrawithout even having to take the course, said Powell. Twenty-one studentsplaced into college algebra, with the rest falling into place in two other developmental algebra courses, he added.

“It is important to note these students are currently going to be seniors in high school, and that placement into college level courses is a great accomplishment. Many of the developmental courses that the studentsplaced into is high school work that they will complete their senior year,” said Powell.

RPCC is currently working with the schools to determine which classes will be taught. Enough students are interested in taking the Englishcourses that they will be taught at both schools. Initially, math may onlybe taught at Lutcher, said Bill Martin, RPCC vice chancellor and dean of academic affairs. Faculty from RPCC will teach the classes at the highschools either full or part time, added Martin.

“One of our major goals is to prepare students for college,” said St. JamesParish Superintendent Edward Cancienne. “This is a great partnership witha college that understands high schools and their relationship to college.

I’m excited about it, and I think the parents will love it.”

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