INDIANAPOLIS — Completing high school can be a challenge in itself but imagine doing it while also taking college classes. That’s what a group of students are doing at a high school on the near northside of Indianapolis.
“Our goal is that 100% of our scholars will leave with an Associate's Degree or an industry-based certification,” Believe Circle City High School’s Assistant Principal, Jawn Manning, said.
The high school partners with Ivy Tech. 92 out of their 210 students are dually enrolled. That means at certain points during the school year, students would need to double up on classes.
In May, Autumn Joshua, Taryn Bebley and Elazia Davison all graduated from IVY Tech Community college with their Associate's Degree as juniors in high school.
The school opened in the Fall of 2020, meaning three of its original 53 students finished with their Associate’s Degree.
“I would just say go for it because the thought of doing something like this might be scary, but you just have to take that leap of faith,” Joshua said.
According to Manning, there are roughly 10 to 15 students who are on track to have their Associate’s Degree in December, and another six to seven are in the junior class and on track to finish in the spring of their senior year.
“I was raised by mom. She had me when she was really young, so it is hard for her to provide for me by herself,” Bebley said.
Manning told WRTV the school’s model is early college and career for all of the students. It provides experiences that will set them up for success.
“Nationwide the graduation rate for black and brown students is hovering around 40%,” Manning said.
