The APSU Middle College High School

1. The APSU Middle College High School One of the 8 high schools in the Clarksville Montgomery County School System • Opened in 2008; Limited to 120 students • Located on the APSU campus • Offices and one classroom in Marks • High school classes are taught in available classrooms in other buildings on campus between 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. • Staff and faculty are employees of CMCSS

2. APSU Middle College Students • Apply to CMCSS and to APSU for admission as dual enrolled students (proposal to change requirements already presented) • Applicants not meeting APSU admission requirements may be selected for admission “by committee.” • Curriculum • Complete remaining high school requirements • 11th grade—one university course each semester • 12th grade—two university courses each semester

3. Funding • CMCSS pays • All tuition, fees (including program services fee,) and books ($210,862.18) • Instructional and staff salaries • State of Tennessee • High school HOPE scholarship (80.8%) • 75% APSU Freshmen receive HOPE • APSU commitment • Provide space in Marks; classrooms for high school classes

4. Who are the students? The 109 students chosen to participate are • Capable academically • Not motivated by extra-curricular activities • May have attended a number of different schools during k-12 years (highly transit) • Do not find traditional high school a welcoming environment • May lack aspiration to fulfill academic capability

5. Dual/Joint Enrollment • Any student who has not completed high school and who is enrolled in an APSU class and earns credit that will satisfy a high school requirement is dual enrolled. • Joint enrolled students have not completed high school, but the APSU course(s) they complete do not fulfill a high school requirement. • A middle college student may be either or both.

6. Their Achievements • 48 graduated in May 2009; 19 attending APSU • College Courses and Grade Distribution • Fall ’08—116 students enrolled170 Courses; 83% earned a C or better; 8%-D; 9%-F • Spring ’09—114 student enrolled • 173 courses; 87% earned a C or better; 10%-D; 3%-F

7. What is EPAS? • EXPLORE, PLAN, and the ACT—the three programs in ACT’s Educational Planning and Assessment System (EPAS™)—provide an assessment system that measures student readiness along a continuum of college readiness benchmarks. • EPASallows teachers, counselors, and students themselves to track academic progress from eighth through twelfth grades on skills directly related and linked to college preparation.

8. What is PLAN? • As a "pre-ACT" test, PLANis a powerful predictor of success on the ACT. At the same time, many schools recognize the importance of PLAN testing for all students, as it focuses attention on both career preparation and improving academic achievement. • PLAN can help all students—those who are college-bound as well as those who are likely to enter the workforce directly after high school. • Typically, PLANis administered in the fall of the sophomore year.

9. ACT’s College Readiness Benchmarks College Course PLAN Predicted ACT*Readiness for Success English Composition 15 18 Mathematics (College Algebra) 19 22 Social Sciences 17 (Reading) 21 (Reading) Biology 21 24 Readiness for Success: Students who meet benchmarks have a 50% chance of earning a B or better in the college course; 75% chance of earning a C or better. * Assumes continuing academic progress during 10th and 11th grades Note: Current A-100 Guideline defines academic deficiency as an ACT subject area score below 19. College Readiness ACT, p. 44