Ted Davis reported on a survey he has done with members of the class of 2003.
WOODSTOCK – Former Telstar High School Principal Ted Davis says 43 out of 65 graduates in the class of 2003 have fulfilled a pledge made last year to enroll in some sort of postsecondary education.
Davis’ report to the SAD 44 School Committee was based on a survey he has done. It’s part of the district’s pledge regarding the $65,000, three-year Project Opportunity Grant received by the district in 2001.
Davis said he asked the members of the class of 2003 before graduation how many planned to continue with their education, and 65 said they did.
Following up, he learned that 43 of those have now enrolled in a postsecondary program. “Nineteen had enrolled in a four-year program, 21 in a community college or two-year program, one in a certificate program and two entered the armed forces,” said Davis.
Of another eight students who enrolled in a college or university or entered the service, he said four have dropped out, two did not attend, one had deferred entrance for a year and one held off until January before beginning her college career.
As for the remaining students, who didn’t go on beyond their high school education, some had been accepted at various colleges but chose not to go, some got jobs and some did nothing, a group that is of concern for school officials.
“This is an area we are most concerned about, and in a partnership with the guidance department we are working on plans we hope will eventually help us see an end to this situation,” said Davis.
Since January, he has met with students who participated in the study as well as their parents to discuss ways that the program can be improved.
Also on Monday, Superintendent David Murphy talked about a new program being instituted at Telstar High School to help prepare juniors for the SATs.
“This is a prep course for the SATs that will run two hours a day from 4 to 6 p.m. for four weeks. Out of 85 juniors, we have 30 that have indicated an interest and we plan to get the program under way the third week of this month,” said Murphy.
He said the program is being run by district staff members in conjunction with the Cambridge company that runs the SAT testing program.
The cost of the course for each student is $15, a small amount compared to the regular $200 cost. The rest of the funds are available through the Project Opportunity Grant.
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