For several years, Gary’s 21st Century Charter School has been the poster school for bridging the gap between high school and college.
Since 2011, more than 100 students have earned associate degrees while in high school and five received bachelor’s degrees.
Its students not only earned dual credits for taking college courses in high school, but they also sat in the classroom alongside college students.
With a gym full of students on Friday, the 21-year-old Gary charter school formalized its relationship with local campuses at Ivy Tech, Indiana University Northwest, and Purdue Northwest.
The schools were represented by IUN Chancellor Arrick Jackson, Ivy Tech Chancellor John Gipson, and PNW Chancellor Kenneth C. Holford.
Students looked on as leaders of all three schools signed a memorandum of understanding outlining the terms of a new partnership aimed at strengthening student success and coordinating pathways to help students earn certificates and degrees.
The Scholarship Plus program calls for the charter school to cover tuition, textbooks and transportation. The eight-page agreement also tasks colleges to provide wraparound support services including counseling and tutoring to better prepare students.
The charter school’s venture into higher education began in 2011 with Vincent Pena, an accomplished student who contemplated dropping out of school.
Pena’s decision to leave high school because he couldn’t afford college set off alarms. The school paid for him to attend Ivy Tech where he earned an associate’s degree by the time he graduated from high school.
Pena’s name hangs above the gym on a red banner, next to basketball banners. It includes the names of dozens of students who earned associate and bachelor’s degrees. Pena was the first.
Last year, 30 students in the Class of 2025 earned associate’s degrees and one, Tierra Cunningham, earned a bachelor’s degree.
Raven Osborne, who attended Friday’s signing, became the first student to earn a bachelor’s degree in 2017. She’s an elementary teacher today.
Most high schools offer dual credit courses taught by high school teachers who’ve gained accreditation in the subject.
“For us, students actually go to PNW, IUN, or Ivy Tech. That is intentional. We believe in the power of the place. Students need to see it’s someplace they can be successful in,” said Kevin Teasley, CEO and founder of the GEO Foundation, which operates the school.
“It’s important students get the real college experience while they’re with us… I won’t lie, it’s not all rosy. Some students do fail, but we are there to pick them up,” he said.
Teasley said 21st Century Charter has an enrollment of about 1,100 students and about 83 in its Class of 2026. He said about 90% will leave school with either a college certificate or a degree.
“Our families have a sense of urgency,” Teasley said. “They want them to start earning a traditional income.”
Teasley said the school spent about $600,000 on college tuition this year.
“We want our universities to look at us as full clients, not a charity case,” he said.
Shania McCullough, a senior, said she wasn’t planning on getting a degree In high school but a counselor changed her mind. She’s on track for an associate degree in general studies and is weighing a criminal justice major.
“It’s a lot of time management and seeing how much it means,” she said of juggling classes and schools.
Another senior, Alexis Atkins, will receive two college certificates, she said. Atkins has been accepted at Ball State University and hopes to study public relations.
College classes were a plus for her. “For me, it’s been good. I feel like I know what I am going to do.”
State Secretary of Education Katie Jenner said “GEO’s Scholarship Plus program reflects what’s possible when Indiana education partners work together.”
Teasley said part of the charter school’s college program focus is included in the state’s new diploma requirements, set to go into effect with the Class of 2029.
“Our high school is not a destination,” he said. “It’s a launching pad.”
Carole Carlson is a freelance reporter at the Post-Tribune.
