100 percent of Fountain Square Academy's high school students to take Compass test

First step to enrolling in college courses at Ivy Tech

There are many roads that lead to college. Taking the Compass test at Ivy Tech is one gateway to the road to college. If you don't step up and take it, you won't get into Ivy Tech.

At Fall Creek Academy and Fountain Square Academy, two of our local Mayor-sponsored charter schools, 100 percent of the high school students are lined up to take the Compass test this March. All of the juniors and seniors have already taken the test--and they are enrolled in college level courses.

The big news is that all of our current freshmen and sophomores are taking the test, too. They will take it now so that they can plan their Fall 2010 schedules. They will be sophomores and juniors this fall.

"We are very proud of this development. Both schools encourage every student to go to college. Both schools go beyond just encouraging students to go to college," said Kevin Teasley, president of the GEO Foundation, which manages the schools. "Both schools actually pay the tuition and buy the textbooks for the students and provide staff support to students while they take their courses. Our students take courses on the college campus, too. We strive to ensure success for each student in their college class to build their belief that they can indeed succeed in college after high school."

While not all students will pass the Compass test the first time, the experience itself is worthy. Students learn what it takes. And they come back determined to take it again--and pass. Our schools provide support to help them pass, too.

"We are proud of our relationship with Ivy Tech," said Teasley. "The courses our students take are courses that are fully transferable to a 4-year state university."

Right now, 34 percent of all high school students at Fall Creek Academy are enrolled in college level courses. The goal is to have high school students not only graduate from high school, but to do so with a serious number of college credits, too -- as many as 60 college credits.

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