Red Bank Regional High School (RBR) is partnering with Georgian Court University (GCU), Lakewood, to offer two courses that will offer high school students an opportunity to earn college credits.
The two courses, Foundations of Exercise Science & Wellness and Nutrition in Exercise, Wellness, Sports and Dance will be offered in the 2012-13 academic year. Seniors enrolled in RBR’s Academy of Sports Medicine and Management (ASM&M) will have the first opportunity to register, and if space is available the classes will be opened to other students.
The dual credit courses will cost approximately $198 each, paid to GCU, and represents a significant discount to the university’s usual fee per class. Low-income students enrolled in the free and reduced lunch program will be covered through the Small Learning Community Grant that the district won several years ago to develop the small learning academies. A student successfully completing the course will receive high school credits toward graduation and three college credits per course. These courses are offered as part of GCU’s Course Ahead Program developed 10 years ago in partnership with area high schools for the purpose of offering dual credit courses.
“This will help give our students a leg up in college. Research shows that students that take college level classes in high school are more likely to succeed at the college level,” said RBR Superintendent Jim Stefankiewicz. “This agreement with GCU is part of a larger initiative to align all our academy programs with the college community so all our students have the opportunity to graduate high school with college credit whether it be through Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB) or dual credit courses.This arrangement is particularly important because there currently are no AP or IB courses offered in health and physical education.”
The classes will be taught by an RBR teacher and will use the same books and follow the same curriculum as Georgian Court.
The Academy of Sports Medicine and Management was created three years ago as part of RBR’s small learning communities’ initiative, funded by a major grant won from the federal government for this purpose.
