DIRECT COLLEGE
CHOICES & FLEXIBILITY!
Choices and Flexibility!
That’s what students (and parents) experience when they enter the hallways of Monroe High School. The vast amount of resources, opportunities – and rigorous instructional options – are second to none in Monroe County.
For example:
1. Students may select to take classes in the “dual enrollment” program, which offers an opportunity to take college-credit courses on the Monroe County Community
College (MCCC) campus, while still taking courses at Monroe High School (MHS). This is a very popular option for 11th grade and 12th grade students who have
transportation to the community college.
2. Students may choose to enroll in direct college classes at MHS. Similar to dual enrollment, direct college classes are taught by instructors from MCCC. Classes are
held at Monroe High School during the school day which is convenient for students who do not have transportation or have after school commitments.
With both of the above options, college tuition fees are paid for by the Monroe Public School District.
Monroe High School’s Direct College program is a great option for parents and students to consider, especially when tuition expenses for colleges and universities continue to rise on an annual basis. Direct College offers the academic rigor and relevancy that many parents expect (and demand) from public education. In fact, under the Direct College Program, MHS students who qualify may take up to 10 college courses which in high school, which is equal to one full year of college credits.
“We do have so many choices for our parents and students,” says Lisa Warnke, a Guidance Counselor at Monroe High School, who also serves as a coordinator for the state’s 'Career and College Ready initiatives. “When we get a chance to talk to students and parents from private schools, they are pleasantly surprised by all the academic opportunities we offer at Monroe High School. We have more choices than anyone else in Monroe County.”
Warnke also stresses the “flexibility” offered to students during their high school experience at MHS.
“We have many different instructional opportunities, but students are not ‘locked’ into one program or one curriculum path,” Warnke explained. “High School is a time to explore, as well as learn. We want students to experience different courses and different programs during their four years in high school.
“It’s all about the students knowing their strengths and then understanding where their interests lie. That’s why Monroe Public Schools offers so many choices for parents and students.”
To qualify for DIRECT COLLEGE classes, students must earn a qualifying score on a standards entrance exam. Incoming 9th graders can take a college-ready test called Accuplacer, offered by MCCC. Students in grades 10-12 also can take the Accuplacer test or use SAT test results. The qualifying process is simple, but very challenging, because MCCC needs to make sure that students are placed in college classes where they have an opportunity to succeed.
For more information on how to explore which instructional option is good for you, please email Lisa Warnke at warnke@monroe.k12.mi.us.
DIRECT COLLEGE OFFERINGS
at Monroe High School
Monroe High School’s Direct College program features courses which will help fulfill many of the college and university course requirements during the first year of post-secondary education. Monroe’s Direct College course past offerings have included:
1. HUMAN151 (Introduction to Humanities)
2. POLSC151 (Introduction to Political Science)
3. PSYCH151 (General Psychology)
4. SOC151 (Principals of Sociology)
5. SPCH151 (Communication Fundamentals)