I think that this is wonderful and I'm glad that there are some student's that are willing to take their education to the next level, and get a good head start. Congrats to all those students and keep up the good work.
One Richmond County high school has taken preparing students for college to a new level -- it's putting them into college classes and enabling them to earn college credit.
A.R. Johnson Health Science and Engineering Magnet High School is the only school to establish partnerships with Augusta Technical College and Medical College of Georgia as ways to ease students into the world of higher education.
"If you go to any college recruiters around here, they love our kids," said A.R. Johnson Assistant Principal Tim Parker.
A big reason is that students at A.R. Johnson are afforded opportunities not available to those elsewhere in the county.
Earlier this year, the school entered a partnership with MCG, which includes lectures from faculty, students visiting the college and medical students tutoring their younger counterparts.
The collaboration "has blossomed beyond many of our dreams," said Roman Cibirka, MCG's vice president for instruction and associate provost, calling it a natural fit because of the health science component at A.R. Johnson.
Dr. Cibirka hopes the partnership will establish a greater pipeline of students into health occupations.
He says that in middle and high school, students tend to decide on the job they want to pursue.
One example is A.R. Johnson salutatorian Simon Kigwana.
The 18-year-old was inspired to attend medical school at Johns Hopkins University after shadowing an MCG cardiologist before the partnership was established. Simon plans to become a surgeon.
The school also has formed relationships with Augusta Technical College, including a newly formed partnership this year, said Jo Anne Robinson, the Augusta Tech dean of information and engineering technology.
There are 22 A.R. Johnson students who are dual-enrolled in the college's pharmacy technology classes, but this year 15 students also enrolled in computer-design drafting classes, she said.
The dual enrollment is on top of agreements between Augusta Tech and Richmond County schools that grant students who earn an 85 in particular high school classes credit at the college.
A.R. Johnson has more classes than any other Richmond County school that corresponds with Augusta Tech's curriculum under this agreement. The magnet school's students also take classes at Augusta State University, as do those from other high schools.
A.R. Johnson was recently recognized among a group of other schools for its Advanced Placement program, a way its students earn college credit while still in high school.
"They are entering college already with college credit," Principal Deborah Walker said.
Michael Walden, 17, gives up two hours each night to take on the extra reading required for his Advanced Placement classes, but it will be worth it when he attends Yale University to study biomedical engineering.
He has passed three of the rigorous AP classes already and is enrolled in two more this year, the senior said. Each AP class he passes is college credit.
"It teaches you how to think," the school's valedictorian said.
Reach Greg Gelpi at (706) 828-3851 or greg.gelpi@augustachronicle.com.
MAKING HONOR ROLL WITH AP OFFERINGS
A.R. Johnson, along with other area schools, was recently recognized by the state for its Advanced Placement program, a way that students can earn college credit while still attending high school.
AP CHALLENGE SCHOOLS:
Schools with 900 or fewer students that offer at least one AP course in each of the four traditional core areas -- English, mathematics, science and social studies.
- A.R. Johnson Health Science and Engineering Magnet High School
- John S. Davidson Fine Arts Magnet School
- Lincoln County High School
AP ACCESS AND SUPPORT SCHOOLS:
Schools with at least 30 percent of their AP test-takers identified as black or Hispanic and 30 percent of all AP exams earning scores of three or higher.
- Academy of Richmond County
- A.R. Johnson
- Davidson
- Harlem High School
AP MERIT SCHOOLS:
Schools that have at least 20 percent of their students taking AP exams and at least half of their AP exams receiving a score of three or higher.
- A.R. Johnson
- Davidson
Source: Georgia Department of Education
Comments
I think that this is wonderful and I'm glad that there are some student's that are willing to take their education to the next level, and get a good head start. Congrats to all those students and keep up the good work.
As one of the private citizen architects that help to bring magnet schools to Richmond County, I have advocated Career Base Education for almost thirty years. We must have career base educational choices in all of our middle and high schools. The magnet schools have proven, when the parents and their children choose the school and the curriculum, the children behave better, perform better and their test scores improve. We must work diligently to prepare our students to compete in a global economy. The sooner our students get started on their chosen career paths, the better they will perform.
A.R. Johnaon is a wonderful school filled with fantastic teachers, students and administrators. Keep up the good work. Augusta Chronicle...it is so nice to read about the achievers in Richmond County instead of always focusing on the negative.
A.R. Johnaon is a wonderful school filled with fantastic teachers, students and administrators. Keep up the good work. Augusta Chronicle...it is so nice to read about the achievers in Richmond County instead of always focusing on the negative.
A nice balance to the story of fights and disruption. I hope those who constantly criticize public schools will read this one too.
A nice balance to the story of fights and disruption. I hope those who constantly criticize public schools will read this one too.
The difference between public access schools and government schools is emphasized in this article. The magnet schools are career and education oriented. To me, the difference is glaringly obvious.
Davidson is preparing the children well for college with the high numbers of students taking AP courses and succeeding in them. My children's SAT scores are incredible. I couldn't be more proud of this school and its students, parents and faculty.
akhasan, good to see you post. Welcome.
AR Johnson is a bright spot in a dismal county
So are ARC's International Baccalaureate program and Davidson Fine Arts School.
AR Johnson may be the only local high school to link with Augusta Tech and MCG, but many other local high schools, including ARC, Westside, and Butler, have linked with Augusta State for years if not decades to give college credit to high school students. Tell the whole story, please.
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