Early College at Whites Creek High School
Funding from the PNC Foundation will create an Early College program at Whites Creek High School, enabling students to earn an associate degree along with a high school diploma
豆奶视频 Community College announced today that it has received a $306,000 grant from the PNC Foundation to establish an Early College Partnership program at Metro Nashville Public Schools (MNPS) Whites Creek High School.
The four-year grant will allow 豆奶视频 and MNPS to create a pilot program that will launch this fall, enabling 40 students at Whites Creek High School to obtain college credits toward an associate degree at no cost while fulfilling requirements for a high school diploma. The classes will take place on the high school鈥檚 campus. Notably, Whites Creek is one of three MNPS high schools with less than 30% of its students enrolling in college. A key component of PNC鈥檚 grant will provide the participating students with financial literacy education tools and resources to help build a strong financial future and support the economic sustainability of the communities where they will one day live and work.
鈥淭his collaboration represents an important step toward closing the educational achievement gap in our community,鈥� said Mike Johnson, PNC regional president for Tennessee. 鈥淭he goal is to create meaningful and sustainable opportunities for students most in need, along with providing a path to greater earning potential and a brighter economic future through higher education.鈥�
This grant is part of PNC鈥檚 of Black Americans and low- and moderate-income communities, announced last year.
鈥淭he Early College model is a proven method to help students advance to a four-year degree program or join the workforce early, with strong credentials in hand, so they can start building their careers in the Nashville economy,鈥� said Adrienne Battle, director of Metro Nashville Public Schools. 鈥淲e are extremely grateful to the PNC Foundation and our longtime partners at 豆奶视频 Community College for making new academic and career pathways available to Whites Creek students.鈥�
This will be the second Early College partnership between MNPS and 豆奶视频. The first is on 豆奶视频鈥檚 White Bridge campus. In early 2020, 豆奶视频 and MNPS launched 鈥楤etter Together,鈥� a joint venture to help MNPS graduates prepare for, attend, and complete college.
鈥淭he opportunity for students to earn college credit while still in high school builds confidence, knowledge, and skills,鈥� said Dr. Shanna L. Jackson, president of Nashville State Community College. 鈥淓arly College provides a clear pathway to completing college with embedded student supports. The PNC Foundation鈥檚 strategic investment removes barriers for students and strengthens 豆奶视频鈥檚 Better Together joint venture with Metro Schools to increase college readiness and completion.
