School district to open college/high school hybrid

MAT-SU — High school students in Mat-Su will have more opportunities to earn college credits starting this fall.

A partnership between University of Alaska Anchorage and the Mat-Su Borough School District will open the “Alaska Middle College School” on the college’s Eagle River/Chugiak campus this fall.

Students at the school will be able to finish their high school educations while earning college credit.

“It will open up many doors for students and will enable families to provide a college experience for their children at an affordable cost,” school board president Mike Dunleavy said in the press release.

The school is open to juniors and seniors. The former can actually earn an Associate of Arts degree by graduation time.

The school is open to 175 students through the first two years. Two informational sessions are planned for Saturday from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. and 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Mat-Su Central School on Railroad Ave. in Wasilla.

The press release says students will be selected based on their proven college readiness as gauged by their scores on placement tests like the SAT, ACT and Accuplacer.

Students not quite ready for college courses will take high school courses before moving on to general education college classes.

Students will ride Valley Mover buses if they need transportation. Rides are free with a valid UAA ID and the bus has pick-up points at Wasilla Fred Meyer and the Park and Ride lot on Trunk Road. Fees and expenses will be the same as those associated with attending a borough high school.

“The school board and administration have worked for more than a year to partner with the University of Alaska in offering another option for public schools that prepares students as college ready,” schools superintendent Deena Paramo said in the press release.

For more information or to apply, visit matsuk12.us/acs.

Contact reporter Andrew Wellner at andrew.wellner@frontiersman.com or 352-2270.