Collegiate High School Approved for Edison State College - Lee Campus
Oct 20, 2009
The Lee County School Board recommended and approved today Tuesday, October 20, 2009 a Collegiate High School on the Edison State College Campus in Fort Myers - a first for Lee County students.
“The collegiate high school will provide another option for high school students in Lee County,” said Dr. Kenneth P. Walker, President Edison State College. "We see the collegiate high school as a natural progression of programs that have been offered in area high schools for many years."
Edison State administrators say the mission of the collegiate high school will be to provide an honors-level curriculum for all students, with a focus on Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) instruction. The four-year curriculum will provide the opportunity for students to complete a high school diploma and an associate degree simultaneously.
The collegiate high school will work collaboratively with the existing college-level education programs to ensure current best practices and teaching techniques. Students enrolled in high school AND college courses will benefit from the dynamic environment, administrators say.
“The collegiate high school will become and integrated part of Edison State College’s education department and offer students an opportunity to foster a love of learning in a stimulating environment that will increase pathways to college or education-related careers,” said Dr. Erin Harrel, Associate Dean, Education. “The collegiate high school on the Lee Campus will also host a wide-variety of professional development opportunities for faculty, staff and students.”
Edison Collegiate High School – Lee Campus plans to admit 100 ninth grade students in the Fall of 2010. Each year the school will add a new class of Freshman until reaching 4 grades and 400 students.
Admissions decisions would be based on applicants' records and test scores, teacher and community recommendations, college placement scores, and interviews with parents and students. If more than 100 qualified applicants are identified, students would be selected through a lottery system. Applications will be available in January 2010.
The proposed Edison Collegiate High School – Lee Campus will be funded by the State of Florida and open under a charter issued by the Lee County School Board. Edison College Trustees would establish policies and provide oversight for school operations.
Parents, students or for general information questions about the Edison Collegiate High School – Lee Campus please call Sue Wilson in the Education Department 239-489-9369 or visit http://echslee.edison.edu/.
For media inquiries contact, Catherine Bergerson Director of Communications and Marketing, 239-489-9460 or mbergerson@edison.edu.
Edison State College is Southwest Florida’s largest, most established, most accessible and most affordable school of higher education serving more than 18,000 students in 5 counties with campuses in Lee, Collier and Charlotte, and a center serving Hendry/Glades. Many classes are available on-line at www.edison.edu.
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Last Updated: October 20, 2009
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