This content was published: February 18, 1999. Phone numbers, email addresses, and other information may have changed.
High School Students Earn 8,503 College Credits through Portland Community College Partnership
Photos and story by James Hill
Portland Community College has recently released a report sharing year-end highlights of the education consortium PAVTEC, which brings college-level courses to high-school students.
For the 1997-98 school year, 1,002 high school students earned 8,503 college credits in professional and technical subjects and in lower-division college transfer courses.
Students at high schools throughout PCC’s 1,500-square-mile district were able to choose from 158 technical courses and 20 lower division transfer courses at a cost of $15 per student for the school year.
"The savings are significant for these students and for their families," said Bill Manley, regional coordinator for PAVTEC. "This translates to a total student savings in the combined programs of more than $290,000. Plus, it gives our high school students a jump start on advanced training and education."
Most of the courses are taught at the high school by high school instructors whose school districts coordinate with the college. In addition, several school districts have signed agreements with PCC to send interested and qualified high school students to PCC’s campuses for study in selected technical and vocational programs.
The PAVTEC Education Consortium members include the school districts of Banks, Beaverton, Forest Grove, Gaston, Hillsboro, Lake Oswego, Portland, St. Helens, Scappoose, Sherwood, Tigard-Tualatin and Vernonia.
Other highlights reported for 1997-98 include 155 letters of agreement between PCC and 53 schools and institutions. And 21 high school sites increased the number of earned credits compared to the previous year.
The consortium was created in 1986 to enable high school students to earn college credit for classes taken in their home schools. It works closely with both high school instructors and PCC faculty to ensure coordination of curriculum and quality of education.
In the first year of operation, nine districts participated with 12 high schools and 81 students. The 1997-98 school year reports 31 districts, 53 high schools and education sites, with 603 students participating. Savings to district high school students have increased from $7,402 in 1986 to $184,860 in 1998.
About James Hill
James G. Hill, an award-winning journalist and public relations writer, is the Director of Public Relations at Portland Community College. A graduate of Portland State University, James has worked as a section editor for the Newberg Graphic... more »