By ANNA MITCHELL
anna@readthereporter.com
Three Hamilton County schools have come together to offer an online – but still in-person – option to help students succeed. While they do need a teacher recommendation before they can participate in the program, for some students it is the best of both worlds.
The Northern Hamilton County Academy (NHCA) alternative program combines students from Hamilton Heights, Sheridan, and Westfield high schools and enables them to pursue learning in a non-traditional manner. The building is located at the midpoint between the schools so students can be easily transported.
The Reporter spoke to representatives from the schools and one of their sponsors, Duke Energy, about how the program is growing at the end of its first year.
“It is an alternative program that allows students from those three county schools to earn credits, attend class in a non-traditional fashion, and either return back to their home school or end up finishing their graduation requirements early,” Sheridan High School Assistant Principal Jason Marer said. “And then being able to be released from attendance state requirements.”
The NHCA planned to start the program for the 2024-25 school year, but donations from Duke Energy and the Sheridan Heights Advocacy Group enabled them to start a year early, giving more students the opportunity to enroll. Faculty started referring and admitting students into the program in August 2023.
They started with a handful of students, but by the end of the year they had 23 students in both ninth and 10th grades. Marer said he has seen more success in the program than anyone had expected.
Students attend classes for half a day during either the morning or afternoon shift. The flexible schedule allows the program to admit more students and to help them balance their online classes with their other responsibilities.
To help students succeed, two teachers guide them through their online courses and grade their assignments. The students watch videos, complete modules, and take assessments using the platform “Edmentum.” Marer said the teachers help the students with any questions they have regarding their coursework.
“It’s due to this outstanding support and incredible teaching staff that the program has been so successful in its inaugural year,” Sheridan Superintendent Dave Mundy said.
The alternative program allows students to work at their own pace so they can thrive academically. The Duke donation helped the NHCA pay rent on the building, furnish classrooms, and support students.
Duke Energy Government & Community Relations Manager Mark LaBarr said the company wants to ensure that students have access to a quality education.
“We’ve had a long partnership with schools, not just in Hamilton County, but throughout our service territory, which is 69 of 92 counties,” LaBarr said. “We appreciate and we’re very proud to support schools with their needs of graduating an educated workforce.”
Next year, the NHCA hopes to add a third teacher and enable more students to take classes. Heights Superintendent Derek Arrowood said they plan to make the program sustainable and to expand it in the future.
“We’re super proud of this program in its first year with the success that we’ve had,” Marer said.