College Courses in High School: Juniors and seniors have the opportunity to take courses at Clark. Typically, two thirds of UPCS students take at least one university course before they graduate. The experience of taking and succeeding in college courses while still in high school helps students make the transition to post-secondary education feeling more confident and prepared. Clark courses supplement the narrow elective opportunities at UPCS, enabling students to sample a wider array of courses than a small high school can provide.
Clark courses are not offered as a dual-enrollment program; they are in addition to the full high school course load. This simplifies the process of transferring credits to college when students matriculate, allowing some to graduate a semester early.
Free Tuition for Neighborhood Residents: Upon graduation, UPCS students – and other students living in the Main South neighborhood – who meet the admissions criteria can attend Clark tuition-free for four years. About 20% (5 students) of each graduating class has enrolled at Clark, saving them tens of thousands of dollars each. This program has immense value to younger students because it eliminates any perceived financial barriers to college. Students grow up in the Main South neighborhood hearing “if you work hard and do well in school, you can go to college for free.”
Transition Support for Students: UPCS graduates receive additional support from the University to make the transition to college. All UPCS alumni matriculating to Clark attend a pre-orientation session for minority and first-generation college attenders. The university has dedicated an advisor in the Hiatt Center for Urban Education for all UPCS alumni. She gets to know the students while they are still in high school, maintains ties with the school faculty who know the students best, and has a deep understanding of the issues and experiences of UPCS students making the transition to Clark.
