The high school and college connection

South Jersey Catholic School Students benefit from partnerships with colleges and universities.

The final year of high school can be an exciting time for seniors as they look forward to what’s ahead, but also a stressful one, in filling out college applications, waiting for a decision and finding the right fit.

The Camden Diocese’s high schools are partnering with college institutions, to ease the important transition.

Last fall, Absecon’s Holy Spirit High School entered into an agreement with Georgian Court College in Lakewood, that includes conditions for guaranteed admissions, scholarship opportunities, and college course offerings for Holy Spirit’s students.

“The partnership is a wonderful opportunity for students and allows them to remain in Catholic schools. We see the value of not only K-12, but K-16,” said Susan Dennen, principal.

Students are be guaranteed full-time admission into Georgian Court provided they graduate with a high school diploma; earn a minimum 2.50 GPA or better; score 900 or better on the SAT, or a 19 or better on the ACT; and satisfy all other admissions application requirements. Those falling short of these requirements, the agreement states, will be evaluated on an individual basis.

As well, Georgian Court has agreed to waive the admissions fee; provide on-site admissions and financial aid advisement to prospective students and their parents; and award academic scholarships to qualified Holy Spirit schools.

Dennen notes that on a recent Decision Day at Holy Spirit, 10 students were automatically accepted to Georgian Court. Next year, dual-credit online courses, designed by Georgian Court, will be available for students, she says.

At Haddonfield’s Paul VI High School, Donna Camardo, director of Team Development and mathematics teacher, says students participate in the Camden County College High School Plus Program.

Here, “math, science and languages are just a few of the subject areas offered to our students in which they can receive both high school and college credit. Currently, over 100 students are involved in the program.”

Saint Joseph High School in Hammonton has agreements for guaranteed admission and scholarship opportunities with multiple schools, including Georgian Court, Holy Family University, and Delaware Valley University; and dual-credit courses with Georgian Court, with hopes for more dual-credit course agreements with other colleges.

The high school/college partnerships “strive to offer educational opportunities for intellectual and personal growth,” says Louise Fourney, director of Guidance at Saint Joseph.

“We are committed to providing quality education that fosters spiritual development, excellence in scholarship, lifelong learning and enlightened citizenship,” she said.

Other schools that work with colleges, in one way or another, include:

— Camden Catholic, Cherry Hill (Camden County College, Rowan College of Gloucester County and Seton Hall University)

— Gloucester Catholic, Gloucester City (Rowan College of Gloucester County)

— Wildwood Catholic (Seton Hall University, Cabrini College).