Madonna announces partnership with WJU
WEIRTON - Madonna High School is offering its students another incentive program for earning their high school degree from the school through the formation of the Madonna Advantage Program.
According to Principal John Mihalyo, the program partners Madonna High School with Wheeling Jesuit University to allow Madonna students the opportunity to take dual credit courses through WJU at the high school as juniors and seniors.
"This program offers our students a truly unique educational opportunity. The ability to earn over 40 hours of credits toward high school and college graduation is one that we are very proud to offer our students," said Mihalyo.
The classes being offered, said Mihalyo, are easily transferable. This, he said, gives our kids the chance to take challenging courses through one of the best colleges in the state of West Virginia, as well as enter college as second semester sophomores at most schools.
"When you look at order of course selection in college and the ability to choose a program of study, this is a huge advantage for our students," he added.
Guidance Counselor Bruce Marshall said one of the best things about the program is the affordability. He said the cost to the students is $85 per credit hour meaning the students can take every class offered through the program for less than $4,000.
"For a year and a half of college, that is a fantastic opportunity for our kids," said Marshall.
Courses will range in a variety of subject areas including English, math, science and other areas of study. The courses will count toward the students' high school graduation as well as college diploma.
Mary Davis, whose daughter Amy will be a senior at Madonna next year, said by enrolling in the dual credit option, her daughter will reap the benefits of experiencing college challenges while still living at home.
"While I am nervously optimistic about the difficulties she may or may not encounter with the extra workload, she will most definitel! y be bet ter prepared for her post high school years," Davis said.
Dr. Kelly Fournier, a Madonna alumni, said she is proud of the school for the months of work to bring this innovative program to the students. She said any parent of a teen should consider this cost-effective high quality coursework offered here with the Wheeling Jesuit partnership.
The classes will be taught by Wheeling Jesuit instructors. In 2011, WJU was ranked in the top schools nationwide, ranking 253. This was the highest ranking for any school or university in the state of West Virginia.