An innovative partnership between Virginia Peninsula Community College and Poquoson High School launched this fall, transforming the high school and college experience for some students.
Called College Now, the program lets eligible dual-enrolled Poquoson High School students earn an Associate of Science degree in Social Science and a Uniform Certificate of General Studies (UCGS) alongside their high school diploma. Students who successfully complete the program will earn 60 to 62 transferable college credits, getting a head start on a bachelor’s degree.
“We’re so excited,” said Dr. Kerry Ragno, vice president for Academic Affairs at VPCC, adding Poquoson school district officials approached the College last year seeking to create the program. “This is a fully integrated academic pathway. Students take classes at Poquoson High School, on our Hampton campus, and online.”
The hybrid structure sets College Now apart, as does another unique aspect. Unlike traditional dual enrollment, which is designed for high school juniors and seniors, the program allows sophomores to begin with foundational college courses, Ragno explained.
Those classes include College Success Skills (SDV 100), Ethics in Society (PHI 220), and Principles of Public Speaking (CST 100). Totaling seven college credits, the classes were carefully selected to satisfy high school graduation requirements and college program objectives in students’ sophomore year.
Ragno said collaborating with the school to design a rigorous, college-like experience for students was enjoyable work. Poquoson High was intentional about balancing high school and college coursework to ensure the program was accessible and students wouldn’t be overwhelmed.
“In our conversations, they looked at that quite a bit and did a great job,” she noted.
Ragno said Camiel Sims, who is among coordinators of VPCC’s dual enrollment program, was key in collaborating with Poquoson High.
Sims said the College offers dual enrollment at all Peninsula high schools (public and some private). Of those, only Phoebus High School in Hampton affords an associate degree through its Academy of the College Experience in partnership with VPCC. Still, College Now is exceptional.
“Every high school on the Peninsula offers different dual enrollment courses. What makes this program different is the intentionality,” said Sims. “This is a sequenced, well-supported academic journey planned with student success at its core.
“I think it’s an opportunity for students to have a specific kind of rigor in their courses that’s an alternative to an AP class … They’re not taking a standardized test at the end of this program, (students) are earning credit as they go. The transferability of courses under College Now is a huge benefit,” she added.
Some criteria required for College Now participation, said Sims, include a 3.0 GPA, completion of Algebra II and Trigonometry before or during their junior year, and being on track to complete high school requirements such as foreign language.
Having started with a manageable seven-credit introduction to college coursework, students will progress each year through a schedule that mirrors what a full-time college freshman and sophomore would take, she explained. As students advance, courses will range from U.S. History and College Composition to Statistics and U.S. government. Among other classes are lab sciences and social science electives, including psychology or sociology.
Ragno said College Now is in response to students’ ever-changing educational needs. Meanwhile, state legislation requires the UCGS at every Virginia high school. The UCGS is a 10-course certificate amounting to 31 college credits that are transferable to nearly every public four-year school in Virginia. She said programs like this are part of a growing statewide trend to offer high school students “meaningful credentials” by the time they graduate.
“Poquoson was really ahead of the game in developing their program for students,” she noted. “Poquoson High School looked at their staffing and our courses, and they found as many high school courses that would crosswalk with our college courses. They also looked at their faculty to determine who could be credentialed in-house to teach on-site.”
For the high school, the program goes further.
“This has been a dream of our superintendent, Mr. (Arty) Tillett, for a long time,” said Dr. Irene Winchester, who is in her second year as Poquoson High School’s principal. “Poquoson High is a small school (about 650 students, 80 faculty, including teachers, paraprofessionals, and assistants). Part of the purpose of the partnership is to provide as many opportunities for our students as we can. We don’t want our size to limit our students’ access.”
Winchester said the school district significantly invested in the program, covering tuition, textbooks and transportation to the College for students.
“We’re removing every barrier we can,” said Winchester, stressing College Now is available to any student who meets the qualifications, not just a select few. “This is a jumpstart for our students to engage in those college courses that are required for a broad range of studies. We’re starting with the Associate of Science in Social Science degree, and we’d love to see that expand.”
She said in designing the program, Poquoson looked at students who are already on track for an advanced studies diploma, even though it is open to all. It’s the perfect fit for students who show initiative, motivation and readiness for the responsibilities of college-level learning.
“It’s for the student who’s willing to work hard, who’s curious, who’s ready to try something more,” said Winchester. “This also fits students who are ready for a challenge.”
Winchester and Ragno agreed it’s important to recognize that although College Now students are still in high school, they are also full VPCC students. These students have access to all VPCC resources, including tutoring, library services, and student support programs. They even have VPCC student ID cards.
This inaugural cohort has fewer than 10 students. Winchester said Poquoson aims to steadily expand the program to support up to 30 students per year. Recruitment for next year’s class already started, with strong interest from students and parents alike.
Ragno believes the College Now model might inspire other school districts.
“I think high schools and community colleges have the same goals for our students. We’re really looking to make sure that through these educational opportunities, students can find their way to the career pathway that is most desirable to them and ultimately contribute to the economy, to our community here when they reach adulthood,” said Ragno.
“Poquoson is setting a standard that we think other school districts may be interested in. This is a scalable, sustainable model built with students at the center,” she added.
The 10th-graders currently enrolled in College Now are scheduled to graduate in 2028. Those who meet VPCC graduation requirements will get to walk across the stage at the College’s graduation ceremony. They will also receive diplomas during high school graduation.