Clayton students find answer to accreditation woes

Thirty-six Clayton County high school students have found a way to get college credits early and an accredited diploma without leaving the county.

On Monday, the Clayton students, along with about 90 others from metro Atlanta high schools, will begin classes at Clayton State University through a joint enrollment program.

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Clayton County news

The program allows students to remain registered at their local high schools while taking classes at the Morrow university campus.

Seniors Joshua and Kaleb Penny were on the verge of withdrawing from Jonesboro High School to attend Griffin Christian High School when Clayton State called last month to encourage them to apply there.

“We see what’s happening with accreditation and think it’s best for those two to get out of the system as quickly as possible,” said Richard Penny, a father of three.

The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools ordered the school system meet nine mandates or lose accreditation on Sept. 1.

If the district retains its accreditation, the Pennys and their classmates can walk across the stage in May and accept their diplomas from Jonesboro High School.

If the school system loses accreditation, the students can withdraw from Clayton schools and register at a nontraditional education center, like the Forest Park Street School.

The Forest Park school, which is accredited by SACS, is primarily for students who are home schooled or in joint enrollment programs. It allows the Pennys and other students to pay about $400 to receive an accredited high school diploma, while still obtaining college credits at Clayton State.

For Clayton County schools, it means they lose some of their top students. Last week, Jonesboro High School principal Carl Jackson sent a letter to the Pennys encouraging them to stay at the high school and take Advanced Placement courses.

The Clayton State program is for students who have a minimum 3.2 grade-point average and a combined 970 on the math and reading sections of the SAT, said Mannie Hall, the university’s director of academic outreach.

Tuition and fees at Clayton State are covered through the students’ HOPE scholarships. The only expenses to the students are books and a laptop, which is required.

“Students get an early jump on college, learn from professors and acquire college credits,” Hall said.

Joshua Penny, who is majoring in political science, hopes to take the 30 credits he expects to earn this year to Brown University or Georgetown. His twin brother, Kaleb, plans to attend Georgia State University or Georgia Tech.

“While they are knocking out their senior year for high school, they are also knocking out freshman year for college,” Richard Penny said. “Them being home for a year while doing freshman year will help us make sure their study habits are good and they are disciplined.”