Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Alternative School Opens; Students Choose To Attend

In accoradance with Prescott School District's mission to prepare all students to be productive, caring, responsible citizens, who are able to compete successfully in the global marketplace, the door to Prescott's alternative school was opened January 16 with ten students in attendance.

No student was "placed" at the alternative school. Students chose the school after deciding their needs could better be met at the alternative school rather than in the traditional setting.

At the same time, the students choosing the alternative school had to consider the following criteria:

1. The student must be between the ages of 15 and 21.
2. The student is failing two or more classes.
3. The student is two or more years below grade level in math and/or reading.
4. The student has dropped out of school.
5. The student has repeatedly been assigned to the ISS.

Of the ten students, three are seniors working toward an alternative diploma. Two of these seniors had already dropped out of school. Two other students are pursuing an alternative diploma, but are underclassmen. Four students are working toward a GED diploma while one of the original ten has dropped completely from the program for this year.

The students and teacher consider themselves pioneers in alternative education at Prescott and realize they must set a high standard in the beginning.

By: Wanda Fincher}