The Project Lead the Way Program at Southington High School, has received a mini-grant from Rochester Institute of Technology. The grant in the amount of $360, is given to the high schools which have students achieve transcripted credit from RIT through the Project Lead the Way program. Upon completing the PLTW courses at Southington High School, the students take a three-part test. Parts A and B constitute the high school final exam and parts B and C constitute the college equivalency exam. If the students pass the college portion with a 75 or better, they are eligible to apply for college credit from RIT. This year, 18 students applied for the credit. The college awards to the sending high school $20 per student for each credit applicant who is accepted, hence the $360.

By the time that a student graduates from the SHS PLTW program, they have the opportunity to get credits in four courses. Having these college credits on a student's transcript, while applying to college, is a big boost to their acceptability rating. While not all colleges accept the transfer of these credits, a growing number are and all of the universities in the PLTW system do. It is the goal of the PLTW program at Southington High School to continue to increase the number of students achieving these credits in each successive year.

For more information, contact John Ellsworth, (860) 628-3229, ext. 353 or email jellsworth@southingtonschools.org