Indiana, Louisiana high schools helping low-income students earn associate, bachelor’s degrees

An alliance of high schools in Indianapolis and Gary, Indiana as well as Baton Rouge, Louisiana are focused on supporting primarily low-income students in earning college credit while still in high school. The Greater Educational Opportunities Foundation is leading the effort, which launched in 2005 at the 21st Century Charter School in Gary.

In 10 years, the school in Gary has helped 50 students earn an associate degree while still in high school, with a graduation rate of  95 percent. Nine out of ten graduates meet college-ready standards, compared to 37 percent of their peers in local schools. Though just a few years into their existence, schools in Indianapolis and Baton Rouge have students already on the path to earning associate degrees.