George Lucas Educational Foundation

Setting Students Up for College Success

Get a look at a dual-enrollment program that prepares high school students to overcome the obstacles on the path to finishing college.

December 7, 2017

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Schools That Work

Eminence Independent Schools

Public, Rural
Grades K–12
Eminence, KY

The Eminence Independent Schools district was failing less than a decade ago. Enrollment was declining, and test scores and morale were plummeting in the small, rural, Title 1 district in Eminence, Kentucky. To save the district and the town, Buddy Berry, the superintendent, initiated sweeping changes that were identified by the students themselves.

With community buy-in, the district built a 30,000-square-foot technology-focused building with eight makerspaces to foster personalized learning, made time for students to design and solve real-world problems, and developed an early college program to prepare students for college. The district also adopted a “surprise and delight” culture—focusing on ways to boost student and staff morale. The district’s efforts paid off: Graduation rates and college persistence rates have increased, and enrollment has doubled.

  • Achieved 100% College and/or Career Readiness by Kentucky state standards for 2013-2014 and 2014-2015.
  • 99.5% of early college program participants are either on track to earn a college degree or have already done so.
  • Selected to attend the 2014 ConnectED to the Future Convening at the White House.

This is part of our Schools That Work series and features key practices from Eminence Independent Schools in Kentucky.

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  • College Readiness
  • 9-12 High School

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