BINGHAM — Gov. Paul LePage announced in September that a selected group of 19 people would meet in the coming months to devise recommendations on how to expand early college opportunities for high school students.

One local high school, though, is already bringing college to its students.

For the second year, Upper Kennebec Valley Memorial High School is allowing its students to take online classes offered by Kennebec Valley Community College in Fairfield.

The interest is growing. Last year eight students took the online courses, and this year 11 have joined up to take a total of 13 classes in college-level algebra, composition, ecology and sociology, according to guidance counselor Katie Flood.

Those students represent 15 percent of the school’s population of 72.

“Before this I had no idea whatsoever to expect in college,” said junior Sydney Vincent, 16, of Bingham, who is taking KVCC’s introduction to sociology. “Now I think I can handle it, and I know what will be expected and what I’ll have to do to succeed.”

She echoed a statement provided by the Maine Department of Education: “Allowing high school students to enroll in college classes in areas that interest them could prove a good way to keep those students engaged, on track and learning the skills they’ll need to be successful in college and in their careers.”

Through a tuition waiver program at KVCC, high school students can select their courses based on interest and ability, Flood said. They earn three college credits for each successfully completed course.

Vincent said she has a week to finish all her assignments, so it’s not difficult to balance high school and college. She plans to take more online classes next semester, in addition to her senior year.

If she reaches her goal, she’ll have finished an entire college semester before graduating high school.

While students at other high schools go to KVCC’s campus for classes, Valley students take their courses entirely online. They also meet for one period every day to do their course work.

Carrington Miller, 16, of Bingham, is also a junior and is taking English 101 through KVCC.

“It helps a lot because we won’t have to take that class in college,” he said. “So we can kind of get ahead of the game.”

Miller’s instructor gives frequent reading assignments, and then the students have to answer discussion questions online and comment on each other’s answers, he said. Recently he wrote an essay about a turning point in his life.

“I think it helps bridge the gap between high school and college,” he said about the online course.

Students are required to pay KVCC student fees of about $60 for each class, plus textbooks.

The students are “saving on what they would pay if they did not take advantage of the tuition waiver,” Flood said. “By participating in the KVCC program while still in high school, students are in an environment where they are comfortable and are able to ask their high school teachers and guidance counselor for help if needed.”

There are a total of 513 high school students from Somerset, Knox, Kennebec and Waldo counties enrolled in college courses at KVCC, according to Jonathan Humphrey, a marketing specialist for the college.

Erin Rhoda — 612-2368

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