Through the Smart Scholars Early College High School Program,  the Roosevelt School District can provide students with the opportunity and preparation to accelerate the completion of their high school studies while earning a minimum of twenty-four but up to sixty transferable college credits at the same time. The Early College High School program serves to increase high school graduation and college completion rates among those historically left in the gap, while reducing college tuition costs as a result of the more than 20 college credits earned in high school. The initiative fits well within the SUNY-wide plan to create a seamless educational pipeline to prepare students for college at an earlier age.

In 2009, the State University of New York (SUNY) partnered with KnowledgeWorks to implement early college across the state through the Smart Scholars Early College High School program. Funded initially by a $6M grant in 2010 from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and expanded with matching state funding in 2011, there are now 20 Smart Scholars early colleges in New York State, 12 of which are partnered with SUNY schools. Smart Scholars graduate high school with an average of 20 but can earn up to 60 transferable college credits. The program is targeted to students who are traditionally underrepresented in postsecondary education, providing them with the academic supports they need to ensure they are at grade level and ready to participate in rigorous high school and college courses.

For more information about the program, please contact Mr. Spencer Belcher, Director of the SMART Scholars program at 516-345-7377 or email sbelcher@rufsd.org. Your child must be an incoming 9th grader.