BY ANDREW FARRIS & SEAN MADDEN

With the introduction of the four-day week, students throughout the Independence School District have the opportunity to become college students before graduating high school.

The ISD has developed a partnership with Metropolitan Community College offering single-semester dual-credit courses on Mondays, earning students both high school and college credit on top of their regular schedule for passing a course.

“I decided to sign up to get extra credit, and to just get a feel for the college environment,” said Truman senior Samantha Stone. “I honestly expected it to be a little scary, but I came in, and it was just like a normal high school class, a little bit more chill too.” 

Courses are worth 3-credit hours, and at $60.50 per credit cost notably less compared to the Missouri Average of $112 per credit for in-state rates at 2-year institutions; however, textbook prices are not discounted, and can vary between courses. Financial assistance is available through the ISD Foundation.

“If I had the opportunity to sign up for the Monday classes as a high school student, I definitely would have taken advantage of the opportunity. It is a great way to earn additional college credit at a cheap price,” says Truman counselor Jami Pelzl.

There’s currently a mix of 28 sophomores, juniors, and seniors from Truman enrolled in the program among other schools, and enrollment is currently open for the Spring semester. Available courses include Microeconomics, Intro to Fiction, Intro to Critical Thinking, U.S. History Since 1865, and Fundamentals of Speech, all of which are taught in a hybrid format, 50% online and 50% in-person, at the MCC Blue River Campus. Students can find information about specific requirements and instructions to apply by contacting their counselor.

In addition to college credit, participating students receive free access to student tutoring, online ACT-prep resources, and the campus library. Parking passes are free, but students are expected to be responsible for their own transportation.

“I would recommend my experience, because I think, honestly, if you’re sitting at home every Monday by yourself that’s really lame, and also not a very productive use of your time,” says Truman senior Sophia Crimmins. “It’s a lot more relaxed, and you can go to the bathroom if you want and get here whenever you want… definitely, in high school there’s a lot more rules.”  

Pelzl offers her advice to students: “…be prepared and understand this will be additional work, so if you already have a really full and difficult schedule, you may want to think really hard about it… especially if you work a job as well.”

Campus visits and college-level courses may provide helpful insight for students considering the post-secondary route. With the addition of the four-day-week, students who are willing to put in the extra work have the opportunity to experience both.