Juniors and seniors in Jones High School's Medical Arts Magnet program will soon have the option to work on one of several medical-assisting degrees at Valencia College while in high school under a plan the School Board is expected to approve Tuesday night. <\/p>\n
Some would graduate high school with an associate's degree. <\/p>\n
The move is part of an effort to revamp a program that has struggled to draw and retain students. The dual-enrollment option, if approved, would start next fall. <\/p>\n
Ashley Williams switched from Jones' medical magnet to its International Baccalaureate program because she wanted a more well-rounded education. <\/p>\n
\"If we had that when I was there, I probably would have stayed in the medical magnet,\" said Williams, 18, who graduated from Jones in May and is now a freshman at Rollins College. <\/p>\n
One of two medical magnets in Orange County's public high schools, the Jones program has 73 students, more than half of whom come from other high schools. <\/p>\n
The Valencia partnership would allow Jones medical arts students to take college classes on their own campus, including basic and medical courses, said Scott Fritz, the district's chief academic officer. They could work toward certified nursing assistant, medical assistant or EKG tech associate's degrees. <\/p>\n
The idea is based on a similar partnership already in place with Wekiva High School's Laser Photonics Academy magnet program. Students there are dual-enrolled at Valencia. <\/p>\n
\"I would like to see more students be able to come out with a dual degree,\" said Jones principal Valeria Maxwell. \"That's going to just help prepare them for life.\" <\/p>\n
Current students such as Charvette Walker, who decided she wanted a medical career at age 5, have a program with fewer options. <\/p>\n
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Medical magnet program at Jones facing changes<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Juniors and seniors in Jones High School's Medical Arts Magnet program will soon have the option to work on one of several medical-assisting degrees at Valencia College while in high school under a plan the School Board is expected to approve Tuesday night. Some would graduate high school with an associate's degree. The move is part of an effort to revamp a program that has struggled to draw and retain students Continue reading