ROCHESTER, NY (WROC) – The start of a new school year is upon us, which means that summer school is coming to an end. This includes Rochester City School District programs to help students get back on track. However, one particular program not only helps kids get on the right track, but also prepares them for college.
Completing your senior year of high school without graduating can be a tough pill to swallow. Northeast Prep Senior, Andrew Simmons found himself in this exact location a few months ago. Luckily, Simmons was able to enroll in the Rochester City School District program which runs summer school at St. John Fisher University. He said not only is he set to graduate from high school this month, but he has bigger aspirations in mind.
“Walking around each building was kind of like, ‘Hey, I could do this for college,'” Simmons said. “I still wonder what I want to do but certainly with my experience here, probably at university.”
RCSD Deputy Principal Anthony Rodriguez said the district’s new partnership with St. John Fisher gives students even more reason to dream big.
“It’s definitely been an opportunity for the kids to know that there are people out there who want to see them succeed,” Rodriguez said.
Ava Reyez is a rising senior in the School of the Arts and decided to take summer classes to get ahead for the next school year.
“Being here has definitely kept me busy, it’s definitely motivated me to finish my classes and get on track for next year. The whole experience of being here with the teachers, it was really fun , I enjoyed it a lot and would do it again if I had the chance,” Reyez said. “I used my time wisely to do everything I needed to do and really focused on what what I came here to do. I didn’t let summer things distract me from what I came here for.
Reyez said being on the college campus as opposed to the classroom at her home school has given her new insight into what she wants to do after graduation.
“I loved this place. I thought being here and talking to people made me want to apply here and come to St. John Fisher University,” Reyez said.
Destiny Delapaz is also a rising senior in the School of the Arts and chose to attend summer school to get ahead so she has more time to devote to her work after school during the traditional school year.
“I can be in college. It’s really cool because if I had taken summer courses at my school, I know it would have been totally different and I would be totally unmotivated,” Delapaz said.
30 RCSD seniors who otherwise would not have graduated are expected to graduate at the end of the month.
RCSD’s St. John Fisher program is one of many summer school programs in the district. Most individual schools have their own programs, some with specific programs focused on STEM learning.