Photo by Sally Y. Hart

Area high school students have until March 15 to pre-register for next fall’s Kirkwood concurrent credit academies. Tera Pickens, director of the Kirkwood Washington Regional Center, says students and their families have been able to save nearly $1.2 million in tuition expenses by taking college credit classes while in high school locally. She adds it’s also an opportunity to get a jump start on a student’s college career without incurring debt. The center has a variety of opportunities including traditional arts and sciences programming, as well as informational technology, graphic design, EMT, welding, architectural construction and engineering, auto technician and more.

A mandatory student and parent orientation will be held in April, and students will have until May 15th to withdraw if they feel it won’t be the right fit. Pickens recommends students speak with their high school guidance counselors to get more information and learn options are available. All necessary forms can be found on the Kirkwood Washington Regional Center’s website – click here.