Andrea Daniels
Published: April 27, 2005
Enrollment at PJC’s Adult High has dropped by almost 600 students over the past five years-a trend the college attributes to increased competition, more selectivity in admissions and changes in test requirements.
The Adult High head count this year stands at 1105, according to Dr. Marshall McLeod, director of institutional research. Five years ago, it hit a high point of 1690, but has been falling ever since.
The biggest dip came in 2002 and 2003, when annual enrollment fell from 1316 to 1002.
There are many factors that contribute to the decline in enrollment, said Dr. James Grant, the department head of the Adult High.
For one, both Escambia and Santa Rosa counties have expanded their adult high school offerings, so older students have less need for PJC. Additionally, students under 18 have added incentive to stay in their original high schools to maintain their driver licenses.
Grant said PJC’s admissions policy has become more selective. Students must be in good standing at the local high school prior to enrolling at PJC. Those who are under suspension or expulsion are not eligible to enroll at PJC’s Adult High until the period is up.
This change is for the better, Grant believes. When the school did accept “troubled” students, they were often unable to pass the Test of Adult Basic Education, which tests the student for proficiency at the high school level.
Now, if a student receives a low score on the TABE, he or she is encouraged to enroll in Adult Basic Education classes, and it will probably take longer to earn a diploma.
Older students with low TABE ÿscores are encouraged to enroll in the General Education Diploma program.
Complicating matters is the state’s requirement that students pass the the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test instead of the old High School Competency Test.
The HSCT was a much easier test to pass.
“Students who have taken the FCAT many times before and have failed become discouraged and do not want to take it again,” Grant explained. However, the school does offer tutoring sessions to help students pass the FCAT.
Even the cost of books is a factor in declining enrollment. Adult High students must pay for their own textbooks, and they must find a ride to PJC. The three competing charter schools in the area, however, provide books and transportation, Grant pointed out.
Attending Adult High does has its advantages. Grant says high school students here are treated more as adults and are exposed to a college atmosphere. Moreover, their schedule is flexible so they can work in the daytime while going to school. Some even receive their diplomas early.
“We offer our students responsibilities as adults; we are the preview to adulthood,” Grant said.