JMCSS expands Middle College and highlights career pathways: ROTC, CTE, credentials for students
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Summary
District officials say Middle College dual-enrollment at Jackson State Community College is available to qualified juniors and seniors (minimum 19 ACT and 3.0 GPA); early uptake includes more than 30 students and the district promotes CTE, ROTC and credentialing as pathways after high school.
Katrina Taylor, JMCSS innovation impact coordinator, said Middle College now offers qualified juniors and seniors the opportunity to take full-time dual-enrollment classes at Jackson State Community College and earn credits toward an associate degree while still in high school.
"Middle College is an opportunity for all of our students," Taylor said. "So juniors and seniors who meet the qualifications'at least a 19 on the ACT and a 3.0 GPA'can take advantage of dual enrollment, full-time classes at Jackson State Community College." She added that more than 30 students have already enrolled this semester from Liberty, Northside and Southside high schools.
The nut graf: District leaders said expanding Middle College and promoting career-technical education (CTE), ROTC and credentialing gives students alternate pathways to college, the military or the workforce; counselors and the Innovation office will help students and families navigate eligibility and program options.
Officials described hands-on CTE experiences that translate to formal credentials and external competitions. Katrina said that robotics teams and green-power projects give students EPSOs and credentials that can improve grades and workplace readiness; one robotics team at Southside received a national invitation.
Greg Hammond noted that some specialty programs have strong connections to military support: "Nearly 100% of the robotics team at Southside is ROTC," he said, and he described Liberty's ROTC program as operating drone technology supported by military partners.
Rhonda Hurd Bigham also warned that demand can outstrip capacity for early-college seats: "Last year we did receive over 200 applications, and we were only able to accept 65 to 70," she said, urging families who don't secure a seat to consider open enrollment to access similar programs at other schools.
District staff said counselors and the Innovation team are available to help students identify programs that match their interests and to explain pathways to employment, enlistment or continued education. Taylor described workforce pathways such as TCAT, Jackson State and four-year institutions as part of the district's strategy to expand post-secondary options for students.
The conversation closed with officials encouraging earlier exposure to options so students and parents can make informed choices during the open-enrollment window. "The most important thing is exposure for our students," Taylor said, "so they can see what they're good at and what they're interested in."