Smart Scholars: First cohort registers for free college courses

The first cohort of the Mount Vernon Smart Scholars program began registering for free college courses this year. Students began the program in 2020 as ninth-graders, and as 11th-graders will be taking advanced placement courses and college courses. Registration was held at Mount Vernon High School at 10:00 a.m., the Mount Vernon STEAM Academy at 11:15 a.m. and Denzel Washington School of the Arts at 12:30 p.m. on Tuesday, October 4, 2022.  

The Smart Scholar program is run in conjunction with Mercy College, and students can make progress towards their college degree by participating. The program began in the 2020-2021 school year, and the first cohort of ninth-grade students are now in 11th-grade and engaging in the concurrent college enrollment portion of the program. 75 11th-grade students are enrolled, 25 at each high school. This year’s ninth-graders, the third cohort of Smart Scholars, began this year by going through the summer program. 

Lillian Serret-Morales, the principal of the Mount Vernon STEAM Academy was impressed by the resiliency of her school’s 25 Smart scholars, who completed a portion of the program online due to COVID.  

“Last year was the first year in person, and it was difficult,” said Ms. Serret-Morales. “But they’re still all on track and continuing their regular courseload.” 

Mike Nash, assistant director of undergraduate admissions and recruitment at Mercy College, is the Mount Vernon City School District’s Smart Scholar admission point person. Others involved are Dr. Cecil Wright, executive director of admissions at Mercy College, Anne Gilligan, Assistant Vice President of Admissions at Mercy College and the Mount Vernon City School District Office of School Improvement. 

11th-grade Smart Scholars are taking college courses in US History, pre-calculus, English, and chemistry. Other course offerings include Spanish, physics and statistics.  
 
The district is paying for the courses in full, so students can save even more money on college tuition. Additionally, students who decide to attend Mercy College will get an additional $1,000 off their tuition.  

Taking these courses will prepare students for the workload of college courses and relieve some of the stresses that come with paying for and preparing for college.  
 
The Mount Vernon City School District will hold a zoom meeting for any parents interested in the Smart Scholar program in late October. Any middle school parents that are interested in enrolling a student in Smart Scholars, please reach out to your child’s school counselor.