HOPE – A digitally streamed presentation outlining the Hope Collegiate Academy expectations for rising Hope Public Schools 10th grade students who wish to earn an associate’s degree and high school diploma simultaneously at no cost was presented Tuesday in a parental information session at Hope High School.

Officials from the University of Arkansas-Hope campus including UAHT Interim Chancellor Laura Clark, UAHT Dean of Secondary Programs Mikki Curtis, and UAHT Vice Chancellor for Student Services Brian Berry directed the presentation which was streamed on the HHS Facebook page.

Clark said the Hope High School Class of 2021 will include the first cohort of students from HHS to graduate with both a college degree and high school diploma at the same time. She said the HCA may be summarized in one word, “Opportunity.”

The HCA is a partnership between the Hope Public Schools and UAHT. Hope High School students entering the 10th grade may apply for admission through June 1. If more applications are made than slots available consideration for admission will be based upon grade point average, attendance and discipline records for each student. Students must be either enrolled in the HPS or be eligible for enrollment in the HPS and meet collegiate academy entrance requirements to attend.

Curtis said fully qualified candidates score a 19 on the ACT in reading, English and math, or 251 in reading and English and 263 in math on the Accuplacer test for acceptance. Conditional admission is also possible under the three-tiered system that requires specific minimum scores on either the ACT or Accuplacer test, she said.

The HCA is a public school and is free of charge. HCA students have the opportunity to earn two years of college credit culminating in an associate degree while graduating from Hope High School simultaneously. “You have the ability to start at a four-year college as a junior,” Curtis said. Student life in the 10th grade year is a mix of high school and college level study, with students taking all college-level studies in grades 11 and 12, Curtis said. “It is a total immersion college experience,” she said.

She said HCA students remain a part of Hope Bobcat student life by their choice of dedicated time for participating in extracurricular activities or not; transportation to and from UAHT each day is provided by the Hope Public Schools; and meals are provided by the HPS. Students must submit the collegiate academy application and college entrance scores by June 1, 2021. To apply, visit https://www.uaht.edu/hope-collegiate-academy/online. For questions, contact Curtis at mikki.curtis@uaht.edu or 870-722-8133.