The transition between middle school and high school can be difficult for many students, and failing classes as a freshman increases the likelihood that a student will drop out.
To help struggling ninth graders, Smithfield Selma High School has started a new program to help students get back on track without losing a year.
“Research shows if (a student is) not promoted to the tenth grade, that vastly increases dropout potential,” Assistant Principal Chris Kennedy said Wednesday.
So the school developed the Freshman Assistance and Support Team, or FAST program, which allows students who fail freshman year to catch up on credits quickly, get promoted to sophomore by the middle of their second year and still graduate on time.
Johnathan Johnson fell behind in his first year of high school.
“There were more people in the classroom and more distractions,” he said. “The work got a little harder.”
But, in its first year, the FAST program got Johnson and 21 other students like him back on track.
“It feels good.