100 Steps
Closer to a Degree
Hallahan’s Groundbreaking
Middle College Program
When the class of 2023 graduates from
John W. Hallahan Catholic Girls’ High
School, several students will have twice
as much to celebrate. In addition to
receiving a high school diploma, these
young women will be handed an
Associate’s Degree from the Community
College of Philadelphia (CCP).
It’s not college credit. It’s not
advanced placement. They’ll be
college graduates with a completely
accredited 2-year degree.
That’s because Hallahan is the first AOPS
school to launch a “middle college”
program that allows select freshmen to
finish college courses during their high
school careers. With the option to pursue
tracks in either Business or Allied Health,
young women like first-year Kimberly Marti
will gain an incredible head start for
their careers.
Starting with the summer after enrollment,
they will split their day between Hallahan
and CCP. Mornings will be high school
material; afternoons will be college-level.
And students who participate in after-
school sports and activities will be heading
back to Hallahan after studying among
college students.
Luckily, the trek between institutions is not
far, which is why President Denise Kassekert
has named it “100 Steps.” Hallahan leaders
found that this close proximity to CCP would
give its young women a realistic opportunity
in keeping up with the demands of a dual
enrollment program.
While some of the benefits of earning a
2-year college degree upon high school
graduation are obvious, Kassekert notes
that the students who complete their
middle college journey stand to gain more
than an extra piece of paper.
“These young women are going to start
their college careers as juniors. In addition
to their academic achievement, they will
save at least half the entire tuition costs of
college,” Kassekert says. “And that’s before
scholarship programs like Drexel’s that are
automatically offered for students above a
certain GPA.”
Program
Requirements
Freshmen applying to 100 Steps
must prove they’re ready to take on
a high school and college workload
simultaneously. Here’s how
candidates are selected.
• Students must have an 85 or
higher average across subjects.
• Students must reach high
performance PSAT thresholds.
• Students must take and pass
the CCP entrance exam
as freshmen.
• Only a maximum of 40 students
(20 per track) will be accepted.
• Accepted students must
pass the initial 5-week
summer program.
With a jump-start to college, enormous
economic opportunity, and the higher
acceptance rate for transfer students over
traditional applicants, Hallahan’s middle
college program participants couldn’t ask
for a greater advantage — and it’s only 100
steps away.
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