SUNY Old Westbury’s Smart Scholars Early College Partner – Recognized as District of Distinction
(Long Island, NY) The collaboration between SUNY Old Westbury faculty and staff and their counterparts in the Roosevelt Union Free School District earned national recognition recently when District Administration magazine named Roosevelt a national “District of Distinction” for the success and innovation of Roosevelt’s Smart Scholars Early College High School.
Roosevelt was among only 30 districts nationwide, and the sole recipient in New York to be honored for its college and career readiness initiative.
Since its inception in 2010, approximately 145 Roosevelt High School students in grades 11 and 12 earned 2,656 college credits through SUNY Old Westbury – all at no cost to the student. In the program’s second and third years, all Smart Scholars students graduated high school, and 90% have enrolled in college.
“Our partnership program with Roosevelt gives these students the support they need and the earned confidence that they have what it takes to succeed in college,” said College President Calvin O. Butts, III. “We at Old Westbury have a deep belief that all students deserve the chance to reach their full potential through an excellent education, and we’re proud to continue our relationship with Roosevelt to carry out this mission.”
“The partnership with SUNY Old Westbury is a model for others to replicate,” said Roosevelt Union Free School District Superintendent, Dr. Deborah L. Wortham. “We are greatly indebted to the team at Old Westbury for their visionary leadership in this superlative effort.”
“Districts of Distinction” is a national recognition program created by District Administration magazine to honor school districts that are leading the way with new and innovative ideas.
Smart Scholars Early College High School Programs partner with institutions of higher education to assist students who are traditionally underrepresented in postsecondary education. The program allows high school students to take college-credit courses in junior and senior year, receive additional academic and social support services throughout elementary, middle and high school, and experience “college going” culture. This dual enrollment serves to increase high school graduation and college completion rates, while reducing student tuition costs as a result of the compressed time needed to complete a college degree.
SUNY Old Westbury is a selective public liberal arts college with more than 4,500 students studying in more than 40 undergraduate degree opportunities in its liberal arts and professional programs and 16 graduate programs in business, education liberal studies and mental health counseling. On the College’s 604-acre campus, students are challenged to take ownership of their futures through an environment that demands academic excellence, fosters intercultural understanding, and endeavors to stimulate a passion for learning and a commitment to building a more just and sustainable world. For more information on SUNY Old Westbury, visit www.oldwestbury.edu.
