Charter school helps earn people diplomas
It can be tough to earn a good living without a high school diploma.
But for those who have left their high school years without one, there’s an option – Northern Palms Charter High School, at 13251 N. Cleveland Ave. in North Fort Myers, where the former Bob Evans restaurant used to be.
The school, in its third year, is taking applications for classes that begin Aug. 10 for those who are either just a few classes shy of graduation, want to graduate early or those who had problems at other high schools.
Bernadette Graham, Northern Palms principal, said these students come to finish up whatever they need to get that diploma.
“There was only one other charter school similar to ours and we decided to open this school to service North Fort Myers,” Graham said. “This is where they can get high school credit. Our core teachers are here on campus and have their certificates.”
The school is tuition-free, accredited, and is part of the Lee County Public School system, along with City of Palms in Fort Myers and Palm Acres in Lehigh, and is for students 16 and 21.
The school has three sessions daily (7 a.m. to noon, 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and noon to 5 p.m.), and it has qualified teachers who work at the pace with which the students are comfortable.
At the end of the year, the students get their standard diploma and a ceremony like the other schools do.
Graham said the school has about 180 students, with the capacity to take as many as 400.
Not only do the students take courses, but the school has career counselors that help them find jobs or get into college by getting them waivers to take the ACT or SAT tests.
“We had about 20 students graduate, and about half of them were interested in attending college, but most of them work first,” Graham said. “Many of our students have jobs.”
Rick Rohner, Northern Palms business manager, said the school picks up people who have struggled in “regular” high school as a way to complement the school district.
“We help kids complete their education and provide the opportunity for them to get a decent job. It’s a valuable service to the community,” Rohner said. “We post statistics for high school dropouts on the walls so they have a visualization of that.”
Stasitically, those without a high school diploma earn nearly $1 million less in their lifetime, and the chances of being convicted of a crime goes up fivefold, Rohner said.
The school was voted “Best Charter High School” this year by readers.
For more information or to set up an appointment, call 997-9987 or go online to NorthernPalmsCharter.com.