Saint Raphael Academy announced a new partnership with a local university that will provide another opportunity for motivated students to learn at the college level.
SRA is partnering with Johnson & Wales University to offer six classes for dual enrollment, beginning in fall 2025. Upon successful completion of the course(s), students will receive both high school and college credits that they may apply toward a degree at institutions of higher learning around the country.
Another Avenue Toward College
For Judy Baxter, vice principal for academics, this is an initiative she has been working toward for a long time.
“Because we are a college preparatory high school, I believe we should offer our students every opportunity to get a head start on their college education. They are able to earn college credits while still in high school. thus can shorten time needed to complete a college degree. Additionally, Dual enrollment provides students with the opportunity to experience college-level coursework, helping them to better understand the academic expectations and rigor of higher education,” she said.
One hundred percent of SRA students are accepted to college. In recent years, many students are looking for exposure to certain career paths, such as medicine, business and retail. Mrs. Baxter and the administration have added such classes as anatomy and physiology and personal finance, and even introduced online classes through Virtual High School, in response to student interest. But there was more the Academy wanted to do.
Checking it out
Last week, the junior class attended an information session at JWU. There, they saw a mock class and had the chance to ask questions to make an informed decision. The classes chosen in tandem with JWU are ones that SRA does not already offer a part of its academic program. All are introductory college courses in health and life sciences; business management, retail principles and entrepreneurship; and criminal justice.
The classes are designed to introduce students to potential future career paths.
“It was my first real college tour (and I know it is the first for a lot of other students), so to see what I should look forward to from JWU/college in general was really interesting,” said Lily Peavey. “I’m thinking of taking Intro to Health Professions during the fall semester, as I’m leaning toward majoring in psychology or psychiatry, and I think that would be the best fit for me.”
The inaugural program will offer three classes each in both the fall and spring semesters in the 2025-2026 academic year. The classes are asynchronous, meaning that students will work online on assignments within the structure of SRA’s daily class schedule. This is the same as students who take classes on Virtual High School.
Students will have supervision over the semester. The college professor will be available via email to answer questions about assignments, and students will have access to a forum of other students in the class for questions and discussion. Parents and students will receive weekly progress reports, and the professor will provide weekly due dates for assignments. Students will continue to have on-campus access to technology assistance from Saints while taking the courses.
A Financial Win
Perhaps best of all, the tuition for the course is being offered to Saints students at a significantly reduced rate. Most college courses cost an average of $1,500 for a 3-credit course. JWU is offering limited spots to SRA students for a $500 fee. Saint Raphael Academy is committed to making these courses more affordable to students. They will cover half of the tuition, so that the final cost for the student is $250.
The junior class was enthusiastic about the opportunity for their senior year.
While the 2025-2026 academic year will be the pilot year, Mrs. Baxter and Principal Dan Richard expect that they will eventually widen the opportunity to include juniors in subsequent years.
“Successfully completing dual enrollment courses can strengthen a student’s college application by demonstrating their ability to handle challenging coursework and their commitment to academic excellence,” Mrs. Baxter explained. “Students can explore different fields of study and gain insights into potential career paths, helping them make more informed decisions about their future academic and professional goals. Overall, dual enrollment with Johnson & Wales University offers high school students a valuable opportunity to advance their education, save money, and prepare for college success.”
Additional College Opportunities at Saints
In addition to several Advanced Placement courses offered at SRA, the Academy has other partnerships that give students a leg-up on the beginning of their college careers. The Academy has had a long-standing relationship with RIC through its Early Enrollment Program, and it has also partnered with Virtual High School, a non-profit educational resource where students can take additional AP teacher-led courses asynchronously that the Academy does not offer.
