Valley Stream students get early college experience

The Valley Stream Central High School District is offering its students a brand-new opportunity to take college-level classes on an actual college campus. This opportunity comes through Nassau Community College’s concurrent enrollment program, which is being offered to Valley Stream Central High School District students for the first time this year.

Through this program, VSCHSD students travel to Nassau Community College’s campus in Garden City during normal school hours to take courses. The grades earned in these courses allow students to earn college credits, similar to Advanced Placement classes, while simultaneously fulfilling their high school graduation requirements. The program also has the added benefit of giving VSCHSD students a head start on becoming acquainted with a college campus setting.

Already, the first cohort of students in the program completed their orientation at Nassau Community College this summer, where they learned how to sign into the college’s portal and navigate the campus to find their classes.

“We love to give our students opportunities to excel in their studies and grow into young adults while learning the responsibilities that come along with it,” said Superintendent of Schools Wayne Loper. “By allowing our students to attend classes on a college campus while still in high school, they gain a unique opportunity to start learning valuable skills for becoming an independent adult.”