Students Can Learn about UHS Programs at Open House

Do you have a child who will be entering high school in the fall?

in Ferndale is inviting current eighth- and ninth-graders and their parents to attend an upcoming presentation by UHS Principal George Tomey to learn more about options at the high school.

The event will be held at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday in the media center at University High School, 1224 Paxton in Ferndale.

University High School is a four-year, college preparatory public high school where students benefit from a partnership among Ferndale Public Schools, Lawrence Technological University, and business partners throughout the metro area.

Stephanie Hall, director of community relations for the Ferndale Public Schools, said current eighth-graders who are deciding on their high school will want to attend the session "to learn more about how UHS can prepare them for their college success."

"The education model offered at UHS is rigorous and engaging to prepare students for success through to college graduation," Hall said.

Now in its seventh year, UHS serves 420 students in grades 9-12. The curriculum is project-based and features a unique, teacher-created College-Prep/ACT Prep Course. All students take four years of math, science (culminating in physics), English language arts and social studies.

Full-time college transition and campus support staff are on hand to assist students with college applications and scholarships, and advanced UHS students have opportunities to earn college credit from Lawrence Tech while still in high school.

According to the district, UHS students have won robotics competition trophies, participated in an award-winning Innovative Vehicle Design competitions through the Convergence Education Foundation, and recently received state and national recognition for .

Three recent classes have graduated with a graduation rate of 99 percent, and as of Spring 2011, 85 percent of UHS graduates were actively enrolled in colleges and universities across the country, many with full-ride scholarships.

Admission is open to students who reside in Oakland County or any bordering county.

Although 10th-graders can transfer in after one year of high school, the academic schedule and school culture is established in the first two years and new students are not enrolled in 11th or 12th grade, Hall said.

For more information, to apply or to RSVP for the event, call 248-586-8846. Applications are available at UHS, at the information session or at www.ferndaleschools.org/schools/UHS.