School Counts


  • Hopkins County Schools’ freshmen are eligible to enroll in School Counts!, a workforce readiness program that offers tuition support at Madisonville Community College.

    Participants are required to earn a 2.5 grade-point average yearly, achieve a 95 percent attendance and punctuality record, complete high school in eight consecutive semesters and take more than the minimum number of credits required for graduation.

    The program is a partnership among public schools, MCC and local businesses/industries.

    Students who successfully complete the program will receive $1,000 per semester for four semesters of tuition to MCC. School Counts! funds are applied after a combination of the student’s Kentucky Educational Excellence Scholarship, financial aid and other scholarships are posted to his or her account.

    School Counts! was the first program of its kind in Kentucky. It was announced in spring 2004 for that year’s eighth-graders — the Class of 2008. The program, based on a similar initiative in New Jersey, came about after Hopkins County Superintendent James L. Stevens talked to MCC President Dr. Judy Rhoads about the possibility of all county graduates receiving a scholarship to MCC.

    The program is intended to raise the educational level in the region, enhance economic development opportunities, change attitudes toward higher education, and improve the overall quality of life. There are 280 businesses that support the program.

    A total of $1.5 million has been raised for the School Counts! endowment.

    In 2010-2011, Madisonville North Hopkins had 543 participants — 75 seniors, 98 juniors, 147 sophomores and 223 freshmen. That same year, Hopkins County Central had 424 participants — 69 seniors, 78 juniors, 91 sophomores and 186 freshmen.

     

    For additional information, visit the following website: 

    Madisonville Community College School Counts