DECATUR, Ill. (WCIA) — Four years after its inception, the innovative Prep Academy program by Decatur Public Schools and Richland Community College is poised for growth following the graduation of its first cohort.

Established in 2021, the Prep Academy offers a unique opportunity for high school students within the Decatur Public Schools system to engage in a dual-enrollment program. This initiative allows them to simultaneously earn a high school diploma and an associate’s degree over four years, without the burden of tuition costs. This past May, the first group of 25 students proudly completed the program.

The graduates collectively amassed over 1,500 credit hours, maintained an impressive average GPA of 3.09, and many earned academic honors. Notably, the program enabled each student to save approximately $26,000 in public college tuition fees.

Ashley Grayned, Executive Director of Innovative Programs and Strategic Planning for Decatur Public Schools, expressed gratitude towards Richland Community College for their collaboration. “The Prep Academy Program has allowed these young students to achieve remarkable academic success,” Grayned remarked. “Starting as 14-year-old high school freshmen, they graduated at 18 with both a diploma and an associate’s degree, equipped with the skills needed to advance to universities nationwide. We are immensely proud of the trailblazing efforts of the Cohort 1 students.”