Dual enrollment programs, which allow high school students to take college courses in addition to their regular courses, are becoming more and more popular. Research shows that they have positive benefits for many types of students, including college prep students. They broaden the range of courses available, making it possible for students to take electives to which they may otherwise have not had access. They may even increase some students’ likelihood of continuing on to college. Since more jobs nowadays require some postsecondary education, students participating in these programs may be more prepared to enter the workforce.

These programs also help students get used to college life before they graduate from high school. This means that more students will know what they are looking for when applying to colleges, making it easier for them to choose the school that is the best match for their goals and interests. This makes the transition from high school to college easier for many students.

These types of programs are different than advanced placement high school courses. The courses available to students are managed by the college or university, and are the same courses that a college student might take. Therefore, they are best suited for college prep students with a B average or higher. College courses tend to require more reading and coursework than high school classes, and high-achievers are likely to thrive.

Matlock Preparatory (MP), a West Palm Beach private school, offers a Dual Enrollment program for juniors and seniors in addition to its already well-rounded curriculum. Students can take one or two classes each semester from one of three different local colleges and universities. This program has proven to be quite successful for MP and enhances students’ self-confidence and sense of responsibility.

This West Palm Beach private school offers a comprehensive curriculum for high school students. Students can take courses that are relevant to today’s society, including economics, world geography, ecology, and foreign languages. The electives offered also help prepare students for life in college and beyond by teaching study skills, stress reduction, and computer skills. Students attending MP will be well-prepared for the world that awaits them.

Matlock Preparatory Academy is a West Palm Beach private school for gifted students in grades 9 through 12. Matlock offers a unique curriculum emphasizing individual attention, stress reduction, and a comprehensive college prep focus. With specific attention to English and Math and even dual enrollment options, students get a head start in the transition to college coursework.

In the Matlock English program, students will study both contemporary and classic literature, in addition to the usual grammar, spelling, vocabulary, and writing. Teachers offer plenty of encouragement to keep students interested in reading, as this important skill seems to be in decline among today’s teens. Students with a bent towards writing are encouraged and may even participate in special writing seminars. Eager readers are offered additional literature courses and options for independent study.

Math is a difficult skill set for many students, so Matlock’s math program includes plenty of individual attention and allows students to learn at their own pace. Courses from basic Algebra through Pre Calculus/Trigonometry cater to students with an interest in math.

Social studies programs focus on US History, World History, Civics, and World Geography. Seniors are required to study Economics as well. This well-rounded college prep focused curriculum also helps ensure well-rounded students!

Matlock’s basic science classes are required for every student, including Earth/Space Science, Ecology, and Biology, as well as Marine or Environmental Science. More advanced students or those seeking a science related college education may opt for Chemistry or Physics courses.

Also a graduation requirement are foreign language classes and electives in the arts and physical education. Offered electives include SAT Prep, Computers, Water Sports, Stress Reduction, and Study Skills.

Impressively, 98% of Matlock graduates are offered Bright Future Scholarships. In addition, 11th and 12th graders with a “B” average or better may participate in dual enrollment, earning credits from a local college in addition to their high school diploma.

Preparing for College

Everyone wants to do well in college and get good grades. For most students, it takes more than just getting good grades in high school to do well in college courses. Every parent wants their child to be successful in college. Attending a West Palm Beach Private School can increase your child’s success rate in the completion of college courses after high school graduation. The curriculum of West Palm Beach Private School is designed to cover specific subject areas in language skills, math, science, writing, and other college prepatory subjects that will help create a solid foundation to allow your child to succeed later on in college.

Getting into College

The typical high school student usually only takes the courses required for graduation from high school. Most students don’t plan to take additional courses or some of the more challenging courses while they are in high school. High school students do not understand how taking some of the more challenging courses or extra courses will help prepare them for success later on in their college courses. Completing a program at a MP Summer School can provide the additional curricular subject areas your child needs to acquire the background and knowledge required to succeed in the college courses. Taking college prep courses at a MP summer school will also allow your child to work on specific areas to improve skills in areas needed.

Many of the better colleges are very selective in their admissions process, so it is never too early to start planning for your child’s success. There are many career advantages of attending one of the better colleges. An investment in college prep courses for your child will bring lasting benefits to your child, both in college and in his or her future career. The decision to attend a private school is a wise one.

Preparing to Succeed in CollegePreparing for College

Everyone wants to do well in college and get good grades. For most students, it takes more than just getting good grades in high school to do well in college courses. Every parent wants their child to be successful in college. Attending a West Palm Beach Private School can increase your child’s success rate in the completion of college courses after high school graduation. The curriculum of West Palm Beach Private School is designed to cover specific subject areas in language skills, math, science, writing, and other college prepatory subjects that will help create a solid foundation to allow your child to succeed later on in college.

Getting into College

The typical high school student usually only takes the courses required for graduation from high school. Most students don’t plan to take additional courses or some of the more challenging courses while they are in high school. High school students do not understand how taking some of the more challenging courses or extra courses will help prepare them for success later on in their college courses. Completing a program at a MP Summer School can provide the additional curricular subject areas your child needs to acquire the background and knowledge required to succeed in the college courses. Taking college prep courses at a MP summer school will also allow your child to work on specific areas to improve skills in areas needed.

Many of the better colleges are very selective in their admissions process, so it is never too early to start planning for your child’s success. There are many career advantages of attending one of the better colleges. An investment in college prep courses for your child will bring lasting benefits to your child, both in college and in his or her future career. The decision to attend a private school is a wise one.

Matlock Preparatory (MP) is a West Palm Beach private school, that seeks to fulfill their mission of preparing students for success in their lives by providing students with a foundation for a lifetime of learning. It is the goal of MP to integrate a nurturing and challenging academic environment, that actively encourages critical thinking skills among its students. To achieve these goals MP has created a rigorous college prep curriculum which will challenge the students to think outside and beyond the box. This college prep curriculum is also extended to those interested in homeschooling in the West Palm Beach County area.

To support its unique integration of rigorous academics MP provides students with several options when dealing with the common stresses of education. One option is MP summer school, which provides a student with the opportunity to make up missed credits.

The program is not only utilized only by students needing to make up credit. Due to demanding schedules, difficult course requirements or test anxiety, summer school is an option for students who want to get ahead or take some of the stress off of their regular academic schedule. By supplementing the regular school year with summer school classes, students can reduce their stress level and form closer relationships with teachers that may extend into the following school year.

Summer school programs offer students a unique experience. The small class sizes encourage more individual attention to each student, as well as personalized learning plans which compliment both the mission of MP as well as target personal goals for each student. The MP summer school program also utilizes positive reinforcement techniques to maximize student engagement and success.

Students in the summer school program will practice daily meditation and relaxation techniques with an emphasis on developing coping mechanisms and strategies for success that can be applied throughout the regular school year and in many other avenues throughout their lives. Some students may use this program as a way to feel success at school that has long made them feel like a “number” and not an individual. Others may use this program to experiment with more challenging classes and achieve personal and academic goals. Regardless of the student’s current level of success with education, MP’s long standing record of success makes this 25 year program a solid investment into the educational well being of secondary students in the West Palm Beach area.

It is never too early to help your child prepare for college. There is no substitute for your child getting a solid and broad academic education that will help prepare him or her for college. One way to assist your child in preparation for college coursework is early enrollment in college prep courses. Students who complete a broader range of courses in preparation for college tend to achieve a foundation of knowledge and skills that allow them to experience a brighter college future and increase their career potential.

Help your child prepare for college courses with dual enrollment in college prep courses while he or she is completing his or her high school program. The broad range of courses that make up the curriculum at West Palm Beach Private School will help your child prepare a solid foundation for learning that will last throughout his or her lifetime. The dual enrollment in the courses at West Palm Beach Private School will help increase your child’s knowledge in the subject areas needed to allow your child to achieve success later when taking college courses.

Your child will gain confidence during the completion of the school’s challenging courses in areas such as reading, writing, speaking, and listening, and the school’s curriculum will give your child the additional resources to excel. The school’s challenging coursework will motivate your child to work harder and increase his or her focus to achieve at a higher percentage rate. You will see a transformation in your child’s confidence as he or she progresses through the preparatory program at the school. The instruction provided by the school is taught by caring, qualified faculty who know how to keep students motivated and involved in the various subject areas to ensure they can get the most from each lesson and learning experience.

As most selective colleges prefer to admit high school graduates who have completed high school courses in certain subject areas, the school’s college preparatory curriculum and broad range of courses will help your child’s high school transcript stand out during the college admissions process. As the preparation provided by the school will also help your child prepare for the SAT and college entrance tests, you can also help your child avoid the stress of gaining the required SAT scores required for entrance at the majority of the selective colleges.

In high school, there are a wide variety of stressors. Fitting in, working while in school, family issues and figuring out what path to take are just a few of the many issues affecting teenagers. College prep is a major event and should be handled delicately since it will shape the path that the students will take.

Making a clear and focused decision in terms of figuring out the future is a major cause of stress in a teenager’s life. Family pressures and study habits can sometimes deter the process, thus causing a bit of panic. In this case, it may be necessary to sit down calmly with the teenager to make a list of some of their goals and interests in order to figure out what the right school and major might be.

Another way to help eliminate stress, even though it may not be a popular idea, is to limit the amount of video games and time spent idle in front of a tv or computer. When stress has no outlet, particular during the teen years, it becomes jumbled and has no means of escaping. In this way, more stress can build, and may even be let out in unhealthy ways. Teens should be encouraged to spend time exercising, playing sports, etc., and afterwards their minds will be clearer and more focused.

One method of stress reduction that is helpful for this age group is to have a “no holds barred” vent session. Teenagers crave attention and to have an ear to bend is more helpful than we realize. If they can talk openly to someone they trust about anything and everything, then there is room for positivity to come through. It is important not to judge or criticize during this type of stress relief so that more stress is not added, defeating the purpose.

Lastly, it is important to take moments to reflect or meditate, controlling the breathing and heart rate, which are elevated during stressful times. As a teenager, the pressures mount and many people in their lives have expectations of what they should be doing. It is important to pause in a room free from noise and other distractions. Those in the internet generation do not often give themselves a chance to focus on one thing at a time, so moments of silence are especially helpful to alleviate stress.

Matlock Academy is a West Palm Beach private school that understands teen issues and has created a curriculum for stress reduction and better decision-making. Helping the students feel empowered and creating a sense of balance in their lives are the ultimate goals. Matlock strives to help students focus better to achieve their potential.

One of Matlock Academy’s students entered the Palm Beach County Amateur golf tournament. Peter Mathison, at 13 years old, is the youngest player ever to qualify for the Florida State Amateur and is now the 3rd youngest to qualify for the Palm Beach County Amateur tournament. Despite attending Matlock Academy and focusing on his studies here he practices 5 hours a day due to his love of golf. He qualified for the Palm Beach County Amateur at the age of 12 and now, at the age of 13, has played in the tournament. He had high hopes and wanted to finish among the top amateur players in a tournament made up of mostly adults who have been playing far longer than he has. We wish him all the best.

From the Palm Beach Post:

Jupiter’s Peter Mathison is just 13, but he’s accomplished plenty on the golf course. Last week, Mathison made it to the round of 64 at the U.S. Junior Amateur, something few 13-year-olds manage. Last month, he became the youngest player in the 93-year history of the Florida State Amateur to make the cut. This week, Mathison turns his sights to the Palm Beach County Amateur, where he made the cut last year as a 12-year-old. That was quite an accomplishment in a field mainly made up mostly of adults, but this time Mathison is looking for a high finish against the area’s top amateur players.

Read more about Peter and Matlock Academy at the Palm Beach Post article.