PRINCETON — Some PikeView High School students are adding all their options and getting a jump start in their college careers through special correspondence courses.

The classes, conducted through virtual learning classrooms and in-person supervision, combine college-level instruction and the security of high school, teacher Tish Coleman said Wednesday.

The algebra III course she oversees includes virtual classroom lectures by Concord University’s Cecilia Fizer, labs coordinated on computer at the school, quizzes and tests administered by Coleman and homework completed at the students’ own pace.

“It really gives them a taste of college and what the classes are like,” Coleman said.

Just like any other college course, there are prerequisites to even get into the class. Seniors who want to get the dual high school and college credits must have completed at least algebra II, score at least 19 on the math portion of the ACT and get a teacher recommendation.

Once the class begins, Coleman said it includes a syllabus and homework outline, along with 50-minute lectures by Fizer three times each week.

“With the homework, I just make a suggestion. If they get behind, they get behind. That’s part of learning to manage time,” Coleman said.

On Tuesdays and Thursdays, the students get time to work on their homework, complete lab assignments online in PVHS’s business lab or get help from either their peers or Coleman.

Since cooperative learning is encouraged in the correspondence course, students are able to assist each other on the homework and even quizzes. Tests and the final exam, however, must be completed individually.

“I can’t help them with the quiz, but they can help each other,” Coleman said.

Six years into its existence, the virtual college course gets impressive reviews from the students.

“I love it, and it’s really challenging,” Michael Ramsey said.

Since math is his favorite subject, Ramsey said it wasn’t difficult to decide whether to take part in the algebra III class.

“It’s going to help us get through college later on,” he said, referring to both the credit and the college experience. “They treat us just like college students. You work on your own basis.”

Leanna Chrisley agreed that she loved the class, particularly the homework flexibility. Since students get the syllabus at the beginning of the course and know the assignments on the first day, it allows students to shape their homework around their lives.

Since she’s involved in several school activities, Chrisley said that tool was very valuable.

“There isn’t a strict deadline on homework,” she said. “Sometimes, it’s hard to do an assignment the night it’s assigned. Now, I can work ahead or plan a specific time for homework.”

Having other friends taking the course at the same time has been nice too. One of Chrisley’s friends is currently taking the same algebra III class on Concord’s campus, and she said it was wonderful being able to work together on assignments. By adding another math class to the PVHS curriculum, Coleman and her students said the virtual algebra III class should help keep math skills sharp.

“Some people get their three required math classes over with their sophomore year and don’t take another math class until they get to college,” Chrisley said.

By then, they’ve often gotten rusty on the tasks needed to solve many problems. That’s a dilemma Luke Mann said he was well-acquainted with.

“It’s a good class, and I really do like the no restrictions on homework. But, I haven’t had math in a year and a half, and I feel like I’m running to keep up,” he said.

Luckily, he, Ramsey and Chrisley were quick to point out, Coleman is always there to help them when they can’t solve the problems presented in the class.

“Ms. Coleman is the best math teacher I’ve ever had,” Ramsey said.

For her part, Coleman said she is just happy to see the students engaged in math classes throughout their high school careers.

“We’re trying to find ways to keep kids interested in their senior year. This does that, and it will help them in college,” she said.

Algebra III is not the only college correspondence course offered at PVHS. Principal Ben Disibbio said English teacher Pam Bowling also conducts a class that provides high school and college credit.

For more information on the classes at PVHS, call the school at 384-7586.

— Contact Tammie Toler at ttoler@ptonline.net.