POCOMOKE CITY- A new initiative at Pocomoke High School aims to have 100 percent of seniors enrolled in college or workforce education upon graduation.
The effort, known as Project 100, is designed to make sure all Pocomoke graduates get the training they need to find a meaningful career after high school.
“We cannot let our kids’ zip code or their race or their financial situation dictate their destiny,” Pocomoke High School Principal Annette Wallace said.
Wallace said that national statistics showed that more than 90 percent of students wanted a college degree while only 26 percent ever actually earned that degree. That’s in spite of the fact that studies have proven that individuals with college degrees have significantly higher earning potential than those without. That, Wallace says, is why students should be encouraged to pursue college, or even military or workforce development programs, after high school.
Jennifer Howard, a teacher working with Wallace on starting Project 100, said staff at Pocomoke High School (PHS) would raise their expectations and would work individually with students to develop a post-graduation plan for each.
“We have to change the culture of our students,” she said. “We have to change the culture of our community.”
She said the school would partner with Wor-Wic Community College, offer guidance support and host community events aimed at making post-secondary education possible for Pocomoke teenagers.
Howard said that with some encouragement, 88 of the 100 seniors preparing to graduate from PHS this spring had developed plans for the future.
“It’s amazing,” she said. “It’s almost like they don’t want to do anything until they know someone believes in them.”
Wallace said a number of seniors had simply made plans to get more training for the careers they wanted, positions in law enforcement and cosmetology for example.
She said the difficult part for such students was often finding funding for training, since a lot of federal student aid did not extend to workforce development programs.
“Money is a huge hindrance for us,” Wallace said, adding that more than 60 percent of her school’s students reported living in poverty. “Providing money for those students becomes tough.”
Luckily, PHS does have one scholarship fund just for workforce development programs. She’s expecting a lot of students to apply for it this year. Going forward, Wallace says Project 100 is something she hopes will be embraced by all of the school’s students. Sharing the message early will allow students time to think about the future before they enter senior year.