Kaytlin Dwyer will graduate college before she walks at Don Tyson School of Innovation’s 2023 high school graduation.
“It's really been an amazing experience for me,” Dwyer said of getting both her high school diploma through Don Tyson and an associate degree with NorthWest Arkansas Community College.
Dwyer, 18, said she’s taking courses toward an associate degree with an emphasis on the social sciences through the NorthWest Arkansas Community College Associate Degree program.
“I always felt very disconnected from my own heritage, from my own culture,” she said of her chosen course of study. “I've always really loved talking to other people from different cultures, and then I'm adopted.”
Obtaining an associate degree through NWACC is her first step toward a bachelor’s degree in anthropology through the University of Arkansas, Dwyer said.
“Hopefully, I can help with spreading diversity and awareness,” she said.
Rachel Moore and Kaytlin Dwyer attend a class toward earning an associate degree through NWACC at Don Tyson School of Innovation.
Accelerated learning
Dwyer said she’s a senior at Don Tyson School of Innovation.
The school opened in 2014 as a Springdale Public Schools open-enrollment, public-conversion charter school serving about 200 eighth-graders, said Kelly Boortz, Don Tyson principal. The school now serves about 2.370 students in grades kindergarten through 12th grade with the mission of ensuring every student graduates with a diploma plus through personalized and accelerated learning connected to the arts, college, business or industry.
The NorthWest Arkansas Community College Associate Degree program provides Don Tyson 9-12th graders with one of many pathways toward that accelerated learning, said Amy Harrison, Don Tyson School of Innovation assistant principal.
NWACC serves about 14,000 students on campuses in Bentonville and Springdale, according to the college’s website. The college offers more than 75 degrees and certificates.
Don Tyson students began taking classes toward associate degrees through NWACC in 2015, Harrison said. Four initial program participants graduated in 2019 with both high school diplomas from Don Tyson and associate degrees from NWACC.
About 50 students, 7-10% of Don Tyson’s graduating seniors, earn an associate degree from NWACC annually, she said. Some 250-300 ninth- through 12th-grade students are enrolled in college classes through Don Tyson partnerships with NWACC annually.
“We start talking about those accelerated options in sixth grade,” Harrison said of ensuring students and parents have the information they need to make program participation decisions by the time students begin their freshman year of high school.
Associate degree pathways feature core classes in math, English, science, history and fine arts, said Kimberly Blackstone, Don Tyson’s NWACC and Northwest Technical Institute facilitator and internship teacher.
NWACC math, English, science and history classes are taught at Don Tyson by Springdale Public Schools teachers, while electives are taught online by NWACC professors, she said.
“They're Springdale employee teachers, but they have enough graduate credits in their subject area to be able to teach the college class,” Blackstone said of Don Tyson’s teachers.
Participating students earn dual credit in history, English and math, she said.
NWACC classes differ from AP classes, both of which present opportunities for college credit, Harrison said. Passing an NWACC class guarantees college credits.
“There's no test at the end that's going to jeopardize that college credit,” she said, adding students must earn a three, four or five on AP exams to earn college credit for AP classes in Arkansas.
Don Tyson also has a partnership with the University of Arkansas to assist students toward degrees through the university's Sam M. Walton College of Business.
“NWACC has given us the capability of giving students the full degree program, shy of three classes,” Harrison said.
Don Tyson graduates have the potential to take three additional classes to start the College of Business as a junior, she said. The majority of the classes are also taught at Don Tyson through the school's teachers.
The University of Arkansas and Don Tyson School of Innovation partnership began in the 2021-22 school year and has yet to have any graduates, Harrison said.
UofA is located in Fayetteville, is comprised of 10 colleges and schools and offers more than 240 academic programs, according to the university's website. The university has an enrollment of about 31,000 students.
Rachel Moore wants to become a registered dietitian through NWACC following her graduation from Don Tyson School of Innovation in May.
The payoff
Rachel Moore, 18, said she enrolled in the NWACC Associate Degree program to avoid college debt.
Her family isn’t in a position to help pay for college, she said.
“It will fall on me more financially,” Moore said, adding she’s saved thousands of dollars in college expenses by participating in the program and has been able to narrow down her future course of study.
“I'm not wasting money in college on courses I don't need,” she said.
The senior wants to become a registered dietitian through NWACC following her graduation from Don Tyson School of Innovation in May.
“Food is the fuel for life,” Moore said. “If you don't have fuel for life, then you're not gonna go anywhere.”
Program participation is economical, Blackstone said.
“If they take a face-to-face class here on our campus, the cost is going to be at an average of about $174,” she said. “If they take a class online, it's $196 50.”
A full-time academic load at NWACC is 12-19 credit hours per semester, according to the college’s website. Credit hours vary from $79-$215 each.
“When you get to your junior and senior year, the state of Arkansas helps students that are taking concurrent classes,” Blackstone added. “For one class, they'll give them $125 scholarship, so that makes the cost of the class $49.”
Students can receive up to $250 from the state by enrolling in two or more classes, she said.
“It's such an amazing opportunity that I get to take part of, and I'm so thankful for that,” Dwyer said of the cost savings offered through the NWACC partnership. “I really just wanted to make the most out of what I had.”
Kaytlin Dwyer is taking courses toward an associate degree with an emphasis on the social sciences through the NorthWest Arkansas Community College Associate Degree program.
Program participation
Don Tyson students may take as few classes as they choose through the NWACC partnership and don’t have to pursue an associate degree, Blackstone said.
“By the end of your first semester of 10th grade, you need to have declared, if that's what your intentions are,” she said. “Otherwise, just take as many classes as you can.”
NWACC requires students have particular ACT or ACT Aspire scores prior to enrollment, Harrison said.
“If they do not have those test scores, we offer the ACCUPLACER here,” she said. “We give that weekly and usually in the spring.”
ACCUPLACER is a series of tests that evaluate incoming college students’ skills in reading, writing and math to help college administrators place students in courses that match their skills, according to the College Board website. College Board is a mission-driven nonprofit that connects students to college success and opportunity.
Don Tyson students must likewise have a 2.0 GPA to enroll in the associate degree program, Harrison said.
It’s impossible to put a price tag on the advantages of participating in the program, she said.
“While the price is very economical and students not only earn their college credit, they just mature as a student while they're doing this and learn those study habits to help them throughout their college career,” Harrison said.
Moore said she’d encourage other Don Tyson students to explore the NWACC Associate Degree program.
“It's such a great opportunity," she said. “You can kind of just feel your way for a field that you're passionate about and a field that will benefit you.”
Dwyer agreed.
“I've just really enjoyed the community we've built,” she said, adding program participants push her to be a better person and student. “I really get to work and study with some amazing students here.”