<strong>From staff reports</strong>

Battery Creek High School is the second South Carolina high school authorized to offer students a prestigious international academic program that gives students opportunities to earn college course credits while still in high school, and at no charge to the students or their families.

Cambridge Assessment International Education has approved Battery Creek High to offer its prestigious Cambridge program beginning this academic year.

Part of the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom, the Cambridge program is offered for students ages 11 to 19. Battery Creek will initially participate in the Cambridge Upper Secondary and transition to Cambridge Advanced.

Students will be able to choose advanced level courses that allow them to earn college credit for qualifying scores on Cambridge exams, and students who pass enough of those courses can earn the prestigious Cambridge International diploma in addition to a traditional South Carolina high school diploma. This year’s Battery Creek freshmen will be the school’s first students with the opportunity to earn Cambridge diplomas.

Battery Creek joins Aiken High in Aiken County as a Cambridge International school.

Nearly a million students from 10,000 schools in 160 countries prepare for their futures with Cambridge programs and qualifications. Success with Cambridge can give students admission to universities in the U.S., Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany, Australia and other countries.

Cambridge International also provides participating schools with professional development and training for teachers, classroom resources and membership in its global learning community.

“We’re delighted to announce that Battery Creek has joined our global community of Cambridge schools, and we look forward to a long and productive relationship with them,” Chief Executive of Cambridge Assessment International Education Christine Özden said in a release.

Battery Creek Principal Chad Cox predicted that the high school’s students and faculty would be excited about the new program.

“There are so many tremendous opportunities here,” Cox said. “Our students will be able to expand their learning and broaden their perspectives while earning free college course credits. And for our teachers, the training and networking opportunities around the globe will be tremendous.”

District Superintendent Frank Rodriguez praised Battery Creek’s achievement.

“This new Cambridge International authorization is just the latest example of the great things happening at Battery Creek,” Rodriguez said, also noting that the school’s on-time graduation rate had improved from 78 percent to 83.9 percent over the last five years. “These are very exciting days, not only for the school’s staff but also for students and parents.”