In a world where technology is rapidly advancing, students have more options available to them than ever before. This shift has lead to a change in how young people view their education, often times finding themselves in search of flexible options to suit their lifestyle.
On a local level, the Sylvan Lake Career High School has witnessed their numbers steadily increasing over the past five years. In March of 1995, theSylvan Lake Career High School was opened to serve the needs of students who, for various reasons, felt that they could not meet with success in a traditional high school.
Recently, the School underwent renovations, nearly doubling their capacity to allow more room for students to pursue their learning in.
Students at the Sylvan Lake Career High School have the ability to decide their own schedule to accommodate their lives. They may visit their instructors as much or as little as they wish to, allowing the ability to breeze through courses they are strong in and get the extra help they need in other classes where they struggle.
Career High students come from a variety of backgrounds explained principal of the Sylvan Lake Career High School, Daryl Brown - ranging from full time tradespeople and semi professional athletes to adults upgrading one or two classes.
“The majority of young people here are taking academic routes – we have strong university and college applicants,” said Brown, adding they have around 100 full time students. “In past generations outreach and a flexible learning environment were seen as a very alternative option but that connotation is changing.”
Many of their part time students actively blend their learning experience between the Sylvan Lake Career High School and H.J. Cody High School. For young parents, the flexible environment can mean the difference between receiving a high school diploma and not.
“We have 58 students right now blending between H.J. Cody High School and ourselves,” said Brown. “There are a number of students who wouldn’t graduate if it weren’t for being able to take a class or two with us. It is amazing to see the look they get when they are able to graduate alongside their friends because of that one class.”
As part of the Chinook’s Edge School Division, curriculum at the school in core classes is exactly the same as it would be through any other high school in the division. Students also write the same diploma exams.
Adult education options are also available at the School, with upgrading courses being nearly half the cost as it would be when taking the class at a post secondary institute.
Adult students are those who have turned 20 years old prior to September 1 of the school year. As such, Alberta Learning no longer funds their education. The current adult rate through the Sylvan Lake Career High School is $110 per credit plus the $104.00 registration fee. CareerHigh also offers the GED program.
Currently the Sylvan Lake Career High School is set to host an open house where individuals interested in learning more about the educational options available through their resources. The open house will be held Tuesday, May 10 from 1-4 p.m.
The school is located in the Lakeview Square Mall at the intersection of Sylvan Drive and 50 Street, just up the hill a block from H.J. Cody High School in the same building as the Mac’s Convenience Store.