Commonwealth Scholars:
From competence to excellence

“Students who complete the Commonwealth Scholars course of study will be better prepared with the skills, knowledge, and discipline necessary to compete in the global marketplace,”

— Timothy M. Kaine, 70th Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia,
kick-off event for Commonwealth Scholars program, Sept. 2006

There’s a saying that if you learn more and do more, you’ll earn more.

That’s the chal¬lenge to current eighth graders in 11 Virginia school divisions in Virginia in the Commonwealth Scholars pilot pro¬gram. Business men and women from their communities will show them the realities of trying to live on minimum wages and meet the costs of housing, transportation, food, taxes, and other necessities. Not to mention entertainment.

While the target audience is eighth graders (Class of 2011), members of the classes of 2007, 2008, 2009, and 2010 will be recognized if they meet the criteria for Commonwealth Scholars.

Consider these facts:

• Annual income at minimum wages, before taxes, is $10,712. That’s 40 hours per week for 52 weeks and no vacation.
• Two-thirds of the jobs created by 2010 will require some post¬secondary training.
• More than 70 percent of high school graduates attend college – only about 50% of them graduate with a degree.
• Taking more rigorous courses in high school can increase your chances of completing a post-secondary degree.
• Completing a challenging high school course of study can increase wages if you enter the work force directly from high school or if you go on to post-secondary studies.
• In fall 2004, almost 50 per¬cent of recent high school graduates enrolling in Virginia community colleges need¬ed devel¬op¬mental or remedial courses. These courses carry no degree credit.

What courses are required to be a Commonwealth Scholar?

• 4 English courses
• 3 Mathematics courses (Algebra I, geometry, Algebra II)
• 3 Laboratory science courses (biology, chemistry, physics)
• 3.5 History and social science courses (choose from U.S. and Virginia history, World history, U.S. and Virginia government, world geography, economics, financial literacy)
• 1 Fine arts or career and technical education course
• 2 Foreign language courses (in the same language)
• Of course, to earn a high school diploma in Virginia you must meet all graduation requirements including verified credits.

What’s in it for you?

• Incentives and recognition throughout the high school years if you commit to becoming a Commonwealth Scholar
• Commonwealth Scholars medallion
• Commonwealth Scholars seal on your diploma
• Possible scholarships available only to Commonwealth Scholars
• If Pell Grant-eligible, Common¬wealth Scholars qualify for federal grants worth between $750 and $4,000 through Academic Competitiveness grants and National Science and Mathematics Access to Retain Talent (SMART) grants. These are incentives for students to take more challenging courses in high school and to pursue college majors in science, math, technology, engineering, and critical foreign languages.
• A real “leg up” on post-secondary studies and workplace readiness

One college Director of Admissions’ view on rigorous high school studies:
“The key is for students to take a curriculum that stretches and challenges them. Admission officers look at course load and high school grades because they are good indicators of how a student will perform during the first year of college. In fact, James Madison University now requires mid-year senior grades as part of the application process.” — Michael D. Walsh, director of admissions, James Madison University

Why settle when you can learn more, do more and earn more?
Commonwealth Scholars is a project of the Virginia Career Education Foundation, a statewide business-education partnership, and the Office of Vocational and Adult Education of the U.S. Department of Education. Commonwealth Scholars is currently funded with a $300,000 State Scholars Initiative grant administered by the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE), based in Boulder, Colorado.