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Albany High School students now have a clear path to college thanks to a groundbreaking partnership announced Tuesday (February 10) between the City School District of Albany and the University at Albany.
The historic agreement, signed Monday at a ceremony attended by UAlbany President Havidán Rodríguez and Albany School Superintendent Joseph Hochreiter, guarantees eligible Albany High students admission to the university upon graduation.
"This new guaranteed admission program will smooth the path to higher education for Albany High School students and expand access to the University at Albany's world-class academics and research for students from our own backyard," said Rodríguez during the announcement.
To qualify, students must graduate with a 90 GPA and complete Algebra II or a higher-level math course with a grade of C or better. The program could benefit nearly 20% of Albany High's graduating class annually, according to officials.
For Albany families, this partnership removes a significant barrier in the college application process.
"The college admissions process is daunting. It's long, it's frustrating, it's anxiety producing. And what University at Albany did was eliminate those barriers, but they wanted to make sure that the rigor was there," Superintendent Hochreiter told NEWS10.
About 130 Albany High seniors already meet the requirements, and 80 have applied and been accepted through the program. Students who qualify will also earn merit scholarships, and the university is working to keep college affordable through financial aid options.
James Campbell, a senior at Albany High School, expressed his excitement about the program. "With UAlbany especially being in the backyard and just having that close connection it was always a dear place in my heart, but picking UAlbany was just a great choice and I'm very excited," he said.
The partnership represents a shared commitment to remove barriers between students and higher education. Those who enroll will benefit from early access to academic advising, financial aid guidance, and advisory support services.
Albany Mayor Dr. Dorcey L. Applyrs praised the initiative: "When young people know that college is not just a possibility but a plan, it changes how big they can dream. With this announcement, the University at Albany and Albany High School is removing barriers to higher education and creating exciting opportunities for our young people."
District leaders plan to track student success annually to determine if admission requirements need adjustment. If successful, they hope to replicate the program with other schools and colleges in the future.