ACADEMY OFFERS MORE THAN HIGH SCHOOLS

Cape Girardeau student Alex Spradling hasn't regretted his decision to skip his junior year at Central High School this year to enroll at the Missouri Academy of Science, Mathematics and Computing.

Spradling, 17, is one of 41 students who enrolled for the first year of the Missouri Academy, which is the 14th residence high school academy in the nation. The school, on the campus of Northwest Missouri State University at Maryville, offers bright high school students a challenging education in a college environment.

Recruiters will meet with prospective area students from 7-9 p.m. Monday in Room 209 of the Scully Building at Southeast Missouri State University to explain the program. Parents and students are encouraged to attend.

"The move was kind of hard at first, but whenever I got there I made some really good friends really fast," said Spradling, 17, the son of Al and Pam Spradling of Cape Girardeau. "I just wanted something more challenging than normal high school."

Spradling is scheduled to graduate in May 2002 with a high school diploma and between 72 and 87 college credit hours. He also will earn an associate of science degree from Northwest.

Missouri Academy students attend college classes in math, chemistry, computer science and other subjects for two years. Students live in an on-campus dormitory with residential counselors and adopt a schedule similar to that of college students.

Despite the distance from home, Spradling has kept in touch with friends in Cape Girardeau while learning to become a part of campus life. He said he hasn't found time for many extracurricular activities.

Students are allowed to participate in intramural activities and other extra-curricular activities on campus that are deemed age-appropriate by academy officials. But most students have concentrated on their studies in the academy's first semester.

"We definitely set a rigorous academic standard," said Theresa Wilson, director of recruiting and admissions. "It is a big step, but I think these students are mature enough that they know this is the direction they want to go academically."

Wilson said five students have left the academy since August, slightly more than 10 percent average for similar programs. Reasons for student withdrawals have included homesickness and problems with the "rigorous academic process."

Admission is based on math and science career interests, standardized test scores, teacher evaluations, family commitment and personal interviews.