Central High School Students See Spike In College Acceptance

For a school that's had trouble academically in the past, Central High School students and teachers have a lot to be happy about.

As of Wednesday, more than half of the senior class has received college acceptance letters. Tulsa School representatives said it's all thanks to a new approach to education.

School administrators said, for the past few years, graduation rates have soared; and, they said, a lot of that has a role in how many students are being accepted into colleges, universities and trade schools.

Central High School seniors are making moves, and their road to college is documented on the hallway walls.

Anthony Doyle and Paries Cannady are two of the seniors on the college acceptance wall. They thank administrators and teachers for helping them get to this point.

"You get out of this life what you want. If you want to achieve your goals you're going to achieve your goals," Doyle said.

Cannady said, "My school is rich with support. It's rich with care, genuine care and love about where we are going to go in life and how we are going to get there."

Two years ago, only 50 percent of Central High seniors graduated; last year 75 percent did.

English teacher Steven Benson has been key in boosting student achievement.

"I really think it goes back to kids feeling like they are college material," he said.

Students are now visiting colleges their freshmen year, are receiving ACT prep, and learning about the college entry process.

Cannady said, "No matter what, if I want to be someone in life, I have to do something with my life."

Benson said, as a teacher, his job is to help students be successful.

“I know I'll be successful when kids are coming to me and they are saying whatever their future holds they are on the right path to that," he said.

Getting a higher education is going to cost money but the teachers said they've been working with the students, filling out financial aid forms and applying for scholarships.