FINAL - Pages - CCSD Magazine FY25 - Flipbook - Page 20
18 // ACADEMICS
Practical Nursing Dual Enrollment Pathway:
Success for Colquitt High Students
In a strategic effort to address the local licensed
nurse shortage and boost high school graduation
rates, the Colquitt County School District
partnered with Colquitt Regional Health Care
System and Southern Regional Technical
College (SRTC) to establish a Practical Nursing
(PN) Dual Enrollment Pathway. This initiative
aligned with the district's goal of ensuring
students are employed, enlisted, or enrolled
upon graduation.
Following nearly a year of planning to align the
PN diploma program with high school
requirements, the pathway launched. In May
2025, Lainey Baird, Kendall Meeks, and Leah
Yearby became the first Colquitt High School
students to simultaneously complete the
diploma in Practical Nursing and graduate high
school.
These students paved the way for future cohorts. Nine more students are currently completing their nursing courses at
SRTC after passing the required entrance exam.
Crucially, the partnership between the school district and Colquitt Regional Health Care System covered substantial
out-of-pocket expenses (like uniforms, physicals, and testing fees) not covered by dual enrollment funding, ensuring
these graduates completed the program debt-free.
Superintendent Dan Chappuis commended the collaboration, stating, "We are incredibly proud of the first graduates of
the practical nursing pathway, and we are grateful for the partnership for creating opportunities such as this for
students.”
The success of the inaugural cohort confirms the power of collaboration between education and industry in solving
real-world challenges, transforming lives, strengthening the local healthcare system, and setting a new standard for
student achievement and workforce readiness.
“It feels surreal to know that we are the first students to graduate high
school with our practical nursing diploma. I am very honored to have had
this opportunity.” — Leah Yearby
